Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2012 *Starred Review* Mysteries abound in this unusual book set in tiny Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, and narrated by Mo, or as she introduces herself, “Miss Moses LoBeau, rising sixth-grader.” First there are old mysteries. What was Mo’s story before Colonel LoBeau rescued her from the creek as a newborn and took her in? And who was the colonel before amnesia wiped away his memory? But soon the plot thickens and more alarming questions arise. Who has murdered one of Tupelo Landing’s most unlikable residents? Who is holding Mo’s unofficially adoptive parents for ransom? How can she and her friend Dale rescue them? While the pace of the narrative is initially languid, the storytelling is always enjoyable, from the amusing early scene in which Mo and Dale make breakfast for the regulars at the café (peanut butter sandwiches with or without the “drink du jour,” Mountain Dew) to her continuing attempts to find her birth mother through messages launched in bottles. Later the pace quickens considerably as the mystery gains momentum, climaxing in an epic scene during a hurricane. Turnage’s lively novel features a distinctive voice and a community of idiosyncratic characters whose interlocking stories are gradually revealed. A sequel is planned for 2013. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2012 Gr 4–7—Quick-thinking and precocious Mo LoBeau is hilarious in this modern-day mystery set in a small North Carolina town. The 11-year-old discovers the true meaning of family as she searches for her "upstream mother." As a baby, Mo was found washed ashore during a hurricane and has led a quiet life with the Colonel, a café owner with a hidden past, and Miss Lana, the fun and colorful café hostess. Then one day, this idyllic town is turned upside down by a murder investigation. The twists and turns in the plot will keep readers on their toes, and the humorous interactions between Mo and her quirky neighbors will keep them coming back for more. While the story is amusing and mysterious, the author also skillfully touches on tough issues such as alcoholism, spousal and child abuse, and underage drinking. The mood of the book stays light and keeps youngsters rooting for Mo in all of her adventurous endeavors, yet elicits empathy for the secondary characters as they endure and conquer challenging circumstances. While the overall theme is predictable, the solution to the mystery is not, and this book will leave readers hoping for more books about Mo and her gang.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2012 Rising sixth-grader Moses (Mo) LeBeau enjoys her unconventional life in colorful little Tupelo Landing, NC. Washed ashore in a hurricane as a baby and rescued by the Colonel (who suffers from amnesia), she has since been raised by him and his longtime live-in girlfriend, Miss Lana. Together they run Tupelo Landing’s café, and when Mo isn’t there, she’s hanging out with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, or honing her sleuthing skills by trying to track down her “Upstream Mother.” Mo’s detective impulses kick in big time when lawman Joe Starr comes to town, investigating a Winston-Salem murder that might be tied to Tupelo Landing. When Mr. Jesse, the town’s reclusive old codger, is murdered as well, things get dangerous for Mo and for those she loves. Luckily, the truth about the murderer (and about the Colonel’s mysterious past) is discovered in time to save Mo and her family and friends. Sure, quirky literary small towns are a dime a dozen, but Turnage populates the fictional Tupelo Landing with several strong, original, and immensely likable characters. Mo’s deadpan colloquial narration is robust and often humorous, but her mysterious origins lead to some poignant observations as well: “Behind my back, Anna Celeste Simpson-my Sworn Enemy for Life-says I’m a throw-away kid, with no true place to call home. So far, nobody’s had the guts to say it to my face, but I hear whispers the way a knife-thrower’s assistant hears knives.” The well-plotted murder mystery (and a frightening encounter with Dale’s mean drunken daddy) provides genuine tension and makes the 300-plus pages fly past. Mystery lovers and fans of titles like Di Camillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie (BCCB 6/00) or Klise’s Grounded (BCCB 1/11) will definitely want to set a spell with Mo. JH - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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