Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 K-Gr 3—A little girl is off to see her grandmother, known affectionately as Grand Jeté. Grand Jeté is a former prima ballerina and brings theatricality and chic extravagance to everything she does with her granddaughter, from bowing to vendors in the street to practicing the perfect flower toss for the end of a performance. After getting dressed up in special holiday ensembles, the duo heads to the New York City Ballet to see the iconic George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. Following the rousing and nostalgic performance, Grand Jeté tells the little girl that she could one day follow in her own prima ballerina footsteps as they dance out of the theater. Readers unfamiliar with the plot of the Nutcracker gain a brief understanding of the story, but it may work better as a refresher than as a primer for new audiences. The little girl is uniformly thrilled by absolutely everything, which leaves the impression that her character is chiefly a vessel for the more developed Grand Jeté's remembrances of her own days as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Disappointingly, few people of color are present in the audience and on stage. Back matter includes a note from author Kent, sharing her own history with The Nutcracker and a touching tribute to George Balanchine, as well as a glossary of the ballet terms used in the text such as plié and chassé.VERDICT This is an easy additon to holiday collections, certain to appeal to Nutcracker fans and balletomanes.—Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 12/01/2021 Kent bases this tale of a former ballerina sharing The Nutcracker with her grandchild on the memory of taking her own granddaughters to see the ballet. Grand Jeté is an elegant, white-haired woman who moves gracefully, modeling gestures and ballet movements for her daughter’s daughter. The child is excited for her overnight stay, and her Grand Jeté helps her get ready for their outing by feeding her lunch, fixing her hair, and dressing her in the outfit bought especially for the occasion. The two have front-row seats, and the youngster is enthralled, and even tossing a rose bouquet to the Sugar Plum Fairy—the role Grand Jeté once danced—at the ballet’s conclusion. Illustrations using micron pen, watercolor, and gouache stun with myriad details. Numerous engaging pictures will entice readers to take the time to pour over the drawings, which appear in a variety of sizes throughout the book. The illustrations depict motion well and the type placement creates additional movement in the charming story, which can serve as a brief introduction to the holiday ballet. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.