Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/01/2018 *Starred Review* Nine-year-old Astrid is the only child living in Glimmerdal, Norway, which boasts a forest and a river, as well as a few small farms, houses, and shops. It’s not a quiet place, though, not with Astrid, “the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal,” skiing or sledding down hills and across roads with reckless abandon while singing loudly to keep up her courage. When cranky old Gunnvald, her godfather and best friend, creates a heartrending problem, she tries to set things right. This fierce, lovable girl bravely takes action, even when she’s trembling inside. More than once, she confronts adults who are about to make irrevocable mistakes out of greed, stubbornness, or emotional distress. While Johanna Spyri’s book Heidi has a small role in the story, the main character here has much more in common with the irrepressible, unconventional heroine of Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking. Drama and humor are interwoven throughout the well-paced narrative, which transports readers to a distinctive locale and introduces vividly drawn, memorable characters. Small drawings at chapter headings and a double-page map add visual appeal. Norwegian writer Parr, whose Adventures with Waffles (2013) has been translated into many languages, offers another original chapter book with a strong sense of place and international appeal. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.