Bound To Stay Bound

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 Here in the real world
 Author: Pennypacker, Sara

 Publisher:  HarperCollins (2020)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 308 p.,  20 cm

 BTSB No: 709206 ISBN: 9780062698957
 Ages: 8-12 Grades: 3-7

 Subjects:
 Imagination -- Fiction
 Interpersonal relations -- Fiction
 Day camps -- Fiction

Price: $21.88

Summary:
Two kids spend a summer creating a world of their own, and along the way discover strengths and gifts they never knew they had.

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Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: MG
   Reading Level: 4.50
   Points: 7.0   Quiz: 506147

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (12/15/19)
   School Library Journal (01/01/20)
   Booklist (12/01/19)
 The Hornbook (00/01/20)

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 12/01/2019 When 11-year-old introvert Ware is forced to spend his entire summer at the local rec center pursuing “Meaningful Social Interaction,” he skips out and finds refuge in the wreckage of the abandoned church next door, which reminds him—a Middle Ages enthusiast—of a medieval castle. There he meets Jolene, a cynical girl planting a garden, and together, day after day, they transform the space—along with themselves. Pennypacker (Pax, 2016) tells a human story of growth and transformation, favoring a more serious, emotional focus over the more comedic tone of her Clementine books. In order to make his parents proud, Ware actively tries to change himself, and while he does evolve, he ultimately builds on the traits that make him “weird” rather than conforming to what’s “normal”—a good message. Smooth prose and short chapters make for a compulsively readable tale, fit for middle-graders in the process of discovering themselves or for those interested in the more philosophical side of chivalry. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 Gr 4–6—Eleven-year old Ware prefers daydreaming about knights and the Middle Ages to socializing, a personality quirk that worries his overworked parents. Because he is happy to spend most days "off in his own world," his parents agree to let him spend the summer with his grandma. But when she breaks her hips in an accident at home, his promise of a peaceful summer is disrupted as his parents sign him up for the dreaded recreation camp. Overwhelming, loud, and full of the forced interactions and "funneration" that he hates, Ware avoids the camp by hiding out in the abandoned lot next door to the building. There he meets Jolene, a smart, secretive girl who spends her days planting a garden in the rubble of the church that once stood in the lot. Together, the two form a tentative connection; Jolene planting her garden, and Ware creating a castle from the ruins of the church. When their shared sanctuary is threatened by outside forces, the titular "real world," Ware and Jolene's relationship deepens into a delicate friendship as they band together to save the lot. This sweet, sensitive book shines a light on the introverts and misfits. Despite wishing he could live up to his parents' desire for a "normal" kid, Ware's unique personality is validated by a kindred spirit, his uncle, who suggests that he is an artist with his own vision of the world. Ware's quiet sensibility blends well with Jolene, who's tough exterior comes from hardship and an abusive relative. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Pennypacker's earlier novels Summer of the Gypsy Moths and Pax. Recommended for purchase in most libraries.—Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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