Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/28/2025 Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Cincinnati Lee is a thief, but for a good reason. Her great-great-great grandfather, a famous archeologist, put a curse on the family through his looted goods and now, following his diary, Cincinnati must break it. Cin's mom, who is Chinese and white, is a fundraiser for the Cosmopolitan Museum of New York, where Cincinnati spends much of her time with brilliant forger (and best friend) Felix. She discovers an evil villain is conspiring with a well-known collector to find the Spear of Destiny, an artifact with ultimate power to reverse her curse—or destroy the world! Cin's new friend Parsley, a fashion-forward Black girl, becomes her willing (and sometimes unwilling) accomplice as she sneaks into art auctions, scales rooftops to warehouses, and finds her way to a houseboat in Paris to recover the spear and perhaps change her destiny. With a mix of reality, the supernatural, and unbelievable situations, this story makes an entertaining read. The first-person narration highlights Cin as an erudite tween trying to save her family and figure out friendships. Some references might go over the heads of the intended readership with their focus on the illegal artifact trade, referencing real museums and cases, such the Hobby Lobby scandal and the legendary Indiana Jones. These are explained in the author's note, so unfamiliar topics could spark conversations. VERDICT An adventure heist that tries to emulate the excitement of Indiana Jones, while adroitly opening their eyes to the problematic issues of smuggling and looting ancient artifacts for tweens who like a rollicking story.—Clare A. Dombrowski - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2025 *Starred Review* Cincinnati Lee loves archeology as much as her great-great-something-grandfather did, and he dedicated his life to recovering ancient artifacts for preservation and display in museums. But Cincinnati is certain that her ancestor’s work, however well intentioned, has left their family cursed, and she feels it’s her responsibility to return all the artifacts to their places of origin. Luckily, her mom’s work at a New York City museum puts her in proximity to plenty of relics. But a rumor about the hunt for the Spear of Destiny sees Cincinnati sucked into a race against older, more-experienced treasure hunters who want the relic’s supposed powers for their own gain. Can Cincinnati (and a few unexpected allies) find a way to beat them to the spear while staying true to their own moral code? It’s a terrific tale, worthy of its Indiana Jones inspiration (fedora included) yet still fresh, and Cincinnati feels like a fully realized friend, flaws and all. There are surprises aplenty, real danger, and lots of laughs, and Heilig pulls no punches in her thoughtful discussions of museum ethics and lightly disguised Hobby Lobby scandals. Any amateur archaeologist or adventurer-appreciator will adore the brisk pace, delightfully well-rounded cast, and deepening mystery that whisks readers around the world and into high-stakes situations. A fantastic, adventurous foray into the ethics of archaeology. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.