What Kirkus reviewers had to say about the season's hottest books for adults and young readers:
Concrete to Saltwater by Brian Averill (The Hesperium Group): “Skateboarders and surfers defy gravity on a California beach in this vibrant photography book….Averill, a photographer, surfer, and skateboarder, collects 10 years of his photos from the Venice, California, beach, which hosts an iconic surf culture as well as a thriving beachside skateboarding park.”
Secluded Summer at Hidden Havens by Wendy Black Farley (BookBaby): “The head of a literary agency swaps places with a writing teacher for a summer, and both find love and intrigue….Black Farley’s book is a lighthearted romp, offering a modern, less-serious spin on a campus novel.”
Stories To Sing in the Dark by Matthew Bright (Lethe Press): “Ghosts, space travel, and murderous movie censors are among the obstacles to gay love in these phantasmagoric tales. In his first short story collection, Bright…combines vigorous narratives with prose that is atmospheric, slyly humorous, and saturated with evocative imagery.”
The MIT Murders by Stephen L. Bruneau (iUniverse): “A series of brutal murders in Boston tests the police and terrifies a book club….A believable time frame, intelligent dialogue, an abundance of twists, and escalation in the psychopath’s violence lead to quick page turns. Characters are intelligent, and a mix of races is represented. Augustin, a smart, albeit chain-smoking, middle-aged African American chief cop, deserves prominence in a sequel.”
Bear and the Oxbow Island Gang by Rae Chalmers; illustrated by Jamie Hogan (Maine Authors Publishing): “A sixth grade boy and some friends team up to try to foil a poacher/plant thief in this debut middle-grade novel….Funny, warmhearted, and involving, with a timely ecological message.”
Captain Bad Breaker and the Cotton Candy Ship by L.L. Faer E. Raven; illustrated by Salvador Capuyan (Xlibris Corp.): “In this children’s book, a dastardly ex-pirate gets his comeuppance from a savvy young ship captain….There’s a lot to enjoy in this humorous tale, especially the descriptions of the key scoundrel. He uses a dog bone to pick his teeth, and his best friend is a skull called the ‘Head of Doom,’ which he squeezes for luck.”
Root and Branch by Preston Fleming (PF Press): “A security contractor learns that the U.S. government is using his company’s technology for sinister purposes in a new thriller from the author of Maid of Baikal (2017).…Readers familiar with Fleming’s prior work will likely anticipate keen characterization and dialogue—and won’t be disappointed.”
The Language of Cherries by Jen Marie Hawkins (Owl Hollow Press): “Sixteen-year-old budding artist Evie Perez is spending an unhappy summer accompanying her geologist dad on his temporary Iceland assignment, fretting that her best friend might be moving in on her boyfriend back in Miami. The one bright spot in the chilly, gray landscape is a cherry orchard that provides both succulent fruit and an inspiring setting for Evie to paint in. An added attraction is 17-year-old Oskar Eriksson….A luminous YA love story with magnetic characters and literary flair.”
Highland Conquest by Heather McCollum (Entangled: Amara): “A Highland warrior wins a battle but loses his heart in this novel….McCollum is a seasoned romance writer and knows her stuff. Does her latest novel break any new ground? No. Is it predictable? You bet. But it sure is an enjoyable read.”
Hello, Friends! By Bola Williams; illustrated by Daniel Stevens (Pears Lane Publishing): “Curly-haired, brown-skinned Daniel is getting ready to attend a neighborhood picnic with his dad. As they walk, Daniel encounters many friends, each time greeting them by name: His pal Zola responds in French; Mai greets him in Chinese....Children surrounded by diversity will find this book relatable; others may use it as a window into unfamiliar cultures.”
Myra Forsberg is an Indie editor.
