Bound To Stay Bound

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Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2011 Lillie’s father, a slave, joined the Confederate Army in the War between the States to secure freedom for his family, but when he is killed, he is found with five hundred dollars in Yankee gold in his pocket. Since the money is presumed stolen, he is branded a thief and the promise of freedom for his service is void. Refusing to believe her father was dishonest, Lillie sets out to prove the truth and win her family’s freedom against all odds; her quest becomes urgent when slave appraisers start showing an interest in her little brother. She’s helped by Bett, an old slave who has the power to enchant time-to slow it down, speed it up, and even move backward through it. While Kluger doesn’t paint a rosy picture of slavery, he does situate Lillie and her family in a household that avoids some of the more egregious cruelties: floggings are tempered by the master’s greed-injured or underfed property doesn’t work as hard or bring as much money at auction-and slaves have opportunities to enjoy their families and communal life. Indeed, this enjoyment motivates the master’s daughter, a young adolescent who used to be allowed to play with Lillie and Bett, to endanger Lillie’s family even more out of her resentment that her own family life doesn’t seem as free and happy as that of those whom her family enslaves. Lillie’s slavery makes every action she takes more dangerous and urgent; her real problem is clearing her father’s name and proving, to herself as much as the Master, that her belief in him is justified. Well-paced adventure and mystery, a touch of fantasy, and interpersonal dynamics of jealousy and familial love make this an appealing choice for middle-graders. KC - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 02/01/2011 *Starred Review* Lillie, her little brother, Plato, and her mother are slaves on a South Carolina plantation. Their father took a chance and joined the Confederate army, with the promise that he and his family would be freed after the conflict. Papa’s been killed, but Mama and the children were expecting their freedom until word came that a bag of gold was found on Papa’s body. Presuming it was stolen, freedom has been denied. When it becomes obvious that Plato may soon be sold away, Lillie is determined to prove that her father was not a thief and that the freedom promise should be honored. Kluger presents a story with what should be an impossible task, adds a dollop of fantasy, and brings it full circle in a smart, compelling way. Though it’s the quest that keeps the pages turning, what anchors the tale is the in-depth historical research, which makes readers feel what it’s like to live as a slave while the Civil War rages on. Juxtaposed against the realism is the fantasy element of the story, and Kluger wisely uses the Ibo heritage of some of the slaves as a way in, making it more believable than it otherwise might be. A finely crafted tale. - Copyright 2011 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2011 Gr 5–9—Kluger portrays the everyday horrors of slavery while mixing in magic and time travel for an atmosphere of possibilities and hope. Thirteen-year-old Lillie's father joins the Confederate army expecting to win freedom for himself and his family. However, he is killed during the siege of Vicksburg and accused of having been a thief. The coins found on Papa become the property of the Master, who is no longer obliged to free the family. Lillie; her six-year-old brother, Plato; and their mother are devastated by his loss and the unjustified allegation, but as slaves they have no power to contest it. What's more, because of his financial problems, the Master begins to consider selling Plato. When magic enters her life by way of an elderly slave and her prized African stone, Lillie gets the chance to clear her father's name and win freedom for her family. Lillie's love for her brother and mother and the danger and intrigue that she faces make for an engaging and satisfying story.—Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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