From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Carousel Court: A Novel by Joe McGinniss Jr. (Simon & Schuster, $26, 9781476791272). "Carousel Court begins with the decline of a marriage as members of the Maguire family find themselves in the suburbs of Los Angeles, struggling to hold onto their last vestiges of power to control what feels like the free fall of their lives. Examining the paradox of both our over-connected and disconnected world, McGinniss' clear voice is beautifully balanced with the dark desperation he reveals as the all-too-common silent partner of our lives. This is a powerful book that should not be missed!" --Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, Calif.
Arrowood: A Novel by Laura McHugh (Spiegel & Grau, $27, 9780812996395). "When her father dies, Arden inherits Arrowood, her childhood home. The little town of Keokuk, Iowa, has seen more prosperous days, as has Arrowood, which has stood vacant for years. Arden decides to move back to Keokuk and re-establish the search for her two-year-old twin siblings who disappeared 20 years earlier under her watch. With the help of Ben, her childhood friend and a longtime resident of Keokuk, Arden re-examines the disappearance, hoping to not only find the twins, but also make peace with her own deep-rooted secrets." --Brenda Jordan, Murder By the Book, Houston, Tex.
Paperback
The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories by Anthony Marra (Hogarth, $16, 9780770436452). "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is one of my favorite novels of the last several years, and now Marra follows that up with a dazzling set of linked stories set in Russia, Chechnya, and Siberia over a period of time spanning from the Russian Revolution to the modern day and beyond. As with his debut novel, what I love are the characters that he makes readers care so deeply about, as well as the fact that I constantly found myself wanting to know more about their lives and the history of their countries. Get on the Marra train now because one thing is certain: He is one of our brightest young talents writing today." --Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, Miss.
For Ages 4 to 8
Rules of the House by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matt Meyers (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99, 9781423185161). "Every family has one: a rule follower. They ruin all the fun. They tell Mom and Dad. They deserve to be pinched. Jenny and her rule-following brother, Ian, go for a holiday to the house in the woods where the bear rug watches every move and the evil wood stove's red eyes glow in the dark. When Jenny breaks ALL the house rules, Ian must save her... by breaking a rule!" --Marya Johnston, Out West Books, Grand Junction, Colo.
For Ages 9 to 12: Revisit & Rediscover
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher (Aladdin, $7.99, 9780689830518). Originally published in 1998. "Marjan has the gift of remembering and telling stories. Shahrazad has a similar gift and has saved her own life and the lives of other young women by telling her stories to the Sultan every night. When Shahrazad runs out of tales, she calls upon Marjan to help her secretly gather more. Marjan's quiet life quickly becomes one of adventure and danger. This rich and exciting retelling of One Thousand and One Nights will captivate older middle-grade readers and teach them the power of story." --Holly Weinkauf, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, Minn.
For Teen Readers
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (Greenwillow, $17.99, 9780062380852). "August and Kate live in a broken world where violence breeds actual monsters. Kate wants to embrace her monstrous side, while August would do anything to be human. This Savage Song takes the darkness of the world around us and gives it form. Schwab has gifted readers with a fascinating--if gory--urban fantasy world, a pair of unforgettable protagonists, and a question that will linger long in the minds of readers: What does it mean to be inhuman in a world where humans do such monstrous things?" --Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books & Music, Millerton, N.Y.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
