Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/15/2023 *Starred Review* Eleven-year-old Ryanna doesn’t remember her mother, who died eight years ago, but she’s curious about her. So, when her mother’s parents invite her to spend the summer at their home on a Pennsylvania lake, she agrees to go. They used to run a children’s camp there. Now their children and grandchildren return every summer, living in cabins and gathering for shared meals, campfires, and adventures. Ryanna quickly warms to her grandparents and the unusual degree of freedom and camaraderie that she and her cousins enjoy. It’s a heady experience for an only child. Learning that a ruthless developer claims to own her grandparents’ property, Ryanna attempts to save their home by following a trail of mysterious clues left by her mother. Matson, whose previous books were written for young adults, makes her middle-grade debut with this endearing book for tweens. The characters, young and old, have their quirks and differences of opinion, but the lakeside camp has a mellowing effect on nearly everyone. Ryanna’s first-person narrative offers a balanced record of events and reflections while bringing the characters to life as people with different needs, moods, and motivations. The mystery and a related treasure hunt bring additional drama, which mounts until the novel reaches its satisfying conclusion. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.