Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2024 Anzu never fit in at her old school. Her classmates insisted on calling her Anne, since, they say, her birth name is a “little weird.” When her family moves, and she is given the opportunity to restart, she runs away after an awkward social encounter and mistakenly ends up in Yomi, the Shinto underworld, where a goddess is trying to convince her to stay forever. But Anzu slowly learns the truth about the goddess, as well as a recent string of missing children in her town, and she becomes determined to put things right. Comparisons to Spirited Away are inevitable but apt, and this wonderful introduction to some mythological figures and religious practices of Shinto offers a lovely story of magic and courage. The simplified, gentle manga-inspired artwork from Nguyen (Pilu of the Woods, 2019) has a modern folk aesthetic that elevates the overall piece. A glossary in the back discusses the yokai, oni, and deities that appear, sometimes going into how the book’s characterizations and depictions differ from traditional legend. A sweet and engaging coming-of-age tale. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.