From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Heart of the Sun Warrior: A Novel by Sue Lynn Tan (Harper Voyager, $27.99, 9780063031364). "This was such a satisfying sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. The pacing is fantastic and the story is unpredictably magical and exciting. I really loved the world building and appreciated the romance." --Hillary Smith, Black Walnut Books, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
Grocery Shopping with My Mother: Poems by Kevin Powell (Soft Skull, $24, 9781593767433). "Powell's return to poetry shines a light on the small details of everyday life--fear, tenderness, and what really matters in this vulnerable world. He does not forget the figures that shaped his world and influenced this album of hope." --Shannon Alden, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Paperback
Things We Found When the Water Went Down: A Novel by Tegan Nia Swanson (Catapult, $22.95, 9781646221691). "Remarkable. This novel draws a parallel between missing/murdered Indigenous women and violence against the environment--all within a body-on-page-one murder mystery. It's heavy lifting, but makes a lasting impression." --Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books, Mendocino, Calif.
For Ages 5 to 8
Agatha May and the Anglerfish by Nora Morrison and Jessie Ann Foley, illus. by Mika Song (Dial, $18.99, 9780593324752). "My heart was stolen by Agatha May and her love for the anglerfish. This picture book is a love letter to kids who struggle with fitting in, with hearts full of unique and quirky passions." --Tori-Lynn Bell, House of Books, Kent, Conn.
For Ages 8 to 12
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith (Labyrinth Road, $17.99, 9780593485774). "Sir Callie slashes gender norms with the cold bite of a steel blade. Nonbinary Callie dreams of being a knight, but the rigid rules of the kingdom are hard to escape. A captivating page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat!" --Jess Cooper, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, Ohio
For Teen Readers
Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green (Clarion Books, $18.99, 9780358617259). "Nate and Jack discover at prom that their boyfriends are cheating on them... with each other. So, they team up and make the most fabulous, jealousy-inducing social media account of the summer. It turns out to be tougher than they thought." --Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Marietta, Ga.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
