Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 06/29/2026 Perceptive renderings of friendship drama capture the anxieties of early adolescence through the eyes of an introverted middle schooler in this heartwarming graphic novel series launch from Warren (Radical: My Year with a Socialist Senator). Tween Ami Hendricks loves making homemade science-fiction movies with her best friend, Ivy, so starting sixth grade at a new school is made even worse when she is separated into different classes from Ivy and all her other elementary school friends. After classmates nickname her Tomato for her prominent blushing cheeks, Ami, desperate to avoid further interaction, retreats to the library during lunch periods, where she imagines new adventures for her and Ivy’s ongoing space opera, Rovers of Time and Space. Convinced that outgoing, charismatic Ivy will abandon her if she discovers how awkward Ami feels, Ami begins concealing the truth about her struggles. Her attempts to protect the friendship instead lead to deception and a breach of trust that threatens the creative partnership both girls cherish. Intermittent scenes from Rovers of Time and Space, presented as film-strip sequences with captions and dialogue, cleverly mirror and enrich the contemporary narrative’s emotional stakes. Full-color cartooning utilizes subtle facial expressions and body language to heighten tension. It’s a charming send-up to creativity and belonging. Ages 8-12. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit. (Sept.) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.