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 Star Side of Bird Hill: A Novel by Naomi Jackson (Penguin Press, $25.95, 9781594205958). "In the summer of 1989, sisters Dionne and Phaedra--aged 16 and 10, respectively--are shuttled from their Brooklyn life to their grandmother Hyacinth's home in Barbados. Dionne is filled with palpable teenage angst and the desire for romance, while Phaedra prefers to experience the mysteries of Bird Hill with her grandmother. Both girls have a tentative curiosity about their mother's early life on the island, but it is not until their father shows up unexpectedly that they question their very identities and what it means to be 'home.' Reminiscent of Jamaica Kincaid, Jackson's coming-of-age tale makes Barbados spring from the page with humor, beauty, and heartbreak." --Amanda Hurley, Inkwood Books, Tampa, Fla.
Bell Weather: A Novel by Dennis Mahoney (Holt, $28, 9781627792677). "Set in a fantastical 18th century world where rain falls up and color storms wash the land with bright hues, Bell Weather is, at its core, the story of a spirited young woman fighting for the freedom to choose her own path. Although Molly tells the townsfolk of Root almost nothing of her past, readers learn about her childhood with an overbearing governess, a cold father, and a brilliant, cunning brother who will stop at nothing to ensure that he and Molly are together and unbridled. Mahoney has created a marvelous world that readers will want to visit again and again." --Amelia Stymacks, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, Vt.
Paperback
Far As the Eye Can See: A Novel by Robert Bausch (Bloomsbury, $16, 9781620402603). "It is a delight to experience the Montana and Wyoming territories circa 1870-1876 through the adventures of Civil War veteran Bobby Hale. His original plan to travel to California fades as he rides west with settlers, scouts for the army, and cares for an injured woman who is running from her Indian husband. The dialect of the narrator and the language of the characters are accurate for the period, allowing the reader to be completely immersed in the setting of this rip-roaring tale." --Paula Steige, MacDonald Bookshop, Estes Park, Colo.
For Ages 4 to 8
Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster by Matthew McElligott (Crown, $17.99, 9780553523744). "When a group of students--including a werewolf, a swamp monster, and a robot--arrive at Mad Scientist Academy for their first day of class, they find their professor, Dr. Cosmic, in a tangled heap. Dr. Cosmic explains that their class pet--a dinosaur!--has escaped. The students set off on a scavenger hunt through the virtual dinosaur exhibit to track down Oscar, collecting clues along the way. Plenty of engaging facts within a fun, adventure-filled context make this graphic novel a worthwhile addition to any collection." --Sara Grochowski, Brilliant Books, Traverse City, Mich.
Children's Illustrated
I Yam a Donkey! by Cece Bell (Clarion Books, $16.99, 9780544087200). "Imagine retelling 'Who's on First?' but using a donkey and a yam instead of baseball players! These two have a difficult time communicating with one another and, frankly, the donkey just doesn't get it. Kids will love the humor, and the fact that they understand something the donkey doesn't is very clever. There are lots of laughs to be had here!" --Jessilynn Norcross, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, Mich.
For Teen Readers
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen (Wendy Lamb Books, $16.99, 9780553496864). "If, as 13-year-old Stewart knows, we are all in constant exchange of molecular matter, then author Nielsen has unleashed trillions of atoms with her writing and can expect them to arrive back to her--and to the readers of this amazing story of family blended, friends bended, and the science of what it means to be human proven. Fans of Wonder, hold tight. This could be the young adult book of the year." --Joanna Parzakonis, Bookbug, Kalamazoo, Mich.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
