Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 05/12/2025 Pale-skinned, short-haired Aggie, who looks something like a woodland sprite in signature watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil art from Forsythe (Mina), is thrilled to move into her own forest home. But the new digs come with an unexpected resident: a one-eyed ghost who isn’t scary-just supremely present. The ghost follows Aggie everywhere, pilfering her socks, devouring her cheese, and breaking with impunity every boundary the child sets. When Aggie seeks relief and solitude in a forest rainstorm, the ghost shows up there, too- wearing her scarf ("I needed to get out of the house," it explains). Exasperated, Aggie challenges the ghost to a furious, winner-takes-all game of tic-tac-toe, only to discover that they’ve each met their match. When the ghost unexpectedly vanishes instead of continuing its bad-roomie antics, Aggie realizes, to her surprise, that she misses its presence-just a little. How Aggie navigates their relationship is one of the many astute moments of comedy in a book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance. Ages 4-8. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Aug.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 08/01/2025 K-Gr 3—Forsythe's unique illustrations accompany a story about Aggie, who is excited to move into a new home that is all her own, only to find that she is roommates with a ghost who is not very good at listening. Aggie is quick to make sensible rules. Can they work together to set boundaries that work for everyone, or will the ghost need to find a new place to haunt? This book has breathtaking illustrations typical of the author's work. The ghost is a boon companion and a wonderful representation of living with younger siblings who may not always like to follow the rules. Readers will relate to both characters: Aggie, who does not want her socks stolen, and the rule-disrupting ghost. This story is interspersed with humor; although it features a ghost and darker illustrations, it is not scary to younger audiences. VERDICT A heartwarming read that will be requested on repeat in libraries.—Veronika Parrone - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.