From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Aerialists: Stories by Mark Mayer (Bloomsbury, $26, 9781635572179). "This might very well be my favorite short story collection of all time. More than that, Aerialists is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and emotionally resonant books I have ever read, a poignant collection of stories that are at once heartbreaking and life-affirming but always profoundly human. Debut author Mark Mayer is a genuine revelation. He writes with dizzying insight and uncanny grace, his prose sparkling brilliantly in the light. Like a great ringmaster, he captivates the attention of his audience and shows us the rich weirdness hiding beneath the surface of everyday life. Aerialists subverts expectations, pushes boundaries, and dares to be different, all while whispering of more wonders to come." --Jason Foose, Changing Hands, Tempe, Ariz.
Beautiful Bad: A Novel by Annie Ward (Park Row, $26.99, 9780778369103). "In her dark and atmospheric thriller, Ward has created characters that seep under your skin and take you on a suspense-filled, unforgettable ride. We follow Ian and Maddie from their first meeting in the war-torn Balkans to New York City and end up in suburban Kansas, witnessing their story unfold, twisting and turning along the way, until it ultimately implodes. What really happened and who can you believe?" --Maxwell Gregory, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, Ill.
Paperback
The Italian Teacher: A Novel by Tom Rachman (Penguin Books, $16, 9780735222700). "The same kinds of beautifully drawn, charming-but-flawed characters that made The Imperfectionists so wonderful also fill this novel, which follows Pinch (aka Charles), the son of famed painter Bear Bavinsky, as he grows up and struggles to make a name for himself. The book begins with Pinch and his mother, a failed potter, living in Rome in the 1950s in the shadow of Bear's celebrity and forceful personality. With evocative descriptions of the various cities in which it's set, The Italian Teacher is perfect for readers who want to be drawn into the lives of vivid characters and explore the meaning of art, family, and one's personal legacy." --Laura Tischler, Solid State Books, Washington, D.C.
For Ages 4 to 8
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli (Disney-Hyperion, $16.99, 9781368036894). "I absolutely adore Greg Pizzoli! His signature bright and bold style brings this heartfelt tale about an illiterate book-lovin' hog to life! The Book Hog is a beautiful love letter to librarians, who work so hard to put books into children's hands, encourage and inspire readers, and open their doors to the world. A delightful read, perfect for story time!" --Eugenia Vela, BookPeople, Austin, Tex.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu (Walden Pond Press, $16.99, 9780062275097). "Iris has always defined herself by how she's different from her twin sister, Lark. Lark is bursting with imagination, and Iris is the one who anchors her sister to the real world. But when the two girls are assigned different teachers for the first time, Iris is lost--what's an anchor without the thing it anchors? How can she protect her sister if people won't let them stay together? In a world that seems to be falling to pieces, Iris fights to figure out who she wants to be and who she can count on to fight at her side. This is the kind of book you'll want to hug when you're done reading it." --Lillian Tschudi-Campbell, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, Minn.
For Teen Readers
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Katherine Tegen, $17.99, 9780062691316). "There are only two outcomes when you finish at the Media School for Girls: a Primara, or First Wife, who is to act as the partner to her husband and run his household, or a Segunda, or Second Wife, who is in charge of being beautiful and bearing his children. Each man gets one of each. Dani is the school's best student and the top Primara pick, so it's no surprise when she's chosen by the candidate favored to become their country's next president. But Dani has a past that she will do everything in her power to protect. If you enjoy The Handmaid's Tale, but are looking for a YA twist, this is the book for you. I definitely recommend this one." --Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Roswell, Ga.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
