From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit: A Kopp Sisters Novel by Amy Stewart (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $26, 9781328736512). "I have enjoyed Amy Stewart's Miss Kopp adventures since the beginning, and this fourth novel is just as good as the first. With a feminist edge and true historical details, Amy Stewart has brought Constance Kopp to life in such a well-developed and interesting manner; not only are the characters exemplary, but the story is grabbing and exciting as well. I hope this is not the end of Constance and her sisters, because World War I is on the brink and I think they would be the perfect small-town heroines for the fight." --Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, Md.
One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy by Carol Anderson (Bloomsbury, $27, 9781635571370). "Far from an isolated event, the 2016 election was the culmination of generations of efforts to prevent communities of color from taking part in elections and having the full weight of their votes counted. One Person, No Vote comes at a time when we need every piece of knowledge available to turn the tide of voter suppression and reclaim our democracy. Through exhaustive research deconstructing and explaining decades of policy, Carol Anderson provides a clear look at how laws were bent through the slow degradation of democracy and how circumstances can be righted once more." --Amanda Ibarra, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Paperback
A Hundred Small Lessons: A Novel by Ashley Hay (Washington Square Press, $16, 9781501165146). "This a beautifully written, important, quiet gem of a novel that takes hold of you and wends its way into your psyche. It tells the story of two families who live in the same house at different times in Brisbane, plumbing the relationships between mothers and children, husbands and wives. Marriage and motherhood are explored in-depth within the context of the story's rich character development. A Hundred Small Lessons is a welcome addition to the genre of thoughtful novels with much wisdom to offer the reader. I highly recommend this novel, whose life lessons will continue to live with me for years to come." --Sarajane Giddings, Blue Door Books, Cedarhurst, N.Y.
For Ages 4 to 8
What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris (Chronicle, $17.99, 9781452173139). "Dave Eggers explores the meaning of citizenship in his newest picture book. Set against Shawn Harris's stunning cut-paper illustrations, each page suggests something that a citizen can do or be, and each page could be used as a launch pad for a class or family discussion. The book encourages participation in difficult conversations as well as practicing kindness to others. When it comes down to it, isn't that what citizenship is?" --Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, Tex.
For Ages 9 to 12
Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older (Arthur A. Levine, 9781338268812, $16.99) "This book walks the awesome tightrope of acknowledging that fantasy could not possibly create villains more horrifying than the true figures of history, while allowing kids to engage with the fantastic that makes those realities bearable. This book lets kids who rarely see themselves as the heroes of historical fiction to see themselves there, and shows them pieces of history that may have been left out of their history lessons. At the same time, it's a great adventure with a dynamic team at its core, who are a joy to meet and adventure with. And also? DINOSAURS!" --Katherine Ferguson, Harvard Book Store, Cambridge, Mass.
For Teen Readers
The War Outside by Monica Hesse (Little, Brown, $17.99, 9780316316699). "These teens couldn't be more different: Haruko, Japanese American, outgoing, popular, compliant; and Margot, German American, reclusive, mistrustful, analytical. But what they have in common is more important: they're very bright, observant members of families in turmoil, and in 1944 they're living in an internment camp for enemy aliens. A secret and unlikely friendship becomes a lifeline for both of them. Like Hesse's Girl in the Blue Coat, this riveting novel takes readers where we've never imagined going, with twists, turns, and startling intensity. The book is mesmerizing, empathetic, and incredibly timely in its treatment of injustice and fear of the other." --Banna Rubinow, the river's end bookstore, Oswego, N.Y.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
