From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories by Mariana Enríquez, trans. by Megan McDowell (Hogarth, $28, 9780593733257). "Mariana Enríquez is willing and able to explore the darkness simmering in both Buenos Aires and the Argentinean countryside. Be prepared for her mesmerizing storytelling and otherworldly horrors." --Elizabeth Ahlquist, Blue Cypress Books, New Orleans, La.
The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts by Louis Bayard (Algonquin, $29, 9781643755304). "Bayard transports us to the British countryside, an Italian villa, the trenches of France, and back to London. Told in the language of the late 19th & early 20th centuries, The Wildes involves the entire Wilde family and the scandalous drama that ensues." --Mindy Ostrow, the river's end bookstore, Oswego, N.Y.
Paperback
A Dark and Drowning Tide: A Novel by Allison Saft (Del Rey, $18.99, 9780593722343). "Mesmerizing, romantic, and charged through poignant critiques of nationalistic literature. Saft's adult debut challenges the dark origins of twisted fairytales with empathy while weaving a tense web of sapphic yearning. A new favorite!" --Isabel Agajanian, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, Fla.
Ages 3-7
Oak: The Littlest Leaf Girl by Lucy Fleming (Candlewick, $18.99, 9781536238822). "Adorable! With beautiful illustrations that I'm sure will captivate the imagination of many littles, and a story that is heartwarming and so kind in its conversation about change! I can't wait to add this title to my little's shelf!" --Elizabeth Bosscher, Schuler Books, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ages 10-14
Pearl: A Graphic Novel by Sherri L. Smith, illus. by Christine Norrie (Graphix, $12.99, 9781338029420). "A poignant, moving story about a Japanese American girl living in Japan during World War II. Introduces a rarely seen point-of-view that challenges much of what we've learned about Japan during the war. A must-read for its history and character complexity." --Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, Mass.
Teen Readers
Morgana and Oz: Volume One by Miyuli (WEBTOON Unscrolled, $18.99, 9781998854837). "I loved this book! The art is fantastic and cute. I adored the story line of Morgana and Oz; it seemed simple but I loved how it flushed into this complex world. A 10/10!" --Kimmy Rocca, Your Brother's Bookstore, Evansville, Ind.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
