Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2024 Quin is the unluckiest kid on the planet. A simple trip to the beach with tasty french fries has him swarmed by a plague of hungry seagulls and clobbered by a 50-foot rogue wave. His plan to pull a loose tooth—involving his sister, stinky cat food, and an eager dog—ends up with him tied to a tree and then flying through the air, colliding face-first with a kite. And a fishing trip with his neighbor Jose results in him ski jumping over a massively hairy man while pursued by a vicious hornet’s nest. This three-in-one graphic novel for emerging readers is light on the plot and heavy on the slapstick. While there are no noticeable resolutions, the stories are each bookended by rim-shot jokes from the family’s sarcastic cat. The digital artwork is deliberately and strategically unappealing—even grotesque—and there are several unexpected views (like one from the inside of Quin’s mouth) that are clever. While the brutality of Quin’s bashings might not be for everyone, this will have an appeal for readers who like over-the-top physical humor. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.