From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover: An Indies Introduce Title
We Shall Not All Sleep by Estep Nagy (Bloomsbury, $26, 9781632868411). "I was completely immersed in this perfectly constructed novel of two families vacationing on an island in Maine during the Cold War summer of 1964. Nagy contrasts the warm, idyllic, beautifully rendered setting with the chill of manipulations and deceptions both personal and political. The family dynamics could best be summed up by the father, who explains to his young son how important it is to 'learn when to lie, to whom, and to do it well.' "--Sarah Goddin, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, N.C.
Hardcover
Drunks: An American History by Christopher M. Finan (Beacon Press, $29.95, 9780807001790). "The long and evolving history of alcoholism and corresponding sobriety movements in America is fascinating, for both its colorful characters and its complex interface with religion and the sciences. In Finan's astute, well-researched, and entertaining narrative, this story of sober drunks offers both understanding and insight into a critically important subject whose nature has long been occluded and subsumed in stigma." --Kenny Brechner, Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers, Farmington, Me.
Paperback
The Trouble With Goats and Sheep: A Novel by Joanna Cannon (Scribner, $16, 9781501121906). "Best friends Grace and Tilly spend England's sweltering summer of 1976 sleuthing for clues to uncover the reason for their neighbor's disappearance. They go from house to house, neighbor to neighbor, investigating as only guileless little girls can do. While they're at it, they also look for god in the most unusual places. As the mystery of the neighborhood is slowly revealed, so are the many secrets behind every door on the avenue. If you loved A Man Called Ove, you will love The Trouble With Goats and Sheep. Funny, quirky and profound!" --Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, Colo.
For Ages 4 to 8
Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten by Candice Ransom, illustrated by Christine Grove (Doubleday, $17.99, 9780399554551). "The first day of kindergarten sure is tough for Amanda Panda. Nothing is going the way she expected, and quitting seems to be the only option. Luckily for Amanda Panda, Bitsy wants to be her friend. Together they learn to conquer all the challenges of kindergarten." --Kidron Mariotti, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, N.C.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Someday Suitcase by Corey Ann Haydu (Katherine Tegen, $16.99, 9780062352750). "There is nothing like a best friend, and Clover knows that Danny will always be hers. Now in fifth grade, Clover is passionate about science, facts, and compiling evidence. When Danny suddenly becomes gravely ill and the doctors can't give him a diagnosis, Clover makes Danny her project for the science fair and keeps a notebook about Danny's symptoms to assist the doctors in any way she can. But a bit of magic takes over science: Danny always seems to improve or feel a little better when Clover is close to him. Clover and Danny make plans to embark on an incredible adventure with their own special wishes in mind. This wistful novel full of the love of a deep friendship will make you wish that Clover and Danny were your friends. I enjoyed their journey so much!" --Joanne Doggart, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham, Mass.
For Teen Readers
Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson (HarperTeen, $17.99, 9780062393548). "Three young women who will never meet but whose paths are intertwined in startling ways are linked together over space and time by their indomitable spirit and their desire for a better future. Adri is one of a chosen few to help colonize Mars in 2065 after climate change has irreversibly damaged Earth. Catherine's family farms in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era and faces grim choices to survive. Lenore, an Englishwoman traumatized in World War I, decides to leave for America. All three young women must choose to start their lives anew and recreate themselves in ways they can barely imagine. Readers of all ages will be surprised by their connection and moved by the sincerity of their hope." --Cindy Pauldine, The River's End Bookstore, Oswego, N.Y.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
