Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 08/01/2015 Gr 4–6—Feodora "Feo" Petrovich is a "dark and stormy girl" who lives deep in the snow-covered Russian forest with her mother circa 1917. They are wolf wilders, brave souls who help reintroduce wolves into the wild, once the animals have outlived their usefulness as pets and entertainment for the aristocracy. When the deplorably evil General Rakov threatens their livelihood, burns down their home, and arrests Feo's mother, the plucky young girl sets off into the woods with her three lupine companions and a newborn wolf pup. She's soon joined by a runaway soldier from the tsar's Imperial Army who's not much older than Feo herself. Together, the ragtag band of humans and wolves must outrun Rakov and his men, survive brutal winter conditions, and figure out a way to liberate Feo's imprisoned mother. As in her previous two novels, Rooftoppers (2013) and Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms (2014, both S. & S.), Rundell gives readers a fierce young heroine whose strength and independence are as appealing and authentic as her painstakingly concealed vulnerabilities. Though appearing only briefly in an handful of scenes, Feo's mother is a well-drawn, larger-than-life presence in the girl's life; readers will believe that Feo will risk anything to save her. The pacing slows in the middle, as the characters visit a struggling village and recruit other kids to their cause. The ending, though satisfying, comes quickly and stretches credulity just a bit. Rundell's strength is in the beauty of her writing—lyrical sentences that evoke the drama and simplicity of fairy tales and folklore, combined with descriptions of a setting that will have readers shivering along with the frozen characters as they trudge across the unforgiving terrain. VERDICT A solid addition to middle grade collections; hand this novel to kids who appreciate strong characters and harrowing survival stories—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2015 Twelve-year-old Feo has literally been raised among wolves; her mother is a trainer, who, when the wolves bought by the nobility of czarist Russia “bite off and eat a little piece of someone who was not expecting to be eaten,” readies the animals to return to the wild. The czar, however, has decided that the wolves should simply be killed, and Feo’s mother’s defiance results in her being dragged off to St. Petersburg’s prison by the sadistic General Rakov. Feo and her three wolves-Black, White, and Gray-narrowly escape his solders. Feo attempts to make it to St. Petersburg with her wolves but soon is forced to find refuge and assistance from strangers-an awkward effort for a girl largely raised in the wild. This is an excellent blend of historical fiction and heroic quest, and Feo is an endearing and lovable protagonist. She suffers considerable heartbreak along her journey to save her mother, but her dogged determination inspires others who have suffered under Rakov’s hand; together they turn him from predator to prey. A nice dose of levity is provided by the the book’s dry wit (“Toddlers, like wolves, are unpredictable”) and Feo’s sometimes bungled attempts to interact with humans (“Sorry. I’m used to wolves. They hug with their teeth”). Subtle nods to folklore (Feo disguises herself in a brilliant red cloak to get into St. Petersburg) and vivid descriptions of Russia’s icy wilderness give a sense of place that is both wondrous and dangerous. Feo’s triumph over Rakov, set against the background of Russia’s 1917 February Revolution, is entirely satisfying and will have readers cheering-or perhaps howling-their approval. KQG - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 09/15/2015 *Starred Review* In the snowy wilderness of Russia, a stormy girl and her mother live in a cabin with only wolves for company, which is exactly how they like it. The two are wolf wilders, who retrain wolves to survive in nature when they fall out of favor with the Russian nobility who kept them as pets. It is a joyous existence for Feo, until insane, violent General Rakov decrees the wild wolves a nuisance and arrests Feo’s mother, burning their home in the process. Feo manages to escape into the night, but knows Rakov will be following close behind. With a newborn pup snuggled to her chest, her wolf pack best friends, and a soldier boy defector, Feo strikes out toward St. Petersburg to rescue her mother. Rundell (Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, 2014) never fails to work magic with language and deft storytelling. Feo’s world of wolves and snow, danger and triumphant bravery rings with the classic allure of folktales. Her spirited, half-wild nature shines brightly on the page, even as her vulnerabilities endear her to readers’ hearts. It is a wonderful thing to see Feo’s quest inspire a nation to stand up and fight, and readers will cheer her on every step of the way. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

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