Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/27/2024 Gr 3–7—Misty and her mom have just moved from Trinidad to her cousins Brooke and Aiden's home in Brooklyn. After a series of strange occurrences, the three tweens discover they are the newest mokos (magic wielders) with special abilities that will be needed for a reason nobody can predict, and it's all happening around carnival celebrations. With a unique magic system, and extremely interesting magical creatures and abilities, Baptiste does an excellent job of making readers feel privy to something secret and previously unknown. The centering of Afro-Caribbean mythology keeps readers eager to delve deeper into the plot. Misty's loneliness and pain is often forgotten in the whirl of action happening around her. However, some tweens may struggle with truly connecting to the three main characters. The first half of the book feels a bit chaotic, jumping from incident to incident. Things pick up in the second half, sweeping readers up in the plot and immersing them in the mystery and magic of Baptiste's tale. VERDICT This is a slightly uneven yet fun addition to middle grade shelves, sure to attract readers of urban fantasy, as well as those who love non-Eurocentric mythologies.—Lauren Sullivan - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2024 This launch title for Disney's new, Black joy–oriented imprint, Freedom Fire, hits the ground running: Misty has recently immigrated from Trinidad to Brooklyn, and as the local carnival season ramps up, she and cousins Aidan and Brooke quickly learn that they have inherited the ancestral power and responsibility of being mokos, a trio of magical guardians. Meanwhile, a local politician schemes to cancel the annual Caribbean Day Parade, and the three budding mokos become aware of a sinister presence that poses a much more dangerous threat to their community. Baptiste's (The Jumbies series) return to middle-grade fantasy leans deeper into the West African mythology carried on through the Caribbean diaspora. While a typical fantasy plot anchors the proceedings, the true magic of this book is found in its depictions of culture and community and the vibrant, joyful descriptions surrounding carnival. Whether it's calypso music or the various supernatural elements illuminating this world, readers will find something to be enchanted by. An exuberant homage to the culture, community, and spirit of the Caribbean. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.