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.

Booklist - 07/01/2025 *Starred Review* The third picture book from Forsythe confirms the author-illustrator’s trademark style, marked by whimsical storytelling, absurd humor, and surprising page-turns. Readers are once again transported to an idyllic woodland setting, where Aggie, a rather boyish little girl, is “excited to live on her own // until she found out her house was haunted.” The ghost, a white, amorphous wisp with an eyeball at its heart, follows Aggie around, crowding her until she finally makes a long list of house rules, and when that doesn’t help, she goes on a walk in search of solitude. The ghost, pathologically unable to follow rules, follows Aggie, and the rising tension culminates (“without warning”) in a climactic game of tic-tac-toe; if the ghost loses, it has to leave the house. Forsythe’s wry text is tight and deadpan, set against a richly rendered setting of softly blended peaches and blues, a bit more stripped down than in previous titles, holding a tone that is at once inviting and immersive—but with a gentle edge. When the ongoing conflict between the two roommates leads to the ghost leaving at last, Aggie finds herself missing something and creates a clever ploy to find her rule-breaking friend. A subtle, sweet friendship story from a true original coming into his full picture-book powers. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.