Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/01/2019 A hunt for two runaway peacocks unravels dramatic family changes in this middle-grade debut set in Australia. Cassie Andersen, an aspiring writer, keeps her “Notebook for Noticing” handy in order to jot down important details, like clues to the whereabouts of her neighbors’ peacocks. Lately, she has also taken note of changes in her parents’ relationship, her sister’s temperament, and her grandfather’s health. True to the dynamics of the Andersen family, Nugent never directly names the issues experienced by its members, instead employing euphemisms like “those days” to describe the father’s struggle with mental illness. The adults in Cassie’s world avoid discussing sensitive topics, leaving Cassie’s power of observation and writing as her only form of agency. While the unresolved and unexplained story lines might frustrate readers who seek closure, others will recognize the feeling of being deemed “too young” to understand. The number of issues may feel heavy-handed at times, but the depiction of the varying coping mechanisms within a family, especially when there is no communication, is insightful. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/01/2019 Gr 3–6—Eleven-year-old Cassie is an expert when it comes to tracking down her neighbors' peacocks, which go missing frequently. She's less confident, however, when it comes to dealing with changes in her family. Her older sister is making choices that Cassie doesn't understand, her beloved grandfather is ill, her father is sinking into depression, and her mother seems to be separating herself from the family. Even her best friend Jonas is acting strange and moody. Can Cassie unravel the mysteries she's facing in life, or will they prove to be too much for her detective skills? This Australian import has plenty of quirky charm. Though the mystery element is slight, there's plenty of character development, and the book touches on many family and friendship situations with which readers will empathize. Fans of Sheila Turnage and Susan Patron are a natural audience for this story. VERDICT Purchase where there's a need for realistic fiction dealing with family issues.—Misti Tidman, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, OH - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.