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 Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley (Bloomsbury, $30.99, 9781639732364). "This isn't your typical myth retelling--Pulley sets an ominous tone, perfectly complementing the story's intrigue and intensity. It brims with monsters, mystery, and vivid, haunting imagery. An unforgettable reimagining." --Dave Suiter, pages: a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Killer Potential: A Novel by Hannah Deitch (Morrow, $28.99, 9780063356481). "An SAT tutor stumbles upon a brutal murder, immediately becomes the prime suspect, and embarks on a wild cross-country ride with a mysterious, alluring woman found at the scene. Staying one step ahead of the law requires guts, brains, and trust." --Mike Hare, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Paperback
Worthy of the Event: An Essay by Vivian Blaxell (LittlePuss Press, $19.95, 9781964322995). "As trans people, we know the spaces that open up to us when we decide to live in the world on our own terms. Blaxell's essays bring us her invaluable and deeply generous thinking on how we become worthy of the life and the world that she clearly loves so much." --Ren Dean, Skunk Cabbage Books, Chicago, Ill.
Ages 4-8
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer (Atheneum, $19.99, 9781665926638). "I love this book! I love the blunt delivery of the jokes, the passage of time and the fun facts we learn with each era, the amazing artwork, and humorous nonfiction! If I were a science teacher I would read this book to my classroom every year." --Katie Pionk, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, Mich.
Ages 8-12
Sea Legs by Jules Bakes, illus. by Niki Smith (Graphix, $24.99, 9781338835885) "I want to be Janey's friend! Janey is a young girl on constant adventures while living aboard a sailboat with her parents. This is a great tale about the difficulties of retaining long distance friendships and creating new ones. The artwork is stunning!" --Carrie Deming, The Dog Eared Book, Palmyra, N.Y.
Teen Readers
The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman (Putnam, $19.99, 9780593698716). "This twisty private school mystery centers on a young couple found murdered in a dorm room. We follow a student reporter and the victim's roommate as they try to put the pieces together and solve the crime. Excellent!" --Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books, Millerton, N.Y.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
