Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2010 There are a few things that twelve-year-old Evie is sure about: she loves her dog, Mousse, she loves to cook, and she loves her parents. She’s still not sure how she feels about her parents’ separation (or the fact that her dad took Mousse to live with him) or about her father’s new (and pregnant) wife, and she has mixed feelings about Mrs. Hamilton, the cantankerous elderly neighbor who frequently calls for Evie’s aid but complains about the treats that Evie brings her. Evie’s dad is a celebrity chef and cookbook author, and she definitely inherited his passion for cooking; she just wishes she were better at it. To that end, she signs up for a teen cooking class at the community center taught by a cooking-celebrity-turned-Buddhist named Shanti, who happens to be the aunt of Evie’s attractive cooking partner, Corey. This is a pleasingly well-written novel about a girl’s cooking her way through the many changes in her life. The strength of the story lies in its simplicity, with the focus kept to a few key storylines and characters, yet there is an almost ensemble-esque feel to the book as the lives of family and friends intersect and interweave through Evie’s. Evie’s narration is emotionally perceptive without being sappy, and the emphasis on roles and relationships yields solid character development that serves to move the story forward. Each chapter is followed by a recipe, and the cooking frame adds organization and appeal to the story. Fans of family fiction and young foodies alike will applaud Evie’s efforts to figure it all out by means of the kitchen. HM - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 12/15/2010 A year after her father moved out, taking the family dog with him, Evie’s parents are divorced, her father has remarried, and he and his new wife are expecting a baby. Evie and her mother still keenly miss her father (not to mention the dog), but change is in the air. As the summer goes on, Evie develops a promising relationship with her cooking-class partner, begins to feel more comfortable with her stepmother, and even comes to appreciate her grumpy next-door neighbor. As narrator, Evie shows herself to be an astute observer of the people around her, and throughout the summer, she becomes increasingly aware of the adults as individuals with their own worries. Each of the 16 chapters ends with a recipe and a cooking tip. Since Evie’s father is a celebrity chef and she shares his interest in food, there’s plenty of culinary talk throughout the story, but relationships are at the heart of this appealing, illustrated chapter book. - Copyright 2010 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2011 Gr 4–6—Thirteen-year old Evie Carson loves to cook, which is fitting for the daughter of a renowned celebrity chef. Now that her parents have divorced and her father is living with his new wife on the other side of town, Evie spends a lot of time in the kitchen, and her mom has even signed her up for summer cooking classes at the rec center. It's been a year since her dad moved out and took their dog with him, but now there are twins on the way, her stepmother is trying to be her friend, and her mother is going on her first date since the divorce, so Evie is feeling just a little bit out of sorts. Although she and her mom have finally begun to fill the empty places left by her father's departure, it takes a crotchety neighbor, a handsome cooking partner, some rescued animals, and a lot of recipes to make the future seem as inviting as the past. Each chapter is headed by a quote from a celebrity chef that portends the events to come and concludes with a recipe for whatever Evie is preparing. Spot illustrations appear throughout. This is an appealing book with an authentic voice, particularly when discussing the upheaval and discomfort caused by divorce, as well as the effort and good will required to smooth the transition.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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