Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2014 Gr 4–7—Perry creates a version of the future where climate change and the threat of terrorism are wreaking havoc on the world. The government has partnered with the CornVivia Corporation to control corn production after seizing all the farmland in the country through eminent domain. Yet citizens beg the government to do something to protect everyone. The government responds by creating Bubble Cities—domed, protected cities. The corn that the CornVivia Corporation grows is called URCorn and is genetically modified to cure "cancer and diabetes and baldness and bad skin and arthritis and pretty much whatever ails you." For those families, like Maggie's, that chose to live "Out Bubble," they work very hard to survive off of the less-desirable land. Maggie's family is lucky—when they finally find a place to settle after drifting for a few years, they end up with Toad and Arlinda as neighbors. Toad and Arlinda take Maggie, her parents, and her little brother Henry under their wing teaching them about gardening, wild plants, pig latin, and spoonerisms. Both jargons are explained in the book, and for the most part, decoding the words isn't difficult; struggling readers may get distracted. One day Maggie comes home to find it ransacked and her entire family missing. She makes it her mission to find them. The unique and interesting cast of multidimensional primary and secondary characters are the narrative's strength. The portrayal of the government and corporations is not flattering, and at times the political message overwhelms the plot. However, this was an enjoyable read and Maggie is a strong, brave, adventurous, and resourceful role model for younger readers.—Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.