Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/01/2018 Gr 9 Up—The authors (a father and son) have each written multiple compelling memoirs about Nic's struggle with addiction. In this latest, they apply their firsthand knowledge to an informative overview of teen drug use, including brief information about the types of narcotics young people are likely to encounter, and advice on how to deal with addiction in oneself or others. However, the Sheffs rely too heavily on personal experiences, even in the fact-based portions of the book. For example, the section that focuses on the teenage brain skips compelling scientific facts and instead relies on anecdotes. Another failing is in the unfocused nature of the book. In trying to cover everything, nothing gets explored in full. This is especially evident in the second section, which covers some drug types in depth while only devoting one or two paragraphs to others. Mental health and its relationship with addiction is put at the forefront of the discussion, and Nic's personal experiences lend credence to the sections on recovery and the effects of addiction. That said, these themes are much more comprehensively explored in the authors' other memoirs on the topic. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries where works by the Sheffs are popular.—Heather Waddell, Abbot Public Library, Marblehead, MA - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.