Indies Introduce Interview

“Delicately expressed from the lenses of Minh, Hương, and Ann, three generations of fierce and enigmatic Vietnamese American women, Banyan Moon is a rich and sweeping narrative that shows us the complexities of family, the tenderness that humans owe to one another, and our determination to break toxic cycles,” said Thu Doan of East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, California.

“Set against the backdrop of a love affair that could be shattered by both honesty and lies, An Echo in the City gives a gripping insider’s look at a very real, deeply emotional side of Hong Kong that is not often exposed,” said Zsamé Morgan of Babycake's Book Stack in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“Rivermouth examines the immigrant journey from beginning to end: the border, the application process, the final court decision of who may stay and who gets deported. It is a personal, human centric account of our system, how broken it is, and how it fails us all,” said Alana Haley of Schuler Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“It’s a delightfully queer and sexy subversion of the western genre that puts a charismatic and hard-hearted harlot front and center,” said Rachael Conrad of PRINT: A Bookstore in Portland, Maine.

“Ani Kayode Somtochukwu’s memorable characters and stunning prose broke me, put me back together, and will forever hold a special place in my heart,” said Christine Bollow of Loyalty Bookstores in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, Maryland.

“A fast-paced, magical coming-of-age adventure in a world readers will be eager to spend time in,” said Liz Decker of Caprichos Books in Ocean Pines, Maryland.

“Intense and hazy, At the Edge of the Woods is a feverishly captivating combination of nature writing and character study. As Laura becomes increasingly connected to the woods around her, the reader can't help but to be drawn into her orbit, to see things the way that she does,” said Mallory Melton of BookPeople in Austin, TX.

“Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a propulsive seafaring adventure that will capture your attention from the first page,” said Thu Doan of East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, California.

“This is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. Imagine Daenerys Targaryen going to Hogwarts, but with more history and care sprinkled throughout the story,” said Jason Jefferies of Explore Booksellers in Aspen, Colorado.

"This is an eye-opening book featuring much-needed disability representation, and I loved the Midwestern nods — ‘save big money at Menards,’ anyone?” said Tory Hall of Chapters Books & Gifts in Seward, Nebraska.

"Despite its difficult moments, Jude Saves the World is pure joy, full of love and support in the face of a parent’s well-intentioned but misguided protection and the ups and downs of friendship,” said Gabriella Crivilare of Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, Illinois.

"An incredibly immersive, honest, yet YA-appropriate novel based on the real experiences of trafficked young women and those who work to free them,” said Emily Autenrieth of A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, California.

"This book is the weird and wonderful queer-teen-investigates-money-laundering-bird-cult murder mystery I didn’t realize I was waiting for,” said Rebekah Shoaf of Boogie Down Books in the Bronx, New York.

"Combining Ghanaian pictographs with the grave result of being Black in America, Abimbola honors the victims of police violence,” said Nikita Imafidon of Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, Kansas.

"This was the book I locked myself in my room to read because I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters and their impossible choices,” said Emerson Perper of Curious Iguana in Frederick, MD.