Indies Introduce

“This is a ghost story with plenty of ghosts and creepy scenes. It’s also a sweet, feel good story with so much more. Taylor is an incredible artist and her lush illustrations give wonderful depth to this imaginative story of grief, belonging and love,” said Holly Weinkauf of Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“This stunning and heartfelt debut starts off with Brett in a terrible mental place, coping with harmful strategies like binge drinking and eating. Stick with it though, because you will care for Brett and the people around him so deeply, and if you’re anything like me, end up sobbing over the last few chapters. I absolutely loved it and wholeheartedly recommend it,” said Donna Liu of Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, California.

Donyae Coles is the author of Midnight Rooms, a Summer/Fall 2024 Indies Introduce adult selection and July 2024 Indie Next List pick. Mary Taris of Strive Bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota, served on the bookseller panel that selected Coles’ book for Indies Introduce. Coles sat down with Taris to discuss her debut title.

“This moving story of a family dealing with the complexities of addiction is told with incredible sensitivity, compassion, and hope. These wonderful young characters — Reese, Meg, and Charlie — and the rich friendship they develop will stay with you long after the last page is turned,” said Holly Weinkauf of Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“Masquerade is a magical debut with rich characters, challenging battles, wonderful West African myth and lore, all woven together to make a fresh historical read,” said Matt Aragon – Shafi of West Side Books in Denver, Colorado. 

“The Dallergut Dream Department Store is a sparkly, fun, and engaging read. Full of whimsy, wonder, a light-hearted debut. Definitely a book that’s like walking into a dream,” said Matt Aragon - Shafi of West Side Books in Denver, Colorado.

“The most wonderful burst of angsty teen nostalgia! I am so in love with Mina, Caplan, and their group of friends. Just when you think you know exactly how this book is going to go, it does the absolute best thing and goes the way you wish it would instead…Absolutely recommend this to kick off your summer!” said Katie Pionk of McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, Michigan.

“A super fun and queer space opera that follows a group of late twenty-somethings on a journey they never anticipated. This was a fun, engaging, and quick read. Any queer person out there will be able to see the roots of a found family in Cleo’s group — and the U-Haul lesbians U-Hauling at light speed. This was the book I needed to get out of a reading slump, so thank you Emily Hamilton for that and the group of queers that will be living rent free in my head for a while,” said Arden Harris of A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, CA. 

“Each story in Zan is powerful, deep, and nuanced, providing a needed window into the complex lives of Iranian women today. A must-read,” said Kristin Saner of Fables Books in Goshen, Indiana.

“I loved this charmingly written middle grade inspired by Chinese mythology. Exploring themes of grief, growing up, and family, this novel grabbed me right from the first page and didn’t let go. Full of action-packed sequences and quiet, emotional moments alike, this book was a wonderful read. I know kids and fans of Percy Jackson, Aru Shah, and Amari and the Night Brothers are going to love it,” said Donna Liu of Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, California.

“This book is a powerful and thought-provoking read that skillfully blends the narratives of four distinct characters. It is a story about the importance of community, the search for belonging, and the heart-wrenching realities of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). If you’re looking for a book that will leave you on the edge of your seat, challenging you to see through the smoke and discover the killer, this book is a must-read,” said Kromeklia Bryant of Solid State Books in Washington, DC.

“The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an action-packed pirate story full of adventure, and all things that pirates do... Debut author Briony Cameron did a marvelous job of writing a buccaneering novel that will keep you reading late into the night,” said Kelly Evert of Village Book & Paper Dreams in Bellingham and Lynden, Washington.

“‘I don't love horror,’ you say, ‘I scare very easily.’ Right, same,” said Widener. “Forget the cover and listen: our hero Nesbit’s in love with Bastion, the world’s purest, most earnest jock, who happens to be the leader of a small but powerful coven. It's not until Bastion’s body is found half-devoured in the woods that the depth of his secrets begin to surface," said Emmy Widener of Changing Hands in Phoenix, Arizona.

“In gorgeous and fiery language, Chambers invites us into Diamond Newberry’s world. The only Black person left in Swift River after Pop’s mysterious disappearance. Diamond thinks she stands out for all of the wrong reasons. Getting her license will solve one of those problems, but it's also one more thing Diamond and her mother disagree on. As Diamond gains confidence through driving and learns more about the history of her family and Swift River, she begins to imagine something different for herself,” said Lisa Swayze of Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, New York.

“A delicately told account of the Rarámuri, a native people of Mexico, that honors their history, traditions, and culture while recounting one family’s story as they adapt to modern Mexican life. Out of the Sierra emphasizes the small resistances of the family and their community as they fight to preserve their traditional way of life in an often hostile world," said Luis Correa of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia.