From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
Rising: Dispatches From the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush (Milkweed Editions, $26, 9781571313676). "Focusing on the shorelines of our nation, Elizabeth Rush takes us from north to south and east to west on an intimate journey that vividly tells the story of the effects of our rising sea level and its impact on animal and plant life. In Rising, Rush has written a personal, passionate plea for us to take action before it is too late and to rethink our priorities to the benefit of our environment. This is environmental writing at its best. Please read Rising and then grab a friend and make them read it, too. It's that good!" --Bill Reilly, the river's end bookstore, Oswego, N.Y.
The Lost Family: A Novel by Jenna Blum (Harper, $27.99, 9780062742162). "The characters in Jenna Blum's The Lost Family are deeply real and unforgettable: a man and a woman both trying to compensate for the losses of their previous families by creating a new family, and the daughter who grows up with them, feeling equally lost. Blum gets so many things effortlessly right: the terror of Nazi Germany; the fluctuating zeitgeist of New York in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s; the way the foodie father, the dieting wife, and the eating-disordered daughter all express themselves through their relationship with food. I would recommend it for Meg Wolitzer fans, though Blum's style is definitely her own." --Nina Barrett, Bookends & Beginnings, Evanston, Ill.
Paperback
Who Is Vera Kelly?: A Novel by Rosalie Knecht (Tin House, $15.95, 9781947793019). "Who is Vera Kelly? Find out in this twisty, turny spy thriller set in 1960s Argentina as Vera, working for the CIA, becomes stuck in the country during a hostile takeover. Through flashbacks, we learn about Vera's past and the forces that worked together to create this devilishly smart, very sexy woman. The book reads like the love child of John le Carré and Rita Mae Brown. I loved Vera immensely, even more so as the plot progressed and the threats became deadlier. What a fun read and what a terrific character! I can't wait for the next installment." --William Carl, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, Mass.
For Ages 4 to 8
Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99, 9781484767603). "A grandson and his grandfather--unable to converse--sit in front of a television until the boy loses interest and turns to his drawings. Grandfather then brings out his sketchbook and together they begin to 'talk' without words but with worlds of color, action, and excitement. Once again, Santat's (After the Fall) illustrations create a powerful book, this one about communication between the generations. Sure to be a hit with all ages and perhaps another Caldecott winner." --Karen Briggs, The Booknook, East Tawas, Mich.
For Ages 9 to 12
Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins (Greenwillow Books, $16.99, 9780062499660). "In this intermediate reader, Alix has an imagination as big as the ocean that she and her sister, Jools, are visiting with their parents for the first time. Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea is a charming and sweet look at handling new experiences, making friends, and learning all sorts of fun things along the way. With Perkins' wonderful illustrations, this quick and breezy book is sure to keep the kids reading this summer!" --Jill Beauchamp, Horizon Books, Traverse City, Mich.
For Teen Readers
From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, $18.99, 9781481495400). "This story captures that moment at the movie theater when your date touches your hand in the dark while knocking the popcorn over in the loudest way possible--it's cute and exciting, but also slightly embarrassing. Sandhya has crafted another excellent teen romance about a shy and ambitious young woman trying to show the world her passion and talent. A fantastic summer read!" --Jessica Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, Calif.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
