Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 07/14/2025 In this riveting survival novel by Newbery Honoree Holm, a white-cued 12-year-old ventures for the first time beyond her secluded doorstep. A decade before this book’s start, "some stupid country decided to start a war" via venomous missile, prompting Razzi’s parents to create an isolated compound called the Refuge. As the oldest, Razzi is expected to set an example for other kids, a responsibility she takes seriously. But the death of a peer, Ollie, a few months prior weighs heavy on her mind: desperate to see outside the Refuge’s walls, Ollie scaled and fell from the building’s roof. When a doctor’s visit reveals that Razzi needs a heart transplant, she receives the heart of a greyhound named Wind, and she soon feels that the surgery has changed her, prompting her to forgo her typical rule-abiding tendencies. Upon stowing away on a Refuge truck bound for a supply run, she makes a discovery that changes everything. Fascinating, intimately detailed characterization and worldbuilding makes everything from Razzi’s motivations and reactions to the children’s carefree games to the community’s fear of the outside world feel palpable across a white-knuckled adventure about autonomy and cultivating one’s own inner strength. Ages 9-12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Oct.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 07/01/2025 Life at the Refuge is strict, but that’s exactly what keeps everyone alive. Since the Great Poisoning, exposed humans turned vicious and must be kept outside the compound walls at all costs. As a result, Razzi and the other children aren’t allowed outdoors, but they make the most of the small, safe world their parents have made them. A pervasive sense of unease filters through the narrative as the kids move through their days and details are dropped that something is amiss with this whole setup. Razzi is known for being the responsible one, but after receiving a heart transplant, she begins pushing back on the rules and yearning to venture beyond the Refuge. Seen through Razzi’s eyes, Holm’s near-future world feels threatening and plausible, and when Razzi finally steps outside the Refuge’s confines, her discoveries are viscerally shocking. The story’s one questionable element is the supernatural connection Razzi feels with her heart donor—a greyhound named Wind. Whether or not readers buy into this part of the tale, they will find Razzi’s journey thrilling and find comfort in its hopeful conclusion.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Holm is a best-seller with more than one Newbery Honor under her belt for a reason. She brings the goods, and readers know it. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/16/2026 Gr 4–7—In this suspenseful dystopian novel, Razzi, 12, lives in a walled compound called the Refuge with her parents, little brother, and nine other people. Over a decade before, the Great Poisoning war killed most of the population. The infected turned into zombies, and the uninfected survivors were forced to hide to survive. White-cued Razzi, the oldest and the one responsible for the younger kids, longs to see more of the Outside but can't forget what happened to her friend Ollie, so determined to see the sky, he accidentally fell off the roof and died. A medical examination for a sprained knee reveals Razzi has a bad heart, so their resident doctor replaces her heart with one from a greyhound named Wind. Afterward Razzi's senses begin to sharpen, and chocolate, a favorite food, now makes her sick. She dreams she's racing on a track along with another greyhound called Poppy, who's locked away in a cage. Determined to save Poppy, Razzi sneaks out of the Refuge and finds her life completely transformed by what she discovers. The restrictive and prescribed life in the Refuge is vividly described, and the supporting cast is fully realized. Award-winning author Holm effectively explores themes of personal agency, trauma, family relationships, guilt, and forgiveness in a way that will linger with readers long after it ends. VERDICT This fast-paced roller coaster of a thrill ride is perfect for Margaret Peterson Haddix fans.—Sharon Rawlins - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.