Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2024 Gr 3–7—A mighty collection of 15 tales of Black girlhood from titans of kid lit. The entries run the genre gamut, deftly tackling common tween concerns such as bullying, identity, and first-day-of-school jitters through prisms of tongue-in-cheek fantasy, heartfelt realism, and even a touch of horror. An incumbent seventh-grade class president works hard to correct her big mistake in Sharon G. Flake's "Fake President," while an aspiring opera singer takes one step closer to her dream (despite her parents' skepticism), with the help of her sister in Tolá Okogwu's "An Aria for Abi." Prevalent throughout is the theme of Black girls tackling big life changes, and realizing they possess the inner strength to weather their respective storms. Also emphasized is the power of friendship, family, and community; most of the protagonists succeed thanks to unexpected allies or supportive loved ones. Highlights include Amerie's "The House Downstairs"—a delightfully unnerving horror story of two sisters battling a sinister dollhouse that wants them to stay, forever—and Reneé Watson's "Black Girl, Be," a lyrical beckoning for Black girls to delight in everything they are and all they can be, even (and especially) when the world does not. Readers will enjoy dipping into these bite-sized stories of complex characters finding their footing. VERDICT An anthology that beams with heart and hope, especially for young Black girls. Recommended for all middle grade collections.—Ashleigh Williams - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 10/15/2024 *Starred Review* Fifteen powerhouse Black authors—Sharon Flake, Renée Watson, Kekla Magoon, and Ibi Zoboi, to name a few—come together to create an anthology of stories celebrating the power of Black girls. From a neighbor teaching a girl who has lost her mother how to take care of her crown (hair) to a girl exacting revenge on mean girls at a magical pastry school, each story gives its main character the opportunity to find her inner power and celebrate her Black coming-of-age experience. Various ethnicities are celebrated, including Afro-Asian and African immigrants. Some characters identify within the LBGTQIA+ community or have family members that are a part of it. While some tales deal with microaggressions, classism, and racism, these don’t form the overall theme or purpose of the anthology. At its core, each story carries the theme of the power inside each Black girl to be strong and believe in herself. Black girl readers will find something they can relate to and believe in, while those outside the culture will gain additional understanding of what is meant by the phrase “Black girl magic.” A celebration of Black girl power that is essential for all middle-grade collections. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.