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
Only Killers and Thieves: A Novel by Paul Howarth (Harper, $26.99, 9780062690968). "An unforgettable first line propels this debut novel about two brothers on the Australian frontier who are drawn into a world of conflict and revenge that tests their beliefs and morals to the ultimate degree. The age-old conflict between settlers and indigenous people is played out on the southern continent much as it was in the American West and Russian East. As the brothers become deeply embroiled, they enter a savage and unforgiving landscape, both physically and culturally, and it becomes the ultimate test of their growth and humanity. This is a work that is as unrelenting as the world it describes and will long linger with the reader." --Bill Cusumano, Square Books, Oxford, Miss.
Hardcover
Red Clocks: A Novel by Leni Zumas (Little, Brown, $26, 9780316434812). "I never understood what it meant for someone's writing to be 'lyrical' until I picked up Red Clocks. With beautiful prose, Leni Zumas tells the story of a young girl seeking an abortion in a world where abortion is illegal and dangerous; a woman on the quest to have children when in-vitro fertilization is illegal and folks aren't allowed to adopt without a partner; a woman in a dead-end marriage desperate to escape from her husband and children; and a woman considered a witch by most who provides homeopathic reproductive healthcare, including illegal abortions. Zumas beautifully weaves these stories together and gives each individual a strong and unique voice, while also maintaining suspended disbelief. These characters felt real and this world felt possible. I suspect this will be one of the best books published in 2018." --Hanna Foster, BookPeople, Austin, Tex.
Paperback
American War: A Novel by Omar El Akkad (Vintage, $16.95, 9781101973134). "Omar El Akkad has delivered a stunning debut. He imagines a world in a not-too-distant future where Americans are at war with each other once again. The characters in this story are fully developed and individual, yet their histories--their stories--extend into the histories of all those displaced and affected by the forces of war. The title, American War, is a shape-shifter. At once, it means that America is again at war, but at times reflects the ways in which the true, actual wars that America has perpetrated on Earth have affected the lives of millions of people. This will be one of the most discussed books of the year, and I cannot wait to put it in the hands of all readers looking to be changed." --Matt Keliher, SubText Books, St. Paul, Minn.
For Ages 4 to 8
Lola Dutch by Kenneth Wright, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright (Bloomsbury, $17.99, 9781681195513). "I love that this book supports creativity and hands-on experience, and also learning--diving head-first into anything you're interested in! What a wonderful message for young learners. And the best part: the jacket flap unfolds to be a dollhouse. They really pulled out all the stops with this book. It's a classic in the making!" --Alison Nolen, Linden Tree Children's Books, Los Altos, Calif.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor (Katherine Tegen, $16.99, 9780062491435). "Mason Buttle is my new superhero. With one friend dead and another missing, poor Mason is the number-one suspect. Fighting against his learning disabilities, Mason finds a way to tell his story and help solve the crime. Themes of perseverance, true friendship, and self-worth are layered throughout this captivating story. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and hope it gets all the recognition it deserves!" --Nichole Cousins, White Birch Books, North Conway, N.H.
For Teen Readers
Truly Devious: A Mystery by Maureen Johnson (Katherine Tegen, $17.99, 9780062338051). "Johnson delivers on everything a great YA book needs: a bit of romance, some quirky teen characters at a quirky boarding school, and a delicious murder mystery that leaves the reader guessing at every turn. I couldn't put it down!" --Melissa Fox, Watermark Books, Wichita, Kan.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
