Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2026 In this spoofy new offering, Gardner (the Horace and Bunwinkle series) pulls readers into the goofy underworld of the Furetto family—a ferret crime family that controls the doings at their local events arena. Fil Furetto would rather be in the kitchen cooking than working in the family biz, but when he stumbles on a plan to undermine the outcome of the upcoming dog show on his family’s turf, he has no choice but to get involved. While trying to discover who is behind the plot, he befriends Dot, the sassy corgi being targeted, and they team up to solve the mystery, even as a rival gang moves in on Furetto territory. Gardner’s style is wacky with lots of heart, and she creates characters with fleshed out personalities that go beyond stereotypes. The situations themselves nicely balance elements of comedy, mystery, and adventure, all of which get an extra layer of charm from Jessell’s sweet graphite illustrations. With loads of laughs and a satisfying conclusion, this unconventional caper will have readers howling for more. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.