Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 10/20/2025 Bell (The Beanstalk Murder) offers a smorgasbord of whirlwind action, riveting characters, and relatable life lessons in this murder mystery spin on "Little Red Riding Hood." Cocky, white-cued 12-year-old Ruby Calvino is the youngest human player participating in the Tooth & Claw championship finals, a hide-and-seek-like sport during which athletes overcome obstacles while being hunted by a wolf. When, in the final showdown, Ruby’s wolf opponent suddenly dies, Ruby must flee, or risk being persecuted for the competitor’s apparent murder. Together with Fillan, a timid young vegetarian wolf employed at the sporting arena, Ruby must uncover the true killer while avoiding capture by a bounty hunter wolf who’s on her tail. During Ruby and Fillan’s helter-skelter escape and subsequent flight through the city and the surrounding Wild Wood-an enchanted forest bursting with untamed magic-the duo come face-to-face with mobsters, reporters, and their own biases about humans, wolves, and the precarious relationship between both groups. Ruby’s evolution from single-minded athlete to supportive friend and team player is endearing and inspiring, particularly as her relationship with Fillan blossoms. Messaging surrounding trust, teamwork, and ingenuity provide a fun if predictable foundation upon which this jam-packed fantasy unfolds. Ages 10-14. Agent: Gemma Cooper, Gemma Cooper Literary. (Jan.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 11/01/2025 In this reinterpretation of Little Red Riding Hood, 12-year-old Ruby Calvino and her team prepare for the Tooth & Claw championship, a sport based on being hunted by a wolf. But when their infamous opponent Alarick the wolf mysteriously dies during the game, all fingers point to Ruby. On the run from the police and a menacing bounty hunter wolf, Ruby and her “accomplice” Fillan travel around the city to put the pieces together. With no one willing to believe they are innocent, Ruby and Fillan must do their own sleuthing to uncover who killed Alarick, all while Ruby learns to control her hubris and implicit biases. Middle-grade author Bell brings young readers another enthralling murder mystery, covering relatable topics like police misconduct and prejudice in a fairy-tale setting. Bell does an excellent job of demonstrating prejudices, such as Ruby repeatedly othering Fillan for being a wolf, though Fillan is able to call Ruby out on her preconceived assumptions. These budding friends must literally fight tooth and claw to survive this whirlwind adventure. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.