Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 11/24/2025 A search for a missing dog reveals hard truths about family in this contemplative verse novel by Sumner (Please Pay Attention). Upon learning that her beloved dog Roux has "disappeared/ vanished/ vamoosed," nine-year-old Glory flees from the drudgery of school and takes to the memorably described streets of New Orleans to search for him. Seven-an unhoused resident of Audubon Park-hasn’t seen him, and neither have other locals. Glory’s Daddy is missing, too, which isn’t unusual, as he’s often found "drunk/ at noon/ on a weekday/... (losing all our money)." Suspecting Roux was involved in a terrible accident or-worse to Glory-either kidnapped for ransom or on the run "because of the thing that Daddy did/ that hurts too much to think about," the child redoubles her efforts to find the pup. Hard-hitting lines ("Because I am nine/ and don’t have time for make-believe/ no more") viscerally convey the pain Glory carries, stemming from her tumultuous homelife. Realistic grayscale images by Monnin (Dreams Take Flight) depict the youth’s grim determination and her pup’s buoyant spirit. The protagonist reads as white; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8-12. Author’s agent: Keely Boeving, WordServe Literary. (Mar.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 02/01/2026 Glory is a nine-year-old living in New Orleans with her overworked mother; her unemployed father, who struggles with alcoholism; and her plump, short-legged dog, Roux. At the story’s outset, Roux goes missing, and Glory is determined to get him back, whether that means trekking to dangerous parts of town, going places her mother forbids, or fighting with kids at school who make fun of her or otherwise stand in her way. The story is told in verse and divided into four parts, one for each day the beloved pet is missing. The grayscale illustrations do a nice job of enhancing the narrative. While often dark, the story offers a realistic portrait of life for a kid who has a mostly absent father and a mother burning a near-wickless candle. Even so, Sumner folds brightness into the plot through the joy pets can bring as well as in the new friends Glory makes during her search for Roux. Try this with realistic-fiction readers or fans of stories that center animals, such as Robin Gow’s Gooseberry (2024). - Copyright 2026 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/20/2026 Gr 4–6—In Sumner's latest novel in verse, readers follow nine-year-old Glory as she searches for her missing dog Roux while navigating her changing world in New Orleans. Glory, who has light skin, lives with her mom and dad (when he is there), until the incident happens and Roux and dad disappear. In her desperate search, Glory questions the people experiencing homelessness under the bridge that she and her mom bring food and supplies to, as well as the angry man called The Chef who lives by himself in the woods. She even asks Mar, her best friend, to help after they've argued. When her dad returns, Glory thinks things might be different—until her dad starts drinking again and rips up her wanted posters for Roux. Things escalate for Glory, and she must consider what is important to her and who she wants in her life. Topics of homelessness, family financial struggles, gambling, and substance abuse are explored in Sumner's novel. There is a lot of diversity amongst the characters racially and economically. Glory is a believable tween, and a determined and courageous individual who does whatever she can to get her dog back (which she does)—even when that means going against her mother's wishes. She finds that even people who aren't family can be an important part of her life. This book is more about the main character's growth rather than the plot. VERDICT A novel in verse that explores heavy topics, with heart, this is recommended for upper elementary readers.—Kylie Staigers - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.