From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (MIRA, $28.99, 9780778368458). "For anyone who enjoys 2000s Japanese horror movies. This is the only work of fiction I've read that has successfully incorporated the COVID pandemic without feeling contrived. The commentary about anti-Asian racism is poignant." --Jennifer Kirnec, Old Ways Books, Bluffton, Ind.
Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones (HarperOne, $26.99, 9780063411272). "Fans of Annie Jones will love this peek behind the scenes, but even for those unfamiliar with Annie's story, these essays are deeply relatable. Perfect for people who stayed in their hometowns, who lead a quieter life, and who have struggled with their faith." --Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books, Rome, Ga.
Paperback: An Indies Introduce Title
The Sea Gives Up the Dead: Stories by Molly Olguín (Red Hen Press, $16.95, 9781636282718). "There is no getting away from death here. However, there's a subtlety that resonates throughout the wonderfully smooth and lithe prose that makes these tales a joy to read. Absolutely fantastic!" --Randy Schiller, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Mo.
Ages 3-5
Anything by Rebecca Stead, illus. Gracey Zhang (Chronicle, $17.99, 9781797215150). "As someone who moved around a lot as a kid, I wish I'd had this sweet and stunningly illustrated story. It captures the ache of change, hand in hand with the infinite possibilities of a new place, with all the magic and color of a rainbow." --Tabitha Klein, Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, N.H.
Ages 10-14: An Indies Introduce Title
Ollie in Between by Jess Callans (Feiwel & Friends, $17.99, 9781250331342). "Hand this to any kid who's experienced or will experience puberty, any kid who's navigating their gender, any who've endured shifting friendships, and to any kid who's so much braver than they realize. That is, hand this to any kid!" --Tanvi Rastogi, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, Iowa
Teen Readers: An Indies Introduce Title
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9781665952651). "All the Noise at Once is a captivating read about Aiden, a Black, autistic teen, his love of football, his struggle with identity, and his fight against injustice after a jarring experience with the police. I was cheering Aiden on to the very end." --Kalli King, Rediscovered Books, Boise, Idaho
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
