Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2013 Gr 4–7—Everyone in the kingdom has heard about Lady Hortensia and her beautiful garden. The rumors say that every flower in it is always in bloom, but Princess Adela, a gardening expert and enthusiast, is sure that can't be true. When the princess's friend Garth receives a mysterious invitation to Hortensia's garden party, Adela arranges to accompany him. The plain-looking princess has never cared much for her looks, yet she can't help but notice that every guest is uncommonly beautiful or handsome. Wandering among flowers she knows shouldn't be in bloom, Adela learns the frightening secret of Hortensia's magic garden and finds herself in terrible danger. The story unfolds through the alternating viewpoints of Adela and Krazo, the enchanted magpie who manages to snag a few choice jewels from guests when he's not forced to do Hortensia's bidding. Short chapters keep the story moving, though the novel lacks well-developed characters and exploration of Hortensia's motives. Krazo has the most interesting character arc; while discerning readers will have guessed his identity early on, they will follow the story to see how his choices will affect the outcome. An intriguing backstory involving an ancestor of Adela's who banned belief in magic isn't pursued, but readers interested in a light romance with a touch of magic and mystery will find this a passable choice.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/15/2013 Princess Adele, 17, has an affinity for flowers and gardens. So when the gardener’s son Garth is invited to visit Lady Hortensia’s famous, ever-blooming garden, Adele tags along. But the beautiful Hortensia is actually a witch who has been ensnaring her visitors for decades, transforming the girls into flowers and the young men into servants. She has even turned a thief, Edward, into a magpie, enslaved to do her bidding. Courageous Adele must use all her wits to outsmart Hortensia and free her victims. What could have been just another fairy tale hints at a rich backstory and sweeps the reader into a bewitching adventure. The book is neatly paced, particularly in the latter half, when the chapters alternate between Edward and Adele. A solid choice for reluctant readers, this clever tale has an open ending that paves the way for a sequel. Give this one to fans of Donna Jo Napoli. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 06/01/2013 Seventeen-year-old Princess Adela longs to be a gardener, so when she is invited to a garden party given by the mysterious Lady Hortensia, Adela readily agrees. Things take a menacing turn at the soiree, though, when Adela secretly discovers that Lady Hortensia is a witch, turning her party guests into blooms for her garden. A jewelry-stealing, talking magpie, Krazo, tries to help Adela, eventually finding a ruby heart, the destruction of which turns Hortensia to stone, releases the other “flower,” and returns Krazo to his own shape as Edward, a thief who long ago tried to steal from Hortensia. Edward and Adela fall for each other but are kept apart by Edward’s fear that she won’t love him when she knows his past; fairy-tale fans, however, will be relieved by the pair’s happy ending. Unfortunately, Kladstrup’s characters are largely shallow and functional, and the villains lack satisfying villainy. Kids who love sweet, fanciful romances may still appreciate the fairy-tale relationship, though, since Adela and Krazo/Edward are a likable duo; the garden theme may draw in young horticultural fans as well. Middle-graders who have loved but outgrown Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” but who aren’t quite ready for similarly themed YA fare may find this an appealing read-alike. JH - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.