Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2016 Gr 4–6—Ten-year-old Cadence Mariah Jolley is surrounded by music. She refers to Mariah Carey as her "fairy godmother" and lives in Harmony, PA, and her favorite day of the week is Sunday, when she joins her friends in the church choir. The girl inherited a beautiful voice from her mother, who left town to pursue her own dreams when Cadence was seven. Since that day, Cadence has struggled with change. Her father does his best as a single parent, but Cadence thinks he worries too much. She knows her voice is special, but she is afraid of the spotlight. When a new church choir director arrives, Cadence takes a risk and tapes what she believes is a private recording of her singing in the hope that she will be recognized for her gift. Things don't go according to plan, and soon Cadence has to decide if she can share the power of her voice—both musically and personally. She has the support of a distinctive cast of characters: her brother Junior, who helps Cadence navigate her relationship with her father and come to terms with her mother's absence; her two best friends, Zara and Faith, who represent the loyalty and jealousy that mark middle grade relationships; and her aunt Fannie, who loves and supports her throughout. VERDICT This well-crafted novel about a young girl who learns valuable lessons about love, family, and community will appeal to readers of realistic fiction and fans of happy endings.—Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2016 Cadence Jolly, known as Mouse by everyone in the small town of Harmony, Pennsylvania, is intensely introverted. Too many well-meaning neighborhood ladies pay her pitying attention since her mother left to pursue dreams of becoming a star. A secretly talented singer in her own right, Cadence is trying to come out of her shell and reveal her gift to her church. When a recording of her singing is leaked and she becomes an Internet sensation, it is time for Cadence to reclaim her life from the smothering attention of her neighbors, the panic she feels in the spotlight, and her complicated feelings about her mother’s desertion. Cadence, grounded in faith and the love she has for music and her family, finds a way to be strong without wholesale change. The cast is predominantly African American, with one exception being a Chinese classmate who connects with Cadence as they both try to stay true to themselves. Though slow at first, this book—much like Cadence—absolutely blossoms. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

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