Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 02/10/2025 In this sensorial verse novel by Sumner (Deep Water), a disabled eighth grader navigates trauma in the aftermath of a school shooting. Kind and outspoken Bea Coughlin, who lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, confidently advocates for disability accommodations at her small private school. When her teacher and several students are killed during a school shooting, Bea’s sense of safety crumbles ("My loosened leg brace catches/ on the footrest of my chair/ and/ it’s pinning me here!"). The novel is divided into four parts-"Seek," "Hide," "Heal," and "Hope"-that showcase Bea’s life before, during, and after the event via narrative poems and letters addressed to an entity called Sir. Throughout, Bea struggles to understand the incident; intimate, lyrical verse relays her experiences, including her horseback riding therapy and feelings of claustrophobia at being indoors in the days following the shooting. It’s an accessible and cohesive interpretation of what it means to live with grief and find a way to feel like oneself after tragedy, as well as an homage to young voices and their impact on society. Bea reads as white. Ages 10-up. (Apr.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 03/28/2025 Gr 5–8—After a tragic event traumatizes her school community, sixth grader and wheelchair user Bea is racked with guilt, anxiety, and grief. Unable to sleep or speak to her mom about it, Bea is stuck in a cycle of reliving the tragedy, feeling that she could have done more to protect her classmates and her teacher. It isn't until Bea starts equine therapy, a program that uses horse care and riding as a path to working through emotional or behavioral problems, that she is able confront her trauma and begin the healing process. Written as a letter advocating for gun control, Bea frames her story as a journey from trauma to hope, as well as a plea for action. Drawn from Sumner's personal connection to the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Bea's experience contains an emotional depth and authenticity that resonates deeply without feeling preachy. The verse novel format enhances the pacing, using line breaks and poem length to mirror Bea's fluctuating emotional state. The poems are raw and honest, yet never overly focused on the tragedy itself. The secondary characters are equally well developed, supporting Bea in her quest for courage and peace. VERDICT This heartfelt exploration of trauma, recovery, and the search for light in the darkest of times will resonate with middle school readers, offering a meaningful reflection on personal and societal healing. An excellent addition to middle grade verse novel collections.—Louie Lauer - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.