From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
The Ancients: A Novel by John Larison (Viking, $30, 9780593831168). "In this apocalyptic story, Larison sweeps us across a landscape through the eyes of characters each with a unique view of the devastation of the past. Different societies clash as resources grow scarce, and plans for colonization of other lands become paramount." --Josie Williams, Invitation Bookshop, Gig Harbor, Wash.
The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science by Dava Sobel (Atlantic Monthly Press, $30, 9780802163820). "There's a very short list of biographers whose books I'll read no matter the subject. And there is an even shorter list of science communicators who make complex subjects both accessible and fascinating. At the center of that Venn diagram is Dava Sobel. A deeply satisfying read!" --Susan Tunis, Bookshop West Portal, San Francisco, Calif.
Paperback
Family Meal: A Novel by Bryan Washington (Riverhead, $18, 9780593421109). "Family Meal is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, and grief. Cam returns to Houston after the love of his life, Kai, dies. He and his estranged best friend, TJ, try to work through their grief and past hurts. A painful, gorgeous read." --Kristen Beverly, Half Price Books, Dallas, Tex.
Ages 4-8
The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please (HarperCollins, $19.99, 9780063345492). "Oh my goodness, what an endearing, quirky little folktale. It's goofy in a subtly clever way, with instant-classic feeling illustrations to boot. I think adults will get a kick out of it as much as children." --Leah Atlee, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Ages 8-12
The Graveyard Gift by Fern Forgettable, as told by Piper CJ (Random House Books for Young Readers, $14.99, 9780593810477). "This book gave me all the Wednesday Addams vibes. Young Rosemary can see how people die. She's a student a Fern's school for other demi-fae. When classmate goes missing, she'll have to use her gifts to find him. Mystery, friendship and so much more!" --Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Teen Readers: An Indies Introduce Title
Tangleroot by Kalela Williams (Feiwel & Friends, $19.99, 9781250880666). "Sometimes your family history is as tangled as the vines on the ground. When Noni is forced to make a new home in the 'Big House' built by an enslaved ancestor, she may discover truths about herself and her family that none could have imagined." --Sally Sue Lavigne, The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, S.C.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
