Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2025 Gr 7 Up—A contemporary YA fantasy novel in verse rooted in Caribbean folklore, specifically the myth of the soucouyant—women who shed their skins and consume souls by the light of the new moon. Zoboi intricately weaves the narratives of two young women residing in modern-day Brooklyn. Fifteen-year-old Marisol is an undocumented Haitian immigrant navigating life with her mother, Lourdes, who is also a soucouyant and her guide. She often controls who Marisol seeks during her transformation to seek vengeance on those who have harmed them. Genevieve is a biracial American teenager living with her all-white family and struggles with her identity and how to fit in: with her family, her classmates, even in her own skin. An old family secret is unearthed and the girls' everyday lives become intertwined with the magic of the Caribbean folklore that will shape their future and families forever. This narrative explores themes of heritage, cultural appropriation, complex family dynamics, and the journey of coming of age. The verse format offers a rhythmic and accessible read while challenging stereotypes regarding colorism and racism. Readers do not need to be familiar with soucouyant and similar stories; the lore is detailed throughout the story. VERDICT An essential book for any middle school and high school collection.—Erica Coonelly - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 01/27/2025 Fifteen-year-old Marisol-a soucouyant, or shape-shifting witch, who turns into a flying fireball once a month and feeds on other people’s life forces-longs to escape her magical legacy and wishes she could have a different life. Far away from the monsters and myths back home in the Caribbean and trying to forge a new path in New York City, she and her mother eke out an existence working at a bakery owned by their boss and landlord, Jean-Pierre. Meanwhile, Genevieve, a 17-year-old Black and white dancer living with a painful skin condition that keeps her up at night, struggles to juggle the demands of high school and her boyfriend Micah’s jealousy. The arrival of a new nanny for her white father and stepmother’s twin newborns compels Genevieve to discover a hidden connection to her absent mother, her cultural roots, and Marisol. Using gripping verse, Zoboi (Nigeria Jones) delves into each teen’s inner turmoil, tackling themes of misogynoir, colorism, and immigration via complicated mother-daughter dynamics. The girls’ shifting perspectives appear on alternating sides of the book’s pages, only combining once they meet; an ambiguous resolution rounds out this searing exploration of personal growth and self-discovery. Ages 13-up. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Feb.) - Copyright 2025