Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2025 *Starred Review* Inspired by rural China’s “left-behind children,” award-winning author-illustrator Guojing’s poignant postapocalyptic tale follows young DiDi and his older sister determinedly scraping out a lonely existence in a metal hut set in a barren, sand-blown landscape. Navigating with optimism and tenderness, the devoted siblings regularly trek for water and phone calls to their mother, who's toiling far away to earn their admission to the city. One disheartening day, JieJie repairs a broken robot found in a junkyard. Reprogrammed, the AI evolves into a cherished surrogate mother, offering yearned-for food and comfort, as well as glimpses of beauty in a harsh world. When their worried mother defies factory rules to find her children, her angry confrontation leaves the AI incapacitated and DiDi and JieJie desolate. Subtle monochrome art in brilliantly paced, spare panels underscores the emotional depth of this compelling narrative. Textured backgrounds evoke the blurry grit of endless swirling sands, while soft pencil strokes outline the affectingly drawn characters, with merest touches of pale color added to highlight details. Guojing’s characterization of the gradually more expressive AI mother is especially lovely; delicate shifts in the sculpted metal lines of the robot’s face reveal an emerging humanity. Perfectly blending story and art, this deeply compelling fable assures middle-grade readers that, with resilience, adaptability, and the hope for connection, love can prevail even amid desolation. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.