Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 03/01/2012 Gr 4–6—Tad, a toad, lives in Toadville-by-Tumbledown. The toads have been warned that "Rumbler," a bellowing, stinking monster, will be coming to scrape the earth and crumble their town. The only solution for saving their community is for one of them to kiss a real human. Nearby, Taylor loves spending time with her grandmother, but she's worried about the property adjoining Eve's land. When she was young, she spent time at its pond and it was her kingdom, but it was recently sold and commercially zoned. Forty brief chapters tell the alternating stories of Tad and Taylor. Readers get an up-close-and-personal look at what it might feel like to be a small animal when its habitat is disturbed. From the seriousness of Taylor's grandmother's chemotherapy to a Queen of the Hop contest, Moranville skillfully weaves an action-packed, fast-paced, multilayered story. Illustrations in various sizes add to the enjoyment of the novel and will assist readers in visualizing the story from its dual viewpoints. This entertaining book is sure to become a popular read-aloud while prompting discussions about protecting the environment and the impact of human activities on the wildlife.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2012 Young, timid toad Tad awakes from hibernating to discover his woodlands home and its wildlife are being threatened by the earth-shaking monster Rumbler. To save them all, he must fulfill a prophecy and quest, which includes the daunting task of finding and kissing the human Queen of the Hop. Meanwhile, human girl Taylor treasures spending time with her grandmother Eve and enjoying the beautiful nearby woods, but she learns they’ve been sold for development and is determined to protect them. Eventually the two stories intersect in surprising ways. This engaging, contemporary read interweaves fantasy with realistic elements—and aspects of the fairy tale “The Frog Prince”—and includes both humorous and touching moments, which are enhanced by nicely rendered black-and-white illustrations. Appealing characters, both human and animal, and their detailed, alternating narratives lend liveliness and depth to the novel. Moranville explores themes including the interrelationship between human and natural worlds, as well as conservation issues; the challenges related to change; the idea that individuals can make a difference; and the power of music. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 06/01/2012 Taylor is an Iowa girl determined to protect a nearby natural area from developers. Tad, a young toad who lives there, is destined to save the toads of Toadville-by-Tumbledown, and he must therefore find “the Queen of the Hop” and kiss her in order to save their home from the ravages of the Rumbler (the heavy machinery sent to tear up the land). Taylor, meanwhile, reluctantly accompanies her parents to their annual rock-and-roll extravaganza in Reno; Tad also makes his way to Reno; and there the two stories finally cross paths. Savvy readers will soon figure out that it’s Taylor whom Tad must kiss, and Moranville carefully crafts her story, narrated in alternating chapters by Tad and Taylor, to reach that critical point, resulting in a kiss that makes Tad human just long enough to give Taylor information that allows her to save the land. While Taylor’s side of the story is the more compelling of the two narratives, Tad’s toad’s-eye view of the world is also fascinating in its own right. The combination is a refreshing and ultimately successful blend of animal fantasy and realistic fiction, and fans of either genre will find something to please them here. Taylor, who feels more at home with her grandmother than with her overscheduled parents, is a sympathetic character to whom many middle graders will relate, and Moranville’s ecological message will be eagerly received by nature-loving kids, especially fans of Gleitzman’s Toad Rage (BCCB 6/04). Final illustrations not seen. JH - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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