Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 03/01/2015 Gr 3–5—In this delightful Norwegian import, two friends, a boy nicknamed Trille and his best friend, Lena, get into some hair-raising, frequently hilarious, and, sometimes, injury-inducing escapades over the course of a year. Narrated by Trille in a realistically childlike, first-person voice, the novel is fresh and fast-paced. While readers will chuckle at the friends' adventures—and marvel at their chutzpah—their mouths will also water at the frequency with which waffles, clearly a popular Norwegian treat, figure into the story. Children will relate to Trille's anxiety about whether he is Lena's best pal, a worry extinguished in a final, harrowing episode that, fortunately, ends well. Silhouettes, featured on the charming cover, also highlight chapter openings and provide a cozy, friendly feel. Readers may occasionally be put off by Lena's portrayal as too proud, stubborn, and reckless for her own good, but they'll appreciate her resourcefulness and strength of character anyway. Purchasers should note some religious overtones and Christian references. VERDICT Recommended for public and school libraries, this will be useful as supplementary material in units about day-to-day life in another country.—Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2015 *Starred Review* When readers meet nine-year-old Trille and his best friend Lena, Lena is barely hanging onto the rope they have strung between their houses’ second-floor windows, and Trille is frantically hauling his parents’ mattress down the stairs and out to the yard to save her. It’s a fitting introduction, since Lena races headlong into every crazy scheme they concoct, with Trille following close behind. Set in a tiny seaside community in Norway, the story contains other adventures, such as the duo’s amusing attempt to re-create Noah’s Ark with a rowboat and livestock. Although two events threaten to overwhelm Trille with a sense of loss, one ends well and, after the other, he finds comfort in family and friends. Trille’s accessible first-person narrative shares both his adventures and his feelings, which run the gamut from terror to grief to elation. Parr creates a strong sense of the characters as individuals, especially Lena, Trille, and Trille’s grandfather. For all its emotional resonance, the narrative is never soppy. In fact, humor plays a big part in this rewarding book. Published first in Norway and translated into 20 languages, this appealing chapter book has a distinctive setting, plenty of humor, and unusual emotional clarity. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2015 Whether it’s creating a real life Noah’s Ark or getting her umpteenth concussion, nine-year-old Lena is a force to be reckoned with. Trille, the boy who’s her accomplice in misadventure, saves her skin more than once-all part of his duty to his best friend, though Lena’s biting and dispassionate ways leave him wondering if that friendship goes both ways in this tender and funny Norwegian import. A sense of expansiveness and possibility pervades this celebration of preadolescent childhood, with mishaps and merriment unfolding in well-paced succession. Trille’s large and loving family, complete with a permissive, fun-loving grandpa and Grandpa’s waffle-making sister, Auntie Granny, provide a sense of security, making it possible for characters and audience alike to embrace exuberance and grapple with grief when a beloved character dies. A playful yet sweet story in the tradition of E. Nesbit’s The Treasure Seekers, this well-observed novel nimbly explores the balance of friendships and the fear and longing that hides beneath the most prickly personalities as it celebrating old-school scrapes and the rewards of mutual best friendship. AA - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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