Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/15/2023 In 1970s Santa Monica, Stevie's white father and Black mother have been fighting—particularly about her mother’s desire to obtain a college degree—and her older cousin, Naomi, moves in after getting in trouble in her Boston hometown. Naomi takes a shine to her cousin and shakes things up, introducing Stevie to new music and encouraging the women in the house to embrace their natural hair texture and women's liberation. Stevie’s dad bristles at some of the suggestions, preferring women to be homemakers. Stevie tries to keep everyone afloat and happy, but her mother is disappearing at night, Naomi is sneaking out to Black Panther meetings, and her dad is rarely present. How can Stevie keep all the secrets while staying true to herself as well as her loved ones? It’s a compelling, complicated story that touches on huge topics—racist microaggressions, police profiling, feminism, divorce—but keeps it all focused through Stevie’s wonderfully compassionate and curious lens. A fascinating and intimate snapshot of familial and personal transformation and the power in finding your voice. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/17/2023 Gr 4–6—Parsons's (How High the Moon) newest middle grade novel sets readers in 1970s California as the Black Panther Party rises to prominence and the women's rights movement disrupts previously-established gender roles. The narrative centers Stevie, a sixth-grader, as she navigates dicey social situations at a new school while her home life is simultaneously upended. Naomi, Stevie's high-school aged cousin, has come to live with them from the East Coast in a familial attempt to "correct" Naomi's behavior. Stevie's mom, who is Black, goes back to school in secret while ex-CIA Dad, who is white, wields patriarchy like a mental and emotional weapon. This book is impressive in scope, addressing racism, patriarchy, policing, social dynamics, secrecy and truth, etc. While an admirable attempt, the result is an overstuffed narrative that ultimately feels like a collection of unfinished vignettes instead of a cohesive piece. Interestingly, the setting struggles to ground itself until much later in the book when specific indicators are provided (e.g. Black Panther fundraisers). Stevie's growth throughout the story is a strength, particularly as she learns to stand up for herself and set boundaries around her body and appearance. VERDICT Uneven but not without appeal. Best for very large collections.—Taylor Worley - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.