Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2019 Spoiled, snack-obsessed feline Ra returns to solve another mystery at the behest of his steadfast companion Khepri (a scarab) and cat friend Miu. The trio successfully thwarted a jewel thief in Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018), and while Khepri and Miu are eager to dig up a new case, Ra would rather indulge in his pampered life as Pharaoh’s cat. Yet, things get personal when tomb robbers in the Valley of the Kings take the gold sarcophagus of one of Ra’s royal relatives, along with the chamber's cache of valuables. Already on site having his portrait painted for his own tomb, Ra agrees to look for the perpetrator and goes undercover when an impostor cat returns to Pharaoh’s palace in his stead. As usual, Ra’s investigations are governed by his gut, both in terms of food and feeling, and it’s Khepri’s measured logic that leads them to balance their suspicions with proof. Engaging and funny, this comically illustrated mystery mixes ancient Egyptian history with clues and twists to create a satisfying whodunit. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2019 Gr 2–4—In this latest installment in the series set in ancient Egypt, lovably spoiled Pharaoh's cat Ra is once again persuaded to solve a whodunit with pals Khepri the scarab and common cat Miu. Ra is visiting the village of Set Ma'at so artisans can work on his extravagant tomb. Then a robbery is discovered nearby. Turmoil intensifies when Ra's chaperone, a shifty vizier, sends a look-alike back to the Pharaoh's palace in Ra's place. The large print, simple sentence structure, and fun, stylized illustrations suggest that this is the type of early middle grade book most often read by second and third graders. However, the authentic ancient Egyptian nomenclature and complex character relationships will make this a challenging read for the target audience. This book would be best enjoyed either with considerable adult guidance or by seven- to nine-year-olds with advanced decoding skills and an interest in the historical setting. This could be a great classroom read-aloud to supplement a related unit. VERDICT A charming and intellectually stimulating piece of anthropomorphic historical fiction, which may struggle to find its reader in the typical member of its target age group.—Mallory Weber, Convent of the Sacred Heart, NY - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.