Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/01/2025 Gr 3–6—Tasha and her parents—yetis themselves—live in a world full of friendly monsters. When Tasha's parents decide to reopen Camp Yeti, they quickly pivot due to a lack of interest (or perhaps a lack of other Yetis) and instead open Camp Monster. Once everyone arrives, there's plenty of adjusting to do as campers learn to get along, face their fears, and work together. And work together they must when the threat of humans discovering their existence puts the camp's safety at risk. This delightful story will leave young readers longing for summer break and an equally exciting adventure of their own. It's packed with humor, heart, and plenty of "awe-shucks" moments. Despite the book's monster-filled backdrop, Messner and Koch capture the true spirit of the camp experience. Bright, colorful illustrations add energy and help the story move along at a lively pace. VERDICT A strong addition to any library serving young elementary readers.—Esther Keller - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 11/03/2025 Previous collaborators Messner and Koch (Salem Witch Trials) reunite in this upbeat graphic novel featuring friendship and fun-in-the-sun hijinks of monstrous proportions. After yeti enrollment at family-owned Camp Yeti drops drastically, yeti Tasha’s parents open the camp to all of monster-kind. Following this decision, the first group in attendance includes Tasha and her yeti cousin Kami, along with twin goblins, a diva ogress, a soccer-playing vegan vampire, a snarky griffin, and a hydrophobic werewolf. As the campers enjoy swimming lessons, hikes, and campfire singalongs, the adults worry that the increased scrutiny brought about by broadening the enrollment parameters will draw humans their way. When an incident of vandalism prompts manticore Manny, the head of security, to investigate, the young monsters determine to uncover the perpetrator themselves in a bid for camaraderie that sets the tone for the rest of their stay. Thick line art and bold, saturated hues render friendly-faced characters with personalities as distinct as their appearances. The cozy atmosphere cuts the tension of the perceived danger, resulting in a high-energy mystery adventure that emphasizes togetherness, open-mindedness, and inclusivity. Ages 8-12. Author’s agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Feb.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 01/01/2026 Tasha's family has owned Camp Yeti for generations. However, due to the decline in yeti enrollment, they have recently decided to rebrand it to Camp Monster and open their doors to all monsters, not just yetis, this summer. While Tasha and her family are excited to share their camp experience with a new generation of monsters, they're nervous about how all the campers will get along. When summer starts, all manner of young monsters, including goblin brothers, a werewolf, a vampire, and even an ogress, enroll in the camp, and as expected, many of the new campers butt heads initially. But when the camp counselors inform the campers that there may be humans in the woods, the young campers must band together to save the camp and prevent the humans from finding it. Alongside the colorful cartoon artwork packed with vividly rendered monster characters, letters from the campers provide deeper insight into their characters. Elementary readers who like friendship stories and monsters will find a humorous and heartfelt combination of the two here. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.