Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/23/2025 Two tweens living in different timelines embark on parallel journeys to save their families in this absorbing magical adventure by Yan Glaser (the Vanderbeekers series). In 731 Chang’An, China, Han Yu sells steamed buns at the market with his father. At home, Han Yu’s affinity with animals is overshadowed by the accomplishments of his remarkable sibling, which span various trades and academic fields. In 1931, Luli Lee sells similar goods at her family’s restaurant in New York City’s Chinatown, and spends her free time joyfully indulging in her artistic passions and engaging with her community. When medical and financial circumstances, stemming from each timeline’s respective historical events, jeopardize their families’ livelihood, Han Yu and Luli must each embark on a journey to secure their loved ones’ futures. As Han Yu treks to reunite with his family, who are quarantined with a mysterious lung disease, Luli seeks to save her parents’ business from foreclosure following Black Thursday. Polished prose renders the characters’ treacherous quests, throughout which the protagonists encounter both wayward strangers and lifelong friends. Each well-researched timeline offers digestible accounts of the events addressed while quaint b&w pencil sketches ground the bustling plot, making for an endearing tribute to bravery and friendship. An author’s note and bibliography conclude. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 09/01/2025 *Starred Review* Best known as the author of the Vanderbeekers series, which features a large, close-knit family in Harlem, Glaser takes on a different challenge in her new novel, which introduces two lead characters who share the same ancestry, each living in a challenging time and quietly taking on a heavy burden for the good of their beloved family. Han Yu, who lives in China during the Tang dynasty, risks his life by traveling the perilous Silk Road in search of a medicine to cure his family during an epidemic of a fatal lung disease. Luli works hard to save her family and their failing restaurant, which has supported them for years. The stock market crash has impoverished their customers and now threatens their livelihood as well. Written in third person, the stories unfold in alternating chapters, shifting between Han Yu in China in 731 and Lilu in New York City’s Chinatown in 1931. Though separated in time and place, each tale is told in a realistic manner with an occasional hint of magic. The main characters, who must make difficult decisions, emerge as heroes in this engaging narrative, which encompasses their interconnected family stories. Occasional black-and-white drawings help establish the period settings in this memorable historical novel. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/30/2026 Gr 3–7—In 731 C.E. in Chang'An, ancient China, 11-year-old Han Yu (known as "Tiger Boy" for his odd connection to animals) helps his father sell delicious, steamed buns in the market. When a mysterious illness viciously spreads, it leaves Han Yu separated from his family with no choice but to embark on the dangerous trade routes to heal and reunite them. In 1931, New York City's Chinatown, 11-year-old Luli Lee is busily and happily helping her parents run their dim sum restaurant, knowing it's only a year until they can pay off their mortgage and own the building that holds both their home and their business. But the economy has taken a turn, leading to fewer jobs, fewer customers, and a terrifying foreclosure notice. Luli needs a solution, which unexpectedly arises in the beloved ancient silks tucked in the back room of her family's gift shop. This heartfelt exploration of Chinese culture across time and place absolutely soars. Glaser's prose is direct and captivating, pulling readers into Han Yu and Luli's distinct yet connected lives, ambitions, and relationships. Measured chapters in alternating perspectives hold readers' attention and keep the pace pleasantly brisk. Cultural resonance ripples through Han Yu and Luli's journeys to find safety and security for their families with their unexpected animal companions. An author's note provides more context around Tang dynasty-era China and Depression-era Manhattan and draws further connections between the eras and environments in which each protagonist lived. VERDICT A rich triumph of historical fiction; recommended for all youth fiction collections.—Ashleigh Williams - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.