From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times by Tracy K. Smith (W.W. Norton, $24, 9781324050988). "Smith's close readings of favored poems made me want to immediately read more, write more, live more. She reminded me how much depth is in a line, how much space is in a breath, the way that a poem cracks open for both reader and writer." --Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, La.
The Brightness: A Novel by Chad Harbach (Little, Brown, $32, 9780316455695). "Nuanced and layered, The Brightness is a perfect book to sink into and lose yourself in. Whether you're a reader remembering those exhilarating and confusing college years or going through it now, this novel will resonate." --Debra Ginsberg, DIESEL, A Bookstore, Santa Monica, Calif.
Paperback
Upstate: A Novel by Kim van Alkemade (Morrow Paperbacks, $19.99, 9780063438033). "This tender novel follows Audrey--a new widow desperate for a fresh start--as she moves to a small upstate New York town to repair a crumbling farmhouse and take over the long neglected antiquarian bookshop tucked into its barn. Audrey discovers the store's history and the sapphic love story behind its founding." --Rachel Person, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Ages 4-8
Duel by Shawn Harris (Neal Porter Books, $19.99, 9780823458738). "Shawn Harris continues to push picture books to new heights of form and function, all while delighting us with the unexpected--in this case, transforming a medieval duel into a modern call to unity." --Melissa LaSalle, Old Town Books, Alexandria, Va.
Ages 8-12
An Octopus Named Houdini by Zana Fraillon, illus. by Corinna Luyken (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 9798347114757). "Houdini is a beautiful story of escape, confinement, and connection told through the ancient wisdom of an octopus. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the playfulness of the characters and the thoughtfulness of the writing." --Andrew Preston, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, Ky.
Ages 13+ (Indies Introduce)
The Queen of the Spirit Woods by Sharon Choe (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9798347106462). "This rich fantasy grounded in Korean history has all the good bits--secrets, deadly politics, ghosts, gods, and a healthy dose of handsome noblemen with major parental issues." --Angela Whited, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, Minn.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
