From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
The High Season: A Novel by Judy Blundell (Random House, $27, 9780525508717). "What would you do to keep your home by the sea on Long Island? Maybe rent it out for the summer in order to get some cash to pay the bills? But what if the person who rents the house this summer is out to get more than the house? Ruthie's about to find out what she's capable of when the rich and famous Adeline Clay takes over her nest. The parties, invited guests, and nasty business keep building, until, finally, Ruthie reaches the end of her patience and there's only one thing left to do. You'll be glad you decided to go along on this ride!" --Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, Wash.
Hardcover: An Indies Introduce Title
MEM: A Novel by Bethany C. Morrow (The Unnamed Press, $24.99, 9781944700553). "Adding fictional scientific breakthroughs to a glittering era of history is a setup for a great plot, but it takes an artist's hand to carry it beyond its initial gimmick. Bethany C. Morrow's examination of memory, desire, and what makes us human flourishes in its alternative historical setting. Her writing is as well-paced as her plot, in which the Mems develop beyond their creator's intentions and the most evolved of them suffers at our least-evolved hands. Morrow's novel has a beauty to it that underlines its critical depth and heart-racing conclusion." --Hannah Oliver Depp, WORD, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Paperback
What We Lose: A Novel by Zinzi Clemmons (Penguin Books, $16, 9780735221734). "What We Lose is a quietly brilliant book detailing the way loss manifests itself in the life of its narrator, Thandi, and the reader, as Clemmons' writing shines back on you, too. The death of Thandi's mother brings about the loss of childhood innocence, her connection with her past, and her identity as a black woman. Clemmons' book is told in vignettes, stories and thoughts, with the narrative of this time in Thandi's life slowly swirling through it. It's as powerful a meditation on grief as I've ever read." --Stefanie Schmidt, Water Street Bookstore, Exeter, N.H.
For Ages 4 to 8
Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli (Random House, $17.99, 9780399550560) "Shhhhh. Crunch the Dinosaur wants to come out and play, but he is just too shy. Whisper his name and maybe he will venture out to join you. Engaging and interactive, this cute new dinosaur tale will delight young readers over and over again." --Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, N.C.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Boy From Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis (Amberjack, $15.99, 9781944995614). "A tale of friendship and loyalty that crosses the boundaries of time, The Boy From Tomorrow engages readers from the first page. Seances, psychics, and Ouija boards create a setting both mystical and dangerous. I loved exploring the possibilities of communicating across time with Josie and Alec and appreciated their indestructible friendship." --Laura DeLaney, Rediscovered Books, Boise, Idaho
For Teen Readers
Undead Girl Gang: A Novel by Lily Anderson (Razorbill, $17.99, 9780451478238). "Brilliant, bold, and badass: This describes the Undead Girl Gang and its one-of-a-kind protagonist, Camila Flores, a curvy Mexican Wiccan out to avenge her best friend's murder. After bringing BFF Riley back to life to catch the killer, Mila is shocked to realize she also brought back the two most popular girls in school, recently dead as the result of a suicide pact. Frenemies and besties alike team up in this epic girl-power punch." --Sami Thomason, Square Books, Oxford, Miss.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
