Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2026 An ordinary day takes a bizarre swerve when Shirley is yanked down a manhole into an odd underworld of cheerfully strange creatures. Heralded as the prophesied “Chosen One,” she’s recruited to take on “The Boss,” whose gator-esque henchmen are constantly “smooshing” and “thumping,” thereby spoiling everyone’s fun. Teamed with George, an amiable, bespectacled cockroach with a poignant backstory, Shirley sets off on a quest of increasing ridiculousness: navigating the Bog of Sudden Intense Emotions, escaping a broccoli house constructed by a myna bird with questionable dietary preferences, and negotiating a sewer maze full of hazards, warnings, pesky obstacles, and peskier characters. Intrepid Shirley meets each challenge—and creature—with creative determination. Peppered with high-flown, Python-esque absurdity, the deadpan dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny. Simple black lines and flat color fills shape the endearingly blobby, goggle-eyed characters and their bizarre landscapes, with light textures and marks adding detail to dynamic panels. Relentlessly silly, this oddball, episodic adventure confidently owns its weirdness, delivering a riotous, ridiculous romp and promising more adventures ahead. Perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey and John Patrick Green. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/12/2026 Gr 4–7—In this series starter, readers are swept into a bizarre and hilarious underground adventure filled with danger, mystery, and absurd creatures. The story begins when Shirley chases her prized coin into a manhole and suddenly finds herself trapped in the Underworld. There she meets George, a giant cockroach whose good intentions are often overshadowed by confusion and a lack of common sense. Together, the unlikely pair sets off to defeat the mysterious Boss of the Underworld so Shirley can return home. As Shirley and George travel through this strange world, they encounter a series of unforgettable characters, including werefrogs, sewer sirens, demanding sphinxes, bog monsters that eat children, and a witch who thinks children make excellent snacks. Much of the humor comes from misunderstandings, exaggerated reactions, and gross-out comedy involving slime and other bodily fluids. Despite the silliness, the Underworld feels genuinely dangerous. Eating magical fruit can stretch limbs uncontrollably, and wandering into bogs can trigger emotional breakdowns. Humor and suspense are balanced well, keeping readers engaged through fast-moving dialogue and entertaining backstories about the creatures Shirley meets. The artwork is simple but lively, matching the quirky tone perfectly. Divided into eight short chapters, the book is an accessible and quick read for middle school students. At its heart, the novel highlights friendship and loyalty as Shirley and George learn to trust each other. VERDICT This fun and fast-moving tale challenges readers with whimsy, wordplay, and irony. A good addition to middle grade graphic novel collections.—Lynne Stover - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.