Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/08/2024 Gr 3–7—Valeria is a 13-year-old athlete with skill, speed, and power who shines in her town, and on the boys' team, The Overlords. When adversity in the form of menstruation makes its appearance, more than soccer is upended in her life. She is rejected by her team and coaches who don't know how to handle her changing body. Her relationship with her grandfather sours (Abuelo is also a coach, and didn't defend Valeria's position on the team). This betrayal crushes her, and what follows is a toxic silence between grandfather and granddaughter. When Valeria joins a girls' team, she has a sisterhood to help her navigate menstruation and challenge the stigma associated with periods. While this novel touches on many relevant topics for young people, there is still the question of a father figure's silence and the damage done to a child. In the end, there is no explanation or discussion for why Valeria's abuelo abandoned her when she needed him most. At a certain point in the novel, the grandfather comforts Valeria after she commits a terrible foul on the pitch. The embrace is what readers are waiting for, but it feels unearned without an actual discussion of the pair's horrible silence that spanned a couple hundred pages. The author's prose excels at depicting fútbol and its culture, as well as sisterhood in sports. But the depiction of a toxic male figure could benefit from more unpacking. VERDICT For middle grade readers who love complicated families, sports, and realistic fiction, this novel will be a strong fit.—Stephanie Creamer - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2024 *Starred Review* Valeria “Magic” Salomón lives for soccer, and she’s more than proved her mettle as the lone girl on her grandfather’s decorated team, the Overlords. They’re poised to dominate the state championship until a host of things goes wrong: her aunt is near death in Argentina, her absent father misses another important game, and Valeria gets her first period in the middle of a semifinals match and has to leave the field. When the team is ultimately eliminated, Valeria is sure that something has shifted between her and the otherwise all-male squad, and her fears are confirmed when she overhears a conversation about her leaving her beloved Overlords—a decision that her grandfather immediately affirms. Feeling betrayed and lost, Valeria is eager to join the talented girls’ team, but will they accept her when she’s overlooked them for so long? The wonderfully wide-ranging story will appeal to readers both inside the sports sphere and not, and it touches on an incredible variety of topics, all treated with equal importance. Complicated, caring family dynamics and gorgeous friendships that overcome the bumps of adolescence are beautiful to behold. There are also thought-provoking meditations on grief, the immigrant experience, and gendered-sports struggles. Frank (and often funny) discussions of menstruation and period products are another welcome inclusion. An emotional and engaging examination of the fundamentals: family, friendship, and fútbol. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.