Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 04/14/2025 Medina delivers a beguiling aquatic adventure in her first fantasy offering, set in a fictional Spanish-inspired landscape. A poetic prologue details how, on her 13th birthday, "wind gusted sharply" and knocked fisherman’s daughter Graciela off a cliff and into the ocean, where "she rested at the bottom of the sea" until awakening as a ghost 100 years later. Now she makes sea glass and helps friend Amina-an ethereal being with kelp-like hair and jellylike limbs-guide spirits into the afterlife. Meanwhile, in the fishing village of Pesca Grotta, blacksmith’s son Jorge finds a hand-forged harpoon. Recalling the weapon’s nefarious origins and connection to his ancestors, Jorge tries to dispose of it. But his efforts go awry, and when the harpoon ends up in the cruel clutches of its intended wielder, and Jorge finds himself in the ocean depths with Graciela, blacksmith and sea ghost must work together to thwart evil entities that threaten the living and the dead. Intricately interwoven timelines and perspectives provide riveting background while maintaining suspense and forward momentum. Fusing elements of magical realism with introspective, high-stakes plotting, the Newbery Medalist tackles subjects such as parental neglect and abuse, jealousy, and greed in this richly imagined tale. Haunting b&w illustrations by the Balbusso twins (Sisters in Science) depict Graciela’s underwater world and indicate narrative shifts. Ages 10-14. Author’s agent: Jennifer Rof?, Andrea Brown Literary. (July) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 4–7—Once upon a time, Graciela was an ordinary girl who fell to a tragic death. But her story didn't end there: 100 years later, she awoke on the seafloor as a ghost, becoming part of the ocean's vast ecosystem of spirits. On land, 12-year-old Jorge works for his awful parents in their forge, and he's heard stories of the sea spirits. When he discovers a long-buried, ghost-killing harpoon near the forge and tries to destroy it, he unwittingly reunites the weapon with its wrathful owner. Graciela grudgingly accepts Jorge's help in racing to stop the old sailor from using the harpoon to create chaos and destruction in the worlds of both the living and the dead. Medina is a masterful storyteller, and this novel is no exception. The writing style feels reminiscent of old forms of oral storytelling, and readers might imagine themselves sitting around a fire near the ocean, hearing tales of old. The underwater world is complex and layered, mirroring the dynamics of real civilizations while having its own social rules and eccentricities. Frequent illustrations add to the mysticism and magic of the story. While Jorge and Graciela are fully realized characters with their own growth arcs, readers may find themselves wishing for more complex secondary characters, as they get only a taste of some of their personalities and stories. VERDICT An excellent fit for readers of fantasy and ghost stories, Graciela will make readers feel near the sea, hearing old stories passed around a campfire.—Kristin Brynsvold - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2025 *Starred Review* Graciela Lima was 12 years old when a gust of wind knocked her into the sea, where she sank and slept for 100 years before awakening as a sea spirit. Under the tutelage of a Spirit Guide, Graciela begins to learn the ways of the deep and takes on work as a glazier, grinding broken bottles into beautiful sea glass. On land, in a nearby fishing village, the blacksmith’s son secretly works metal into delicate, whimsical creations. While Jorge Leon’s artistic endeavors suit his gentle disposition, his cruel father and mother don’t approve. Indeed, Jorge is searching the brush for his latest project, which had been thrown out the window by his mother, when he uncovers an old harpoon. Instinctively, he knows this must be the cursed weapon forged by his great-grandfather and once used to kill a sea spirit. Jorge’s attempt to dispose of the harpoon in the harbor coincides with the awakening of the very same drowned souls who killed the sea spirit all those years ago. This full-circle moment binds Graciela and Jorge together in a mission to save the underwater realm. Medina effortlessly builds a magical marine world that feels fished from folklore, and the manner in which each story in the narrative informs the others is beautifully crafted. Rich in compelling characters, complicated emotions, and originality, this epic writ small will dazzle its readers. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.