Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/16/2025 A Black middle schooler resolves to prove that life is better without the distraction of romance in this wistful novel by Davis (The Science of Friendship). It seems as if everyone in Berry Parker’s life is happily in love. Her best friend, Lia, starts ditching Berry to spend more time with a crush; Berry’s father has been scheming up ways to interact with her gym teacher; and things have been getting serious between Berry’s mother and her boyfriend, Mr. Cole. More than anything, Berry wants her mother to move back home to live with Berry and her father in Dixon Valley so they can be a family again. When her mother arrives for a surprise visit, Berry thinks she’ll get her wish-until she learns that Mr. Cole has asked her mother to move to England with him. Struggling to understand what’s so great about love-and why it seems to her to drastically shift her community’s personalities, priorities, and perspectives-Berry resolves to never catch feelings. As Berry navigates shifting relationships, Davis utilizes sympathetic prose to detail a hopeful yet bittersweet story about confronting change while remaining true to oneself. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 09/01/2025 Gr 5–8—Davis's latest examines the struggles of finding oneself amid the chaos of middle school. Black girl Berry knows "love is in the air" everywhere, but all she smells is the stench. Change stinks, and this crush nonsense is ruining everything in her life. As seventh grade begins, her best friend Lia is suddenly obsessed with a new crush, throwing all their carefully made plans for their best year ever into disarray. Now Lia is trying to help Berry find a crush of her own, which she definitely does not want. On top of this,, Berry's divorced parents are both exploring dating, and Berry is worried her mother's boyfriend will take her out of Berry's life forever. Love, in her opinion, causes nothing but change, and that's terrible. Readers will connect with Berry and her friends as they navigate family relationships and explore the onset of romance. Davis offers a realistic, sensitive portrayal of the emotional ups and downs of this age group, especially for children with divorced parents. The author also provides a healthy overview of how it's challenging, and some days feel just awful; but in the end, a change of perspective may be healing. VERDICT A solid purchase, this story will resonate with middle schoolers who have endured similar shifting family structures.—Jennifer Seebauer - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.