From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Sin Eater: A Novel by Megan Campisi (Atria, $27, 9781982124106). "Oh my. Megan Campisi's Sin Eater completely took me by surprise. It is a wholly unique combination of fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction. Filled with intriguing characters and vivid imagery, this inventive tale will immerse readers in the deceit and intrigue of the royal court. Campisi's narrator is what really sets this novel apart--the sin eater, a woman called to hear the sins of the dying and consume the foods that represent them. A dark, thrilling read!" --Anderson McKean, Page and Palette, Fairhope, Ala.
The Roxy Letters: A Novel by Mary Pauline Lowry (Simon & Schuster, $26, 9781982121433). "Move over Bridget Jones, Roxy is here to stay! Thank goddess! I loved every sentence of The Roxy Letters; I found myself laughing out loud at some of her wacky antics. I also loved the quirky cast of characters that danced across the pages, and I think Roxy is the perfect antihero for the new millennium. I can't wait to see where Mary Pauline Lowry's career is headed!" --Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland, Calif.
Paperback
Lost and Wanted: A Novel by Nell Freudenberger (Vintage, $16.95, 9780804170963). "Helen is a successful physicist and a single mother, but when her best friend, Charlie, dies, she must confront the limitations of love and science and learn how far each force can be stretched and where they might overlap. As in her previous novel, The Newlyweds, Freudenberger writes with understated authority about grief, motherhood, and coming to terms with the decisions you make throughout your life. Everyone in Helen's orbit is touched by Charlie's death, and their grief is as mysterious as the scientific questions Helen grapples with in her work. This is a powerfully beautiful novel." --Tyler Goodson, Avid Bookshop, Athens, Ga.
For Ages 4 to 8
How to Be a Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald, illus. by Brigette Barrager (Bloomsbury, $17.99, 9781681197784). "CeCe wants to play pirates with the boys in the neighborhood, but they tell her that girls can't be pirates. CeCe is certain that her Grandpa knows about pirates because he has so many tattoos. As Grandpa reveals each arm tattoo to CeCe, he describes a characteristic that a pirate must have, helping CeCe realize she can be a pirate because she's brave, quick, independent, and fun. Full of love and girl power, this picture book reminds readers that they can be anything they want to be!" --Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, Tex.
For Ages 9 to 12: An Indies Introduce Title
Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon (Margaret K. McElderry, $17.99, 9781534449671). "Yolanda's beloved grandmother is dying and social services is knocking on her door. Yolanda is determined to help her dying grandmother fulfill her last wish: a trip to the mysterious pecan tree on their property. Along the way, she discovers family stories and secrets she never knew and the importance of dealing with both life and death. Into the Tall, Tall Grass is a magical story with a charming cast of characters and emotional life lessons." --Jackie Jou, Mysterious Galaxy Books, San Diego, Calif.
For Teen Readers
Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky (Random House Graphic, $16.99, 9780593119990). "A heartwarming graphic novel that will appeal to fans of the adventure in Nimona and the characters in The Tea Dragon Society. Seeing strong, diverse characters at the forefront of a story is such a breath of fresh air in young adult fantasy graphic novels!" --Ashlee Null, Vroman's, Pasadena, Calif.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
