Kids' Next List Autumn 2017

The Indie Next List is one of the best ways to find out what is new and wonderful in books.  Titles are selected and reviewed by independent booksellers from around the country. Click the link below to see some of our favorite titles from the fall list.

Warcross by Marie Lu

(G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780399547966, $18.99, available September)

“By far Lu’s best book to date, Warcross is a thrilling ride that alternates seamlessly between the real world and a virtual world that holds the human population captive through a game. Emika is a tough, street-smart girl who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Enter Hideo Tanaka, a billionaire who has plenty of secrets and needs Emika’s help with his virtual game, Warcross. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.” —Teresa Steele, Old Firehouse Books, Fort Collins, CO

 

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson (Indies Introduce)

(Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781481497589, $17.99, available September)

“You have one job this fall: read this book. That is if the idea of a gorgeous, glittering, and sometimes grotesque modern fairy tale imbued with wit, humor, and pitch-perfect romance appeals to you. I absolutely loved this unexpected, absurdly lovely novel. It gave me the creeps, it made me laugh out loud, and I swooned and cheered. Isobel is badass, and this story is a joy to read. I can’t wait to see what Rogerson writes next! Perfect for fans of Holly Black, Laini Taylor, or anyone who loved Uprooted by Naomi Novik.” —Cristina Russell, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL

 

 

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

(Feiwel & Friends, 9781250043221, $16.99, available September)

“I can’t praise this book enough! Red, an oak tree, has seen it all as he has watched over the neighborhood for many, many years. Just count his rings! Once a year the community writes their wishes on cloth and then hangs them from his branches. When a new family moves into the neighborhood, not everyone is welcoming. Wishtree is more important now than ever, and it touched me deeply. It is Applegate’s best book to date. You will love the story, the characters, and the message.” —Dori Jaroslow, Books Inc., San Francisco, CA

 

The Bad Seed by Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illus.)

(HarperCollins, 9780062467768, $17.99)

“The bad seed is adorable. Does he know this? No. This is the story of a sunflower seed from very ordinary circumstances who has a very bad thing happen to him. After this trauma, he feels bad, acts bad, and cares even less. Eventually, after considering the things that others say about his behavior (he has great hearing for a seed), he decides to try to change things a bit. Not entirely, just a bit. And these manageable changes give him something to be proud of. Good on you, little seed.” —Lauren Dalhaus, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat

(Roaring Brook Press, 9781626726826, $17.99, available October)

“In After the Fall, a rich and surprising gem, Dan Santat cleverly reveals what happened after Humpty Dumpty took his terrible tumble off that too-high wall. Humpty has been so badly frightened by his ordeal that he no longer does the thing that most brings him joy (why, he is nearly a shell of himself). Will he ever recover? Mr. Dumpty’s brave tale is inspiring, and Dan Santat’s telling is pure joy. Don’t miss this.” —Christopher Rose, The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, Marblehead, MA

 

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illus.)

(Capstone Young Readers, 9781623708030, $15.95)

“A strong, quiet story about love, family connection, and the way community is built on small shared moments. Bao Phi’s clear prose tells a story where perhaps not much seems to happen, but in which the whole world is illuminated for a child by his father. Thi Bui’s illustrations bring the reader into the life of a boy, a family, and the community where they live.” —Shannon McMaster, The Bookman, Grand Haven, MI

 

On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna

(HarperCollins, 9780062657602, $17.99, available September)

“Sometimes you have big plans for your days off, and sometimes all you want to do is lay around and think. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, you will get a little bit of both. There is adventure, relaxation, peacefulness, and fun waiting to be had in On a Magical Do-Nothing Day.” —Meg Hughey, Bookbug, Kalamazoo, MI

 

 

Greetings from Witness Protection! by Jake Burt (Indies Introduce)

(Feiwel & Friends, 9781250107114, $16.99, available October)

“After years of being bounced around the foster care system, Nicki Demere is offered a chance to live with a family that is looking for a second child. The catch is that this family is in the Witness Security Program, and the theory is that an additional family member will add another layer of disguise and make it more difficult for the mob to hunt them down. Nicki agrees to go along, and in the process gets a new name, a bland profile, and a little brother with issues. Jake Burt’s middle-grade novel is filled with humor and suspense, and Nicki/Charlotte is an absolutely terrific character.” —Dave Shallenberger, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

 

Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar

(Katherine Tegen Books, 9780062402363, $19.99, available October)

“Timeless is every young adventurer’s dream come true — a drop-your-jaw-gorgeous, picture-filled cinematic story, lovingly written, with characters you want to hang out with and filled with dinosaurs, hoverboards, fighter pilots, and robots. There isn’t room in this book for anything else wonderful — Baltazar already put it all in.” —Beth Albrecht, The Magic Tree Bookstore, Oak Park, IL

 

 

 

The Wonderling by Mira Bartók

(Candlewick, 9780763691219, $21.99, available September)

“Imaginative and lyrically written, The Wonderling is a fabulous fantasy adventure full of memorable characters, surprising twists, and gorgeous illustrative flourishes. The best fantasies have hearts of truth, and the truths of The Wonderling — that kindness is never wasted, that friends are always nearby if we know where to look, and that hope is never truly lost — feel both revelatory and timeless.” —Stephanie Appell, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN