From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Tata by Valérie Perrin, trans. by Hildegarde Serle (Europa Editions, $30, 9798889661825). "An absolutely gorgeous read. Perrin's writing quietly wraps its arms around you, and before you know it, you are embracing her back. Take this book on vacation or give yourself a week to be fully immersed in this story." --Danielle Glasky, Long Story Books, Atlanta, Ga.
It Could Have Been Her: A Novel by Lisa Jewell (Atria, $29, 9781668033906). "WOW. In perfect Lisa Jewell fashion, this book read like a storm: it started off with a vague swirling that got tighter and tighter, ultimately reaching a thrilling conclusion. The characters and imagery leapt off the pages." --Kelly Blazo, 2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, Mich.
Paperback (Indies Introduce in Hardcover)
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst (Riverhead, $20, 9780593854297). "A raw telling of the fight a young couple endures physically and mentally as their boat is capsized by creatures in the middle of the sea. Reads like a novel--it's wild that this is a true story!" --Alex Hammett, Serendipity Books, Chelsea, Mich.
Ages 4-8
Today We'll Be Eaten by Alan Barillaro (Rocky Pond Books, $19.99, 9798217004362). "We worry and worry for something to happen, but taking a moment like the ladybug and dragonfly will offer a much needed peace that we all need." --Rachel Trainum, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, Iowa
Ages 8-12
The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Greenwillow Books, $19.99, 9780063485952). "A short middle grade novel for older Wild Robot fans from a storyteller who writes incredible protagonists. An ultimately hopeful story set in a hardscrabble section of an oppressive society. Note: this is not a gentle story. It is one of survival and questions of what makes us free-willed and human." --Leslie Darnell, Powell's Books, Portland, Ore.
Ages 13+
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham (Kokila, $21.99, 9798217113026). "In this richly detailed and emotional retelling of 'Sleeping Beauty,' two sisters jump through a magical portal and enter the dream world of the iconic princess. There, they must confront what it truly means to escape, and whether or not dealing with pain and grief makes life worth living in the first place. This book will leave readers with a small but important burst of hope that they may need." --Jason Mills, The Book Bungalow, St. George, Utah
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
