From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Dear Mrs. Bird: A Novel by AJ Pearce (Scribner, $26, 9781501170065). "What initially seems like a breezy career girl story quickly turns into a gripping novel set in the World War II London blitzkrieg. During the nightly bombing runs, Emmeline volunteers at a nearby fire dispatch center. She dreams of becoming a journalist, but instead lands a day job screening advice-seeking letters for a weekly magazine, Women's Friends. All too soon, she and her friends become victims of the bombings and must deal with losses and new horrors each night. In Dear Mrs. Bird, AJ Pearce has given us a most memorable story about both the visible and hidden casualties of war. Recommended for all, including book clubs!" --Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault, Oskaloosa, Iowa
America for Beginners: A Novel by Leah Franqui (Morrow, $26.99, 9780062668752). "A poignant story that confronts cultural, racial, and gender stereotypes through three people who end up on a trip across the U.S. The story revolves around a Bengali widow of means whose gay son was disowned; a young Bangladeshi man who has a job as a tour agent; and a young, white American woman who aspires to be an actress. These three are united in the journey initiated by the widow to tour the U.S., but really to find her son and confront his lover. Courage to face the unknown--whether it is a foreign country or questioning a previously held conviction--shapes the story and shows that we all have the potential to grow and change." --Susan Bush, Island Bound Bookstore, Block Island, R.I.
Paperback: An Indies Introduce Title
I Didn't Talk by Beatriz Bracher, translated by Adam Morris (New Directions, $15.95, 9780811227360). "Above all, I Didn't Talk is about memory and guilt, and the narrator's endless struggle against them. Long celebrated in Brazil, Beatriz Bracher's first work to be translated to English will leave you astonished and just wanting more." --Adlai Yeomans, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, Pa.
For Ages 4 to 8
Something Smells! by Blake Liliane Hellman, illustrated by Steven Henry (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy, $17.99, 9781481488648). "Something Smells! certainly does not stink! This charming picture book is a winner in every way. After young Elliot awakens to a powerful odor wafting through the house, he searches for its source. It isn't his pets, a skunk, or even Dad. Whimsical illustrations reveal a loving family highlighted by the very appealing (and clueless) Elliot. This funny tale with its oh-so-gentle message is a joy to read aloud. Listeners will giggle knowingly. Don't miss this!" --Christopher Rose, The Spirit of '76 Bookstore, Marblehead, Mass.
For Ages 9 to 12: An Indies Introduce Title
The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider, illustrated by Chi Birmingham (Disney-Hyperion, $16.99, 9781484780541). "Imagine being a seventh-grader whose parents own and work in a cadaver lab and who love their work and constantly talk about their favorite body parts. Imagine having to give up summer camp plans to work in this body part lab that you consider extremely gross. As if that was not bad enough for Fovea (whose name means eyeballs, by the way), imagine having disembodied thawing heads begin to talk to you! Throw in a tiger kidnapping, weird recording sessions, a random mugger, and an order for 600 legs, and you have the makings for a never-to-be-forgotten summer. Well-written and destined to be a favorite of middle readers." --Pat Trotter, Bookends on Main, Menomonie, Wis.
For Teen Readers
Monday's Not Coming: A Novel by Tiffany D. Jackson (Katherine Tegen, $17.99, 9780062422675). "Monday's Not Coming is a heartbreaking story of a missing teenager, a community that seems not to notice, and a best friend who will go to whatever lengths it takes to find her missing friend. Tiffany D. Jackson weaves together multiple timelines, increasing the tension and emotion until you reach an ending that will haunt you long after you finish the book. This is a difficult but important and timely story. Highly recommended for teen and adult readers." --Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
