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Bound
Set in Pullman, WA, home of Washington State University (Go Cougs!) BOUND is a stunning debut novel that's perfect for fans of Sara Zarr and Francisco Stork.
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi, an adopted girl from India, burn survivor, and primary caretaker of her intellectually disabled sister, Joy, has one dream—to be a physician. Her traditional Indian father relies upon Rebecca to care for Joy while he buries himself in work to drown his grief over his wife’s death. Leaving home is the only way Rebecca can envision reaching her goal. She helps Joy develop greater independence, and is devastated when Joy becomes pregnant. Rebecca tussles—with her father and with herself—over who is responsible for Joy and her baby. When Rebecca discovers the truth of what happened the day she was burned, she struggles to hold onto her dream while wrestling with questions of life, love, and responsibility.
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi, an adopted girl from India, burn survivor, and primary caretaker of her intellectually disabled sister, Joy, has one dream—to be a physician. Her traditional Indian father relies upon Rebecca to care for Joy while he buries himself in work to drown his grief over his wife’s death. Leaving home is the only way Rebecca can envision reaching her goal. She helps Joy develop greater independence, and is devastated when Joy becomes pregnant. Rebecca tussles—with her father and with herself—over who is responsible for Joy and her baby. When Rebecca discovers the truth of what happened the day she was burned, she struggles to hold onto her dream while wrestling with questions of life, love, and responsibility.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2018
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26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 8, 2019
This is an interesting story with some issues that I haven’t come across before. This story revolves around the relationship between two sisters. This family has had to deal with a lot of tragedy – death of a parent, a developmentally challenged child, and a tragic accident. The main character Rebecca is a high school student with big dreams. A tragedy in her past has left her quite physically scarred. Her older sister Joy is developmentally delayed so in many ways acts like the younger sister. An event changes both their lives and sends them on a trajectory that is completely unexpected.
The parts about their background in India was quite interesting as well. I like how Rebecca was able to appreciate how fortunate she was to have been adopted. How different her life could have been and the incredible sacrifice that her birth mother made to give her a bright future.
I like the message - you are not a victim but a survivor. Due to the subject matter and language, this book seems more appropriate for older teens.
The parts about their background in India was quite interesting as well. I like how Rebecca was able to appreciate how fortunate she was to have been adopted. How different her life could have been and the incredible sacrifice that her birth mother made to give her a bright future.
I like the message - you are not a victim but a survivor. Due to the subject matter and language, this book seems more appropriate for older teens.
July 16, 2018
Whoa! What a book. It was hard to put down. So many emotions expressed in this book. I loved how the characters grew throughout the book. The feelings of the protagonist were raw and exposed. I really loved how the author approached so many tough topics and not in a preachy way. I could see my Junior High self loving this book.
November 7, 2018
Original story with unique characters and a rare look at Indian-American culture. So much of this book was enjoyable. Rebecca, a burn survivor marked by severe scarring and her mentally disabled sister Joy really stand out.
There's a little mystery, a lot of healing (physical and otherwise) and prominent life-related themes that are addressed organically in the story.
Looking forward to reading more novels by this author!
There's a little mystery, a lot of healing (physical and otherwise) and prominent life-related themes that are addressed organically in the story.
Looking forward to reading more novels by this author!
January 8, 2019
This is one of those stories I won't forget. And although I may not have made the same decisions as the main character, I certainly understand how her beginning and her life experiences influenced those decisions.
January 29, 2019
Within the first pages of Bound by Vijaya Bodach, the reader realizes that this is going to be a book that deals with serious issues. The main character, Rebecca Joshi who was adopted from India at birth, was burned six years earlier over 50% of her body; her older sister, Joy, is intellectually impaired; their mother died a year ago and their father has emotionally withdrawn from his daughters. To be honest I thought, is all that drama necessary in one novel?
Guess what?
It is.
Rebecca struggles for freedom. She wants to get rid of her burned skin--a constant reminder of how freakish she looks. She remembers her first "so-called cosmetic surgery... At age eleven-and-half. Yes, sir. Cosmetic. Because nobody ever died from looking hideous." (p. 13)
And she wants to get rid of her time-consuming and emotionally-draining responsibility for Joy. Rebecca, not their father, is the one who makes sure Joy gets to work. Rebecca is the younger sister who sticks up for her big sister when Joy is called a "retard." Their father, Rebecca concludes, is his own god.
One evening Joy urges Rebecca to come folk-dancing with her.
"I'll hold your hand," Joy says. "I'll never leave you."
That's what I'm afraid of sometimes. I don't want us to be like a binary star system--circling each other forever. (p. 6)
Rebecca wants desperately to go to medical school so she can return to India and help impoverished children. Hand in hand with this desire is her yearning to fling off the burden of always watching over Joy.
Rebecca helps Joy become more independent which relieves her of some of the responsibility she inherited after their mother's death. But as a result, Joy spends more and more time with a man from work and gets pregnant. Although Joy feels letdown by her boyfriend who wants no part of being a father, she quickly becomes attached to her unborn child. Rebecca sees the baby as one more obstacle to her leaving home for medical school and takes Joy to an abortion clinic.
At the abortion clinic Rebecca removes the ultrasound gel from Joy's belly and remembers her burn treatment.
They soaked me in a warm tub and my dead skin would peel off. What didn't come off had to be scrubbed off. They'd hold me down and rub away the stinking flesh. The nurses always said they knew I didn't have inhalation injuries because of my strong lungs. I wonder how I survived as I scrape the paper towel over Joy's beautiful belly one last time. She doesn't realize how lucky she is the pregnancy is not permanent. She can return to her normal life after this crisis is over. I have not been so fortunate. The massive burns have changed me and my life forever. I'm not even the same person I used to be. (p. 94)
Joy rejects abortion--much to Rebecca's and their father's disapproval. But gradually, Rebecca changes her mind as the unborn child becomes more real to the family. The three return to India to visit a beloved grandmother. In the familiar country of her birth, Rebecca thinks about why her mother put her up for adoption. After she considers the possible scenarios she concludes, "Whatever the cause she didn't want me. But at least she didn't deny me my life." (p. 165)
The dichotomy between Rebecca's high intelligence but deformed body, and Joy's simplistic thinking yet voluptuous body runs throughout the book. An additional thread is the mystery of the events surrounding Rebecca's accident. The reader discovers bits and pieces of what happened when Rebecca was 11--but the true story is not revealed until close to the end.
This beautifully written story shows a realistic portrayal of a young adult facing many personal, family, cultural, and moral dilemmas. The satisfactory ending--including the father's change of heart and accepting responsibility for Joy's future--will leave the reader feeling hopeful for Rebecca, Joy and her baby, and their family.
In our present socio-political climate, I applaud Vijaya Bodach for her brave pro-life position. I hope Bound will be a meaningful tool that counselors will use with young women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy.
Next week I'm interviewing Vijaya about the backstory to Bound. Leave a comment this week and I'll enter your name once. Leave me another one next week and you'll be in twice. Winner will be chosen on February 8th. www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com
Guess what?
It is.
Rebecca struggles for freedom. She wants to get rid of her burned skin--a constant reminder of how freakish she looks. She remembers her first "so-called cosmetic surgery... At age eleven-and-half. Yes, sir. Cosmetic. Because nobody ever died from looking hideous." (p. 13)
And she wants to get rid of her time-consuming and emotionally-draining responsibility for Joy. Rebecca, not their father, is the one who makes sure Joy gets to work. Rebecca is the younger sister who sticks up for her big sister when Joy is called a "retard." Their father, Rebecca concludes, is his own god.
One evening Joy urges Rebecca to come folk-dancing with her.
"I'll hold your hand," Joy says. "I'll never leave you."
That's what I'm afraid of sometimes. I don't want us to be like a binary star system--circling each other forever. (p. 6)
Rebecca wants desperately to go to medical school so she can return to India and help impoverished children. Hand in hand with this desire is her yearning to fling off the burden of always watching over Joy.
Rebecca helps Joy become more independent which relieves her of some of the responsibility she inherited after their mother's death. But as a result, Joy spends more and more time with a man from work and gets pregnant. Although Joy feels letdown by her boyfriend who wants no part of being a father, she quickly becomes attached to her unborn child. Rebecca sees the baby as one more obstacle to her leaving home for medical school and takes Joy to an abortion clinic.
At the abortion clinic Rebecca removes the ultrasound gel from Joy's belly and remembers her burn treatment.
They soaked me in a warm tub and my dead skin would peel off. What didn't come off had to be scrubbed off. They'd hold me down and rub away the stinking flesh. The nurses always said they knew I didn't have inhalation injuries because of my strong lungs. I wonder how I survived as I scrape the paper towel over Joy's beautiful belly one last time. She doesn't realize how lucky she is the pregnancy is not permanent. She can return to her normal life after this crisis is over. I have not been so fortunate. The massive burns have changed me and my life forever. I'm not even the same person I used to be. (p. 94)
Joy rejects abortion--much to Rebecca's and their father's disapproval. But gradually, Rebecca changes her mind as the unborn child becomes more real to the family. The three return to India to visit a beloved grandmother. In the familiar country of her birth, Rebecca thinks about why her mother put her up for adoption. After she considers the possible scenarios she concludes, "Whatever the cause she didn't want me. But at least she didn't deny me my life." (p. 165)
The dichotomy between Rebecca's high intelligence but deformed body, and Joy's simplistic thinking yet voluptuous body runs throughout the book. An additional thread is the mystery of the events surrounding Rebecca's accident. The reader discovers bits and pieces of what happened when Rebecca was 11--but the true story is not revealed until close to the end.
This beautifully written story shows a realistic portrayal of a young adult facing many personal, family, cultural, and moral dilemmas. The satisfactory ending--including the father's change of heart and accepting responsibility for Joy's future--will leave the reader feeling hopeful for Rebecca, Joy and her baby, and their family.
In our present socio-political climate, I applaud Vijaya Bodach for her brave pro-life position. I hope Bound will be a meaningful tool that counselors will use with young women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy.
Next week I'm interviewing Vijaya about the backstory to Bound. Leave a comment this week and I'll enter your name once. Leave me another one next week and you'll be in twice. Winner will be chosen on February 8th. www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com
July 14, 2018
A beautiful story of the bond between sisters!
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi has been through plenty of difficulties in her life: being abandoned as a newborn by her birth mother in India, growing up with a developmentally delayed older sister, suffering severe burn trauma as an eleven-year-old, the early death of her [adoptive] mother. She feels trapped by her scars and her past, as well as by her current state of caring for her sister as her father buries himself in his work. Things go from tough to unimaginable when her sister becomes the victim of manipulative abuse and learns she is pregnant. As Rebecca plans for her own future, she struggles with the weight of responsibility, hope and fear for her future, and a mystery about the day she was burned...
I loved the way Rebecca's ideas and ideologies change as her character develops in the story--without a touch of preachiness, the author is able to present both sides of many difficult topics that the characters encounter.
Look no further if you're interested in reading a story as diverse in its ideas as in its characters.
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Joshi has been through plenty of difficulties in her life: being abandoned as a newborn by her birth mother in India, growing up with a developmentally delayed older sister, suffering severe burn trauma as an eleven-year-old, the early death of her [adoptive] mother. She feels trapped by her scars and her past, as well as by her current state of caring for her sister as her father buries himself in his work. Things go from tough to unimaginable when her sister becomes the victim of manipulative abuse and learns she is pregnant. As Rebecca plans for her own future, she struggles with the weight of responsibility, hope and fear for her future, and a mystery about the day she was burned...
I loved the way Rebecca's ideas and ideologies change as her character develops in the story--without a touch of preachiness, the author is able to present both sides of many difficult topics that the characters encounter.
Look no further if you're interested in reading a story as diverse in its ideas as in its characters.
July 26, 2018
Vijaya's story held me bound, just as her compelling characters are bound by their circumstances, beliefs, and longings in her story. Teenage Rebecca longs to go to medical school and help poor children in India from where she herself was adopted. But she struggles with ties to her mentally disabled sister Joy for whom she's the primary caregiver since their mother's death the previous year. Their father has immersed himself in his academic work to deal with his grief and offers little help to the two girls. Rebecca also deals with horribly disfiguring scars from a severe burn she got as an 11-year-old. When unwed Joy becomes pregnant, Rebecca feels the ties binding her to home tightening even more. She's determined to break free and applies to college/med school programs in distant states. Vijaya's story is sensitive, thought-provoking, and authentic. She doesn't hesitate to deal with difficult ethical and moral questions, which makes the book a good one for stimulating discussion.
July 15, 2018
High-school senior Rebecca can't wait to go away to college -- far away, where she can leave behind her father, who's retreated into his work after her mom's death last year, and her developmentally-disabled older sister. Rebecca, who was burned over 50% of her body as a preteen, is still dealing with surgeries and treatments for the burn scars and can't remember the accident that caused the fire. But Rebecca's dad isn't dealing with Joy's needs, leaving Rebecca to make decisions far beyond her years. When Joy becomes pregnant, the family is forced to rework this unhealthy dynamic. This engaging story is a sensitive treatment of prolife themes including abortion, end-of-life issues, and eugenics. Appropriate for teenagers, this would make an excellent classroom read.
December 26, 2018
I was very disappointed with this book. The synopsis had so much potential but Rebecca in my opinion isn’t a very likable person. This also is a poster book for pro-life supporters when it really didn’t need to be. I did finish it, the twist at the end of Joy being the one who set her on fire was good but then just like that Rebecca is magically over it? No way, that’s like years of therapy type stuff. And since one of the main conflicts is that she wants to get out of her home town, it was really dissatisfying that she stays. I mean that’s cute when the baby is a few days old but seriously? You’re turning down full scholarships to stay a raise the baby that isn’t yours. Not only is it not yours, it’s your sisters who cannot care for it oh and SET YOU ON FIRE. Nope, just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2019
A wonderful YA story that deals with a lot of subjects that many teens (and others) face — being physically different or developmentally different, bullying, death of a parent, teen pregnancy and the options our society promotes to deal with it, pressure to be what parents want you to be, and others.
I was afraid it might get too depressing, seeing as the main character has these heavy issues to deal with, but Vijaya handles everything with a loving touch so that we do hurt with Rebecca but aren't overwhelmed. The love and care of Jesus shines through in a realistic and gentle way.
I was afraid it might get too depressing, seeing as the main character has these heavy issues to deal with, but Vijaya handles everything with a loving touch so that we do hurt with Rebecca but aren't overwhelmed. The love and care of Jesus shines through in a realistic and gentle way.
August 31, 2018
A powerful story beautifully written. Tough topics--eugenics, abortion, adoption, family (and more)--confronted unflinchingly, and yet with compassion. No didacticism or pat answers in BOUND. Echos of Jacquelyn Mitchard's SECOND NATURE. Both are love stories, too. A wonderful debut by author Vijaya Bodach. I recommend this novel used in classrooms for much-needed discussions.
I bought this book.
I bought this book.
May 12, 2019
An amazing book full of character development! The main character's growth was truly awesome along with the stories success in keeping the reader engaged. I had to as some may say, " chew and ingest slowly since I was taking huge bites out of this book."
July 26, 2018
BOUND by Vijaya Bodach is a book I would have liked to see in many high school class rooms, but not because it reads like a class room book. It is one of the few books that tell a good story in a compelling and convincing way while tackling deep life issues, always with compassion.
As others have commented in their reviews, it is the story of two sisters bound in life in ways many adolescents would like to imagine they are not.
Rebecca, the younger sister who narrates the story, doesn’t comes to this realization easily. Her inner struggles to carve a life away from family are authentically conveyed, and the reader goes through the gamut of emotions Rebecca does. Ms. Bodach has captured every sentiment a reader might experience, and delivered the voice of this high school girl in convincing and evocative writing style. One interesting choice was to use the present tense, which had the effect of putting this reader right there, in the moment. I think it would do the same for others.
“...And a little child shall lead them” [Isaiah 11:6] In BOUND the child is Joy, the older sister, a Twenty-something mentally delayed girl who’s an adult in body only. Her simple and direct ways of capturing reality are akin to a chronologically much younger person. But the wisest utterances seem to come out of Joy, (aptly named) and thus I found her the most captivating character. She understands “reality” in more real ways than most.
If I have any reservation, it might be my own shortcoming at grasping the almost instantaneous turnaround in Rebecca, first so bent on a quick removal of the obstacles to the life she dreams for herself. Then, in what seems like an instant, changing course. I imagined this was because once their father knew of the unplanned pregnancy; Rebecca feared less his reaction (because it already happened) and felt more the defiance she had held from the story’s onset. But it was too abrupt for me to fully take in. Maybe a re-reading or a discussion with others would help, which is why I wish I were reading it in class.
I hope to see many more YA/MG books from Ms. Bodach, an intelligent writer who respects her readers.
As others have commented in their reviews, it is the story of two sisters bound in life in ways many adolescents would like to imagine they are not.
Rebecca, the younger sister who narrates the story, doesn’t comes to this realization easily. Her inner struggles to carve a life away from family are authentically conveyed, and the reader goes through the gamut of emotions Rebecca does. Ms. Bodach has captured every sentiment a reader might experience, and delivered the voice of this high school girl in convincing and evocative writing style. One interesting choice was to use the present tense, which had the effect of putting this reader right there, in the moment. I think it would do the same for others.
“...And a little child shall lead them” [Isaiah 11:6] In BOUND the child is Joy, the older sister, a Twenty-something mentally delayed girl who’s an adult in body only. Her simple and direct ways of capturing reality are akin to a chronologically much younger person. But the wisest utterances seem to come out of Joy, (aptly named) and thus I found her the most captivating character. She understands “reality” in more real ways than most.
If I have any reservation, it might be my own shortcoming at grasping the almost instantaneous turnaround in Rebecca, first so bent on a quick removal of the obstacles to the life she dreams for herself. Then, in what seems like an instant, changing course. I imagined this was because once their father knew of the unplanned pregnancy; Rebecca feared less his reaction (because it already happened) and felt more the defiance she had held from the story’s onset. But it was too abrupt for me to fully take in. Maybe a re-reading or a discussion with others would help, which is why I wish I were reading it in class.
I hope to see many more YA/MG books from Ms. Bodach, an intelligent writer who respects her readers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews