September/October 2022 Kids Indie Next List
#1 Pick
The Door of No Return
Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
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“The early part of this book could serve as the story of Kofi, an 11 year old boy in Upper Kwanta. When the story becomes one of enslavement, it’s felt viscerally. Kwame Alexander will break your heart in half the words other authors might need.”
— Gwen Papp, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
Picture Books
![Cover Image for Beatrice Likes the Dark](https://images.booksense.com/images/573/751/9781643751573.jpg)
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“One of my favorite picture books of the year! Beatrice Likes the Dark is a beautifully illustrated, sweet story of sisterhood. Each page is full of heart and whimsy. Your inner baby goth or any year-round halloween lovers will need this one!”
— Cristina Russell, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
![Cover Image for Creepy Crayon! (Creepy Tales!)](https://images.booksense.com/images/886/465/9781534465886.jpg)
By Aaron Reynolds, Peter Brown
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
“Jasper Rabbit’s not doing well at school. One day, he finds a purple, pointy crayon. Suddenly, all his schoolwork is perfect! Which is increasingly creepy. Jasper’s more than freaked out. He really needs to get rid of the crayon — but how?”
— Ellen Klein, Hooray for Books!, Alexandria, VA
![Cover Image for Farmhouse](https://images.booksense.com/images/948/528/9780316528948.jpg)
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“In this beautiful and heartwarming story, Blackall imagines the life of a family living in a 19th century farmhouse. The gently rhyming prose and nostalgia-laden illustrations make for a delightful read for old and young readers alike.”
— Jen Minor, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
![Cover Image for The Flamingo: A Graphic Novel Chapter Book](https://images.booksense.com/images/315/127/9780593127315.jpg)
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“This lovely story of family and imagination is great for a wide range of reading levels; some dialogue frames the story, but even pre-readers can enjoy flipping through the pages and telling themselves the story.”
— Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA
![Cover Image for Good Night, Little Bookstore](https://images.booksense.com/images/518/212/9781536212518.jpg)
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“An ode to neighborhood bookstores: their charm, their cats, their familiar and faraway faces, and the dreams born from their stacks.”
— Melissa LaSalle, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA
![Cover Image for Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book (Mother Bruce Series)](https://images.booksense.com/images/116/084/9781368084116.jpg)
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“Our beloved bear returns with those three pesky mice breaking the fourth wall and asking the reader to move Bruce around the book. Readers of all ages will laugh out loud as Bruce is subjected to some hilarious hijinks!”
— Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
![Cover Image for Loud Mouse](https://images.booksense.com/images/061/078/9781368078061.jpg)
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“Who better than Wicked’s Idina Menzel to encourage budding young performers: Be big! Be brave! Be yourself. This sweet story is perfect for back-to-school, first recitals, or any time someone needs a reminder of how awesome they are.”
— Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC
![Cover Image for My Pet Feet](https://images.booksense.com/images/003/486/9781534486003.jpg)
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“My Pet Feet is funny and exciting to read! The wordplay creates many entertaining scenarios and will have kids searching the illustrations for additional cases of the ‘missing R.’ Families, teachers, and KIDS will love this!”
— Joanna Robertson, The Treehouse Reading and Arts Center, New York Mills, NY
![Cover Image for Patchwork](https://images.booksense.com/images/961/813/9781984813961.jpg)
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“The artwork in this book is bright, colorful, and evokes joy. A beautifully written reminder that we can be many things. We are more ‘than a single note...we are a symphony.’ This book is great for first time parents or a teacher’s library.”
— Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
![Cover Image for When You Take a Step](https://images.booksense.com/images/676/473/9781534473676.jpg)
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“Sometimes it’s difficult, but we all learn from each of our steps; even if we fall, and often, these steps change our whole world! Lovely!”
— Dea Lavoie, Second Star to the Right Children's Books, Denver, CO
Middle Grade
![Cover Image for Agent Most Wanted: The Never-Before-Told Story of the Most Dangerous Spy of World War II](https://images.booksense.com/images/546/350/9780593350546.jpg)
By Sonia Purnell
Viking Books for Young Readers
“Moxie. That’s what Virginia Hall was made of. I am thankful to Sonia Purnell for this story as I love reading about incredibly brave women and their contributions to our world. In this case, she helped save it from the tyranny of Nazi Germany.”
— Debbie White, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene, ID
![Cover Image for Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations #2)](https://images.booksense.com/images/195/975/9780062975195.jpg)
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“Amari returns with higher stakes and even more magic. Reeling from the events of the first book, Amari has more questions than answers and a new mystery to solve before everyone goes to war. Alston continues the adventure with mastery.”
— Becca Ellsworth, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID
![Cover Image for Attack of the Black Rectangles](https://images.booksense.com/images/522/680/9781338680522.jpg)
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“Timely and necessary. Faced with a censored assigned classroom read, Mac and his friends challenge the system. Attack of the Black Rectangles celebrates all that kids are capable of — and that often they are wiser beyond their young years.”
— Diane Capriola, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
![Cover Image for Eden's Everdark](https://images.booksense.com/images/476/904/9781665904476.jpg)
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“Eden’s Everdark is a Southern Gothic whose rich history, imaginative adventure, creepy imagery, and big heart will appeal to a variety of readers. It’s a dark and haunting adventure story infused with a light and hope that shines bright.”
— Julia Caudle, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA
![Cover Image for Invisible: A Graphic Novel](https://images.booksense.com/images/555/194/9781338194555.jpg)
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“This middle grade Breakfast Club remake drives home the idea that things aren’t always what they seem, and how assumptions can cause harm. Invisible’s main characters relatably take us through this twisty, compelling bilingual story.”
— Grace Hagen, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
![Cover Image for The Stars Did Wander Darkling](https://images.booksense.com/images/517/015/9780063015517.jpg)
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“Very creepy and fun. I will recommend this to middle schoolers who come to the store swearing they LOVE scary stuff. Any book with heroes wielding Cimmerian broadswords has my approval (if you know what those are, you should read this too).”
— Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books and Toys, Cohasset, MA
![Cover Image for A Taste of Magic](https://images.booksense.com/images/719/606/9781547606719.jpg)
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“J. Elle has created the magic school we've all been waiting for — it is funny and sweet and absolutely charming, and middle grade readers will be going wild for this gem of a novel that is literal Black Girl Magic.”
— Isabella Ogbolumani, Buffalo Street Books, Ithaca, NY
![Cover Image for The Tryout: A Graphic Novel](https://images.booksense.com/images/261/741/9781338741261.jpg)
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“An utterly captivating graphic memoir about middle school, competition, friendships, and growing up Asian American in a mostly white community. This is a book every middle grade reader (and many adults) will want to read over and over.”
— Chris Abouzeid, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
![Cover Image for The Vanquishers](https://images.booksense.com/images/772/609/9781547609772.jpg)
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“When the new kid goes missing, Boog and her crew realize that vampires may not be a relic of the past. An adventure story that’s just eerie enough, exploring friendship, family, and the cost of protecting those we love. A spooky, sweet read.”
— Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
![Cover Image for Wildoak](https://images.booksense.com/images/860/803/9781338803860.jpg)
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“Such a wonderful book on the magic of nature. I was brought to tears remembering what it was like to struggle in a world that couldn’t listen. I can’t wait for another generation of readers to fall in love with reading because of this story.”
— Revati Kilaparti, Old Firehouse Books, Fort Collins, CO
Young Adult
![Cover Image for All of Our Demise (All of Us Villains #2)](https://images.booksense.com/images/341/789/9781250789341.jpg)
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“...Wow. That’s all that I could muster when I finished this book. A true page-turner full of the biggest amount of twists and knives-to-your-gut I’ve ever read. It’s dark and twisted and gripping, and completely flabergasting.”
— Valeria Salas Ibarra, Front Street Books, Alpine, TX
![Cover Image for The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2)](https://images.booksense.com/images/426/268/9781250268426.jpg)
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“The Ballad of Never After is the perfect sequel. For anyone obsessed with Jacks, this book delivers on your desires for more! Enough twists and turns to keep your head spinning while your heart swoons over and over again. Highly recommend!”
— Rhianna Helton, Books of Wonder, NEW YORK, NY
![Cover Image for Belladonna](https://images.booksense.com/images/237/158/9780316158237.jpg)
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“Let me introduce you to your newest obsession: a girl who can’t die teams up with Death to solve a murder mystery. I loved everything — the romance, the dash of fantasy, and the twisting turns as dark and mysterious as the halls of Thorn Grove.”
— Bridey Morris, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
![Cover Image for The Drowned Woods](https://images.booksense.com/images/317/556/9780759556317.jpg)
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“A lush and haunting heist novel inspired by Welsh folklore. Emily’s beautiful prose draws you in from the first page. If you like atmospheric fantasy, high stakes adventure, and a touch of romantic tension, you will love The Drowned Woods.”
— Gabrielle Belisle, An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA
![Cover Image for Foul Lady Fortune](https://images.booksense.com/images/589/905/9781665905589.jpg)
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“After reading These Violent Delights, I constantly checked for new writing from Chloe Gong. Foul Lady Fortune did not disappoint, with a new cast of characters (and some familiar faces) to fall in love with, and an entirely new political landscape to immerse in.”
— Ellie Ray, Content Bookstore, Northfield, MN
![Cover Image for I'm the Girl](https://images.booksense.com/images/363/808/9781250808363.jpg)
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“Courtney Summers’ sharp-edged protagonist makes every ‘mistake’ young women are taught to avoid, and in a revolutionary move, the narrative refuses to blame her for it. I’m the Girl is not just a powerful feminist thriller, it is a call to action.”
— Kay Frost, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
![Cover Image for Over My Dead Body](https://images.booksense.com/images/305/056/9780063056305.jpg)
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“In this bewitching graphic novel, it’s up to Abigail to uncover what lurks in the woods before it’s too late. Over My Dead Body combines gorgeous art with a compelling storyline full of magic and mystery. You’ll be turning the pages all night!”
— Emma Butler, The Briar Patch, Bangor, ME
![Cover Image for The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer Duology #1)](https://images.booksense.com/images/130/822/9781250822130.jpg)
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“Another amazing novel by Aiden Thomas, The Sunbearer Trials is an absolute whirlwind of a book with an amazingly crafted world, fantastic representation, and an enthralling story! If you liked Cemetery Boys, then you’ll love this series!”
— Marya Johnston, Out West Books, Grand Junction, CO
![Cover Image for The Weight of Blood](https://images.booksense.com/images/149/029/9780063029149.jpg)
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“With Carrie as a jumping off point, this is no pale imitation. The original comes through in the misery of being a high school outcast, the immediate horror of abuse, and the insidious horror of institutionalized racism. One heck of a good read.”
— Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books Essex, Essex Junction, VT
![Cover Image for Wild is the Witch](https://images.booksense.com/images/454/229/9781728229454.jpg)
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“I love this second novel by Rachel Griffin. An emotional story about guilt, regret, and vulnerability with incredible storytelling and rich descriptions! Love the magic and the animals and the cozy feeling — like walking out in the woods.”
— Jaya Anderson, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
More Indie Next Lists
- July 2024 Indie Next List
- Summer 2024 Reading Group Indie Next List
- July/August 2024 Kids Indie Next List
- June 2024 Indie Next List
- May 2024 Indie Next List
- May/June 2024 Kids Indie Next List
- April 2024 Indie Next List
- Spring 2024 Reading Group Indie Next List
- March 2024 Indie Next List
- March/April 2024 Kids Indie Next List