Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2023 *Starred Review* The transition from elementary to middle school can be tough, but Rex is optimistic as he gets ready for his first day of sixth grade. Once he arrives, however, things are not quite what he expected: many of his previous classmates are not there, and his best friend, Drew, is hanging out with a new crowd, who aren't the nicest group of kids. On top of it all, Rex is having trouble with his vision, and it's affecting his performance in school. He sees how kids with glasses are treated by his peers and dreads how he'd be treated if he were wearing them, too. Beneath the drama of Rex's glasses, Ogle weaves in meaningful subplots—Rex's working-class mom and stepdad struggle to make ends meet, and his wealthy father's acrimonious attitude toward Rex's mother causes tension. Ogle powerfully depicts middle-school bullying, the pressures of living in a low-income family, and the struggle to find a place to fit in and to stand up for one's self, all with multifaceted characters. Valeza and Szymanik's well-paced, wonderfully crafted, and expressive artwork does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turns of this captivating, honest story about adolescence. Hand to fans of Raina Telgemeier, Dan Santat, Jerry Craft, and Shannon Hale. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 06/15/2023 *Starred Review* The transition from elementary to middle school can be tough, but Rex is optimistic as he gets ready for his first day of sixth grade. Once he arrives, however, things are not quite what he expected: many of his previous classmates are not there, and his best friend, Drew, is hanging out with a new crowd, who aren't the nicest group of kids. On top of it all, Rex is having trouble with his vision, and it's affecting his performance in school. He sees how kids with glasses are treated by his peers and dreads how he'd be treated if he were wearing them, too. Beneath the drama of Rex's glasses, Ogle weaves in meaningful subplots—Rex's working-class mom and stepdad struggle to make ends meet, and his wealthy father's acrimonious attitude toward Rex's mother causes tension. Ogle powerfully depicts middle-school bullying, the pressures of living in a low-income family, and the struggle to find a place to fit in and to stand up for one's self, all with multifaceted characters. Valeza and Szymanik's well-paced, wonderfully crafted, and expressive artwork does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turns of this captivating, honest story about adolescence. Hand to fans of Raina Telgemeier, Dan Santat, Jerry Craft, and Shannon Hale. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/26/2023 Gr 5–8—In Ogle's graphic memoir, he explores universal adolescent themes including self-doubt, friendship troubles, and the pressure to conform. Rex is dreading the transition to middle school, especially since he will start with a group of students he's never met before. He's also struggling with his family dynamics, as he navigates having a stepdad, a half-brother, and a dad who just doesn't seem to care about him. In school, Rex struggles to see the whiteboard in his classes, and he immediately stresses about how that will impact him and his academics. After a trip to the optometrist, Rex is branded with glasses. Between his "nerd-ware" and his mom's job as a waitress at a restaurant, putting his socioeconomic status on display to his classmates, he's not sure if he will survive the sixth grade. This coming-of-age story also tackles classism and stress related to non-traditional family dynamics. Reminiscent of Maria Scrivan's illustrative style, Valeza's captivating visual spreads seamlessly complement the plot and tone of the book. The dynamic and purposeful page layouts enable readers to concentrate on the flow and significance of the text. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools.—Angie Jameson - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.