Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2025 Mella wants to paint, but girls aren’t allowed to join the artists’ guild. So, instead, she works as a chicken girl, caring for the flock when she’s not busy cleaning brushes for the artists in Botticelli’s studio. She’s desperate to become an apprentice herself, so when a junior apprentice to the great artist steals some of her sketches and claims them as his own, she makes a deal with him: she will teach him how to draw and he will teach her how to paint. Within the story, the reader is taken through the steps of building a frame, preparing the canvas, and making the paint, explaining how each step adds to the creation of a masterpiece worthy of the Sistine Chapel. Lush, detailed backgrounds add texture to the story and gorgeous soft color illuminates each panel. A dense author’s note offers more detail about the historical inspirations for her characters and some pertinent art history, nicely expanding the story and providing some useful context. Delightful for fans of art, artists, and historical fiction. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.