Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2015 Gr 2–5—Joey and Johnny are ninjas, not pretend ninjas, but the real thing. They attend the prestigious Kickfoot Academy, run by Headmaster FangSwan. Joey is the smarter of the two, while Johnny is the goofy one who always gets into trouble. The awesomeness of their school is challenged when Red Moon Clan starts using non-ninja, super weapons. The world-building is imaginative, especially the visual of the students' sleeping arrangements. They must scale a cliff to get to their two person tent dorm. At lunchtime, they must catch their food as it flies through the air at super speeds. There are many characters to keep track of amid the action, so careful reading is required. Full of juvenile humor, the story line runs through scenarios young readers will find hilarious. Fans of super goofy series, such as "Captain Underpants" (Scholastic), will enjoy this silly adventure, especially if they are looking for a more challenging read.—Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/15/2015 Life at the prestigious Kick Foot Academy is tough. Best friends Joey and Johnny are two students in its rigorous ninja training program, and as such, they must contend with the perils of classes like “Sharp and Pointy” (how to use and evade sharp and pointy objects), as well as lunch ladies who hurl the day’s meals through the air like ninja stars. Inept but good-hearted, the two boys are selected by the school’s terrifying headmaster to shadow an exchange student—and potential spy. While waiting for him to arrive, the boys have a run-in with students from the rival ninja school, who are decked out with high-tech gadgets. All leads to an epic challenge between the two schools in which the Kick Foots fight for traditional ninja training and honor, and the “Moonies” for the use of supersuits and modern technology. Zany humor and action drive the book, which offers a winning trifecta of ninjas, superheroes, and robots. Cartoonish drawings score additional laughs in this tale of underdogs and wannabes whose adventures have only just begun. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 05/01/2015 There are two kinds of ninja schools in this book: KFA, which requires dedication, a lifetime of training, and a willingness to stare into the eyes of death unblinking, and then there’s KFA’s archrival the Red Moon Clan, which requires entrants only to write a check and draw a picture of Flippy the Ninja. While the ease of the latter school may appeal to readers at first, it is obvious that KFA students Joey and Johnny, our slightly dorky but brave heroic duo, are deeply dedicated to learning things the hard way. When the two get chosen to track a likely spy-and possible transfer from Red Moon Clan-the subsequent events may put the whole academy and their headmaster at risk if Joey and Johnny don’t succeed in an impromptu tournament against the other school. Sharp, snappy humor may go over the heads of younger readers on occasion, but it also may elevate their comedic abilities if they catch how effective sarcasm can be in the right moment. Plentiful small illustrations and comic strips add to the fun, particularly the full-page advertisements for Red Moon Clan. The overall exuberance is enjoyable and ultimately reassuring, suggesting that none of the near-peril encountered by the characters needs to be taken seriously. Overall, the book is an appealing mix of ninjas, heart-pounding danger, and hilarity, and there’s even a nod to hard work being best; while this novel won’t need much promotion, reluctant readers may particularly appreciate it once they’re convinced that every page of the sturdy length is well used. AS - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2015 Gr 3–5—Joey and Johnny are real ninjas. They attend the prestigious Kickfoot Academy, run by Headmaster FangSwan. Joey is the smarter of the two, while Johnny is the goofy one who always gets into trouble. The awesomeness of their school is challenged when Red Moon Clan starts using non-ninja, super weapons. The world building is imaginative; especially the visual of the student's sleeping arrangements. They must scale a cliff to get to their two-person tent. At lunchtime, they must catch their food as it flies through the air at super speeds. There are many characters to keep track of amidst the action, so careful reading is required. Full of juvenile humor, fans of super goofy series such as "Captain Underpants" will enjoy this silly adventure, especially if they are looking for a more challenging read. - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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