Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/01/2022 *Starred Review* Hammonds’ absolutely stunning debut follows Avery, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down when she learns that her estranged grandmother, Mama Letty, is dying. Her family packs up their lives in D.C. and moves to small-town Bardell, Georgia, to help Mama Letty find comfort in her final days. In Bardell, Avery makes new friends, repairs hurting relationships, and digs into the racist history that has had a lasting impact on her family. This thoughtful and well-crafted coming-of-age novel will grip the reader’s attention from the beginning. Sympathetic Avery is fragile when she moves to Bardell—she doesn't know if her D.C. friends actually care about her, and she has just broken up with her first girlfriend—but her immediate friendships and her growing rapport with the standoffish Mama Letty allow her to grow and explore her wants and needs. With a focus on generational trauma and the often-complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, Hammonds excels in writing with vulnerability and capturing an authentic healing process. Bardell is a character in its own right, with a racist history that persists into the present day, as well as the nooks and crannies marginalized folks carved out for themselves where they could flourish. Written from a place of love and healing, Hammonds' definitive standout will stay with readers. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2022 Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old biracial teen Avery (Black and white) has just broken up with her girlfriend and best friend of five years after too many ugly racist microaggressions, leaving her with a sense of relief at ditching such a toxic relationship. The frantic pace of school and looming early admissions application to Georgetown are put on hold when she follows her parents to small-town Bardell, GA, to care for her dying maternal grandmother, Mama Letty, whom she has never met. Racial tensions and mystery abound in this community, piling rumors on half-truths, keeping Avery's head spinning while searching for someone to explain the facts. She tries to navigate her mother's vicious relationship with Mama Letty, deeply hurt by the never-ending hostility and bitterness between them. Unexpected friendships with two local girls offer Avery new perspectives and opportunities. Ultimately, Avery must choose her own path, find her unique voice, and balance the facts of people's messy histories with the good they do. This book pulls no punches, delving deeply into racial tensions, whitewashing of ugly truths, homophobia, and justice left undone. Yet, there is a lightness, humor, and catharsis for characters and readers despite the heavy subject matter. VERDICT Hammonds delivers a breathtaking exploration of vital issues wrapped up in a mystery, challenging readers to reexamine their own truths. A must-purchase for all libraries serving high school readers.—Kristen Rademacher - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 *Starred Review* Hammonds’ absolutely stunning debut follows Avery, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down when she learns that her estranged grandmother, Mama Letty, is dying. Her family packs up their lives in D.C. and moves to small-town Bardell, Georgia, to help Mama Letty find comfort in her final days. In Bardell, Avery makes new friends, repairs hurting relationships, and digs into the racist history that has had a lasting impact on her family. This thoughtful and well-crafted coming-of-age novel will grip the reader’s attention from the beginning. Sympathetic Avery is fragile when she moves to Bardell—she doesn't know if her D.C. friends actually care about her, and she has just broken up with her first girlfriend—but her immediate friendships and her growing rapport with the standoffish Mama Letty allow her to grow and explore her wants and needs. With a focus on generational trauma and the often-complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, Hammonds excels in writing with vulnerability and capturing an authentic healing process. Bardell is a character in its own right, with a racist history that persists into the present day, as well as the nooks and crannies marginalized folks carved out for themselves where they could flourish. Written from a place of love and healing, Hammonds' definitive standout will stay with readers. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.