From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Leopard at the Door: A Novel by Jennifer McVeigh (Putnam, $26, 9780399158254). "Leopard at the Door is a beautifully layered coming-of-age novel set in a Kenya still under the yoke of colonial British rule. Rachel, whose beloved mother died when she was 12, returns to the country she loves after six years in England. She struggles against the expectations of her father and his new partner, Susan, whom Rachel has a difficult time accepting. Fine writing weaves Rachel's story with the essence of Kenya, the treatment of its people, and the uprising of the Mau Mau who seek independence. This is a thrillingly taut novel--with a clever title, too!"--Biddy Kehoe, Hockessin Book Shelf, Hockessin, Del.
Freebird: A Novel by Jon Raymond (Graywolf Press, $26, 9781555977603). "This multigenerational story is a road-trip novel, an ecological disaster drama, and a harrowing post-Iraq War PTSD portrait all rolled into one highly readable, gorgeously written book. Raymond tells this story peering over the shoulders of three strong characters, each of whom have to reconcile feelings of love--both romantic and familial--with the brutal realities of life during wartime. Despite its dark turns, Freebird is a book filled with hope for its characters as well as love for the real world it ably attempts to recreate and offer respite from." --John Francisconi, Bank Square Books, Mystic, Conn.
Paperback
After the Crash: A Novel by Michel Bussi (Hachette, $15, 9780316309691). "This old-fashioned crime novel by a French geography professor considers the miraculous survival of a three-month-old infant girl in an airplane crash in the Jura Mountains in which all perished--including a second three-month-old baby. An 18-year struggle is unleashed between two rival sets of grandparents on opposite ends of the economic scale, one of which is accorded custody of the child. Does she really belong to that family? Is her brother really her brother? As the age of majority of the survivor approaches, the questions become more urgent and the private detective who has been on the case for 18 years tries to bring some closure." --Darwin Ellis, Books on the Common, Ridgefield, Conn.
For Ages 4 to 8
That's Me Loving You by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Teagan White (Random House, $16.99, 9781101932384). "In a simple poem offering the reassurance of continued love despite distance, Rosenthal gives readers a beautiful gift, and White's illustrations are wonderfully inclusive. As someone with beloved little family members far away, this book really strikes a chord! I love the portrayal of everyday experiences that can remind us of each other when we're apart." --Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, Wash.
For Ages 9 to 12
Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh (Crown, $16.99, 9781101934593). "This anthology, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, features the work of favorite authors, including Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, Matt de la Peña, Grace Lin, Walter Dean Myers, and others, all celebrating both the uniqueness and the universality in all of us. The common theme throughout these stories is that success can be achieved and hardship can be overcome. An important collection for all middle grade readers!" --Abby Fennelly, Buttonwood Books & Toys, Cohasset, Mass.
For Teen Readers
Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos (Bloomsbury, 9781681190358, $17.99). "Jared and Deidre have two loving but very different daughters, Jackie and Megan. When Jared, a state congressman, is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, he is panicked that his family will not be cared for financially, so he decides to auction off his life to the highest bidder. An unscrupulous reality TV producer buys the right to film--and exploit--the family, but Jackie has other plans. This story is raw, unflinching, and beautiful in the midst of heartbreak. Perfect for contemporary teen fiction readers." --Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, Tex.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
