IndieBound: Other Indie Favorites

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Mr. Flood's Last Resort: A Novel by Jess Kidd (Atria Books, $26, 9781501180637). "Jess Kidd has done it again. I absolutely loved her first book, Himself, and her latest does not disappoint. This tale of Mr. Flood and his caregiver, Maud, brings together eccentric characters, ghosts, saints, a crumbling mansion, missing children, and a suspicious suicide. It perfectly balances tragedy with dark comedy; the dialogue crackles and every detail enchants. I will miss spending time in Maud's world." --Kathi Kirby, Powell's Books, Portland, Ore.

The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil (Crown, $26, 9780451495327). "The Girl Who Smiled Beads is a beautiful and heartbreaking look into the life of a woman who survived the genocide in Rwanda. I was so moved by Clemantine's story of her escape and time as a child refugee, and equally moved by her struggle to come to terms with her experiences after moving to the U.S. Looking at what happened through the story of someone who escaped as a child makes the horrors even more viscerally felt by the reader. I am humbled and grateful to have been able to read this important account." --Hillary Smith, Copperfield's Books, Sebastopol, Calif.

Paperback
The Marriage Pact: A Novel by Michelle Richmond (Bantam, $16, 9780553386363). "The world has gone wacko lately, and in the fictional world of The Marriage Pact a secret group forms that ostensibly seeks to protect the integrity of marriage. With guidelines to follow to keep the worst from happening, it isn't long before newlyweds Alice and Jake find themselves in trouble. One of them breaks a rule and the consequences are, well, scary. A thriller like no other, this book may make you take a second look at your neighbors and ask yourself: how far you would go to keep your marriage intact?" --Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, Wash.

For Ages 4 to 8
Moon by Alison Oliver (Clarion, $17.99, 9781328781604). "Max (of Where the Wild Things Are fame) would be BFFs with Moon from Oliver's new picture book, which is charming and imaginative, with glimpses of sly humor in the illustrations. Like Moon, we should all learn to take more time to be still, be wild, and be free." --BrocheAroe Fabian, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, N.C.

For Ages 9 to 12
Granted by John David Anderson (Walden Pond Press, $16.99, 9780062643865). "Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is no ordinary fairy--she is a Granter, one of the select few whose job it is to venture beyond the boundaries of the Haven and grant the wishes of unsuspecting humans every day. No matter how prepared she believes she is, Ophelia doesn't expect the major adventures she encounters with humans. Readers learn about the importance of our wishes, as well as the difficulties fairies face in getting our wishes granted. Hopefully my wish for a second volume of adventures with Ophelia will come to pass. Highly recommended for all 'wishers' ages seven and up." --Candace Moreno, San Marino Toy & Book Shop, San Marino, Calif.

For Teen Readers
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw (Simon Pulse, $17.99, 9781481497343). "Centuries ago, the Swan sisters were drowned for witchcraft. Now, for a few weeks each year, they claim the bodies of three girls and use them to draw men into the harbor to drown. For those weeks, tourists flood the town and the locals dare each other to go near the water. They call it the Swan Season. The Wicked Deep is haunting, sad, and satisfying. The sisters' anger is so thoroughly understandable, it is easy to see how they would want to lure men into the harbor. This is the perfect book for Practical Magic fans or anyone looking for a crisp, immersive read." --Amy Brabenec, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, Mass.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

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