The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Fantasy & Magic

Book Buzz: The Witch’s Table by Melinda Beatty

ad

Melinda Beatty, photo courtesy the author

In her official bio, Melinda Beatty says she is, by day, “a mild-mannered bookseller at an independent bookstore.” She spoke to Books Forward about what it means to wear that particular hat as a children’s author, including taking pains to clarify “sitting around reading all day” myth:

“There is WAY too much to do to have time to stand still long enough to read. There’s always a customer to help, a shipment to receive, displays to make, shelf-talkers to write or dusting to do!

For pure aesthetics, my favorite area of the bookstore is our children’s section. It is just marvelous! The back of the store is enclosed in a little tiki hut, which holds our board books, picture books and emergent readers section. Just outside is our middle grade and YA. But sci-fi/fantasy is my soul section — it’s where I do most of my reading! In our store, this section is housed on a huge baker’s cart, front and back and it’s the area I do most of my recommendations from!””

― Melinda Beatty, Interview, Books Forward

The Witch's Table by Melinda Beatty

What booksellers are saying about The Witch’s Table

  • I enjoyed reading “The Witch’s Table” and looking at all of the illustrations. I enjoyed how the illustrations are all hand-drawn and there is so much depth in the scenes it makes you want to look at all of the nooks and crannies of the rooms in the house. The relationship between the Witch and the Table is a cute story, too. It’s like having roommates, you don’t have to agree on everything to respect each other and live together. Overall, this is a story about seeing “eye to eye” with others around you.
      ― Kait Boyd, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama | BUY

  • Such a cute story, with a deeper meaning behind it!
      ― Kenzie Karoly, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia | BUY

  • An entertaining and amusing tale! Funny and charming- The Witch’s Table is sure please readers of all ages!
      ― Michelle Weiler, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina | BUY

  • What a funky, cute way to teach kids how to care for each other even when its difficult! Bonus: This is a great book for the kids who wish it was spooky season all year round. (It’s me. I’m that kid.)
      ― Tori Finklea, Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee | BUY

About Melinda Beatty

Melinda Beatty has had years of practice trying to explain to others why she was just having an imaginary conversation between two people that don’t exist, so becoming a writer seemed like the best way to stop everyone from looking at her funny. After years of narrowboat living on the English canals, she and her British husband are now back on dry land in Maryland, where by day, she’s a mild-mannered indie bookseller, and by night, she wrangles words, crafts projects, and raises a Labrador and two fierce mini-women.

Stefano Tambellini was born in a small town in Tuscany, Italy. He studied traditional animation at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and then moved to London, where he worked as a freelance illustrator for animation and publishing. He lives with a gray cat named Mandragola, and he’s also a stop-motion puppet maker and filmmaker. See more of Stefano’s work at ste-tambellini.format.com.

ad

Book Buzz: The Witch’s Table by Melinda Beatty Read More »

A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan

An exceptional book for middle grade readers who enjoy games, puzzles, and tournaments! A Game of Noctis follows twelve-year-old Pia Paro through a society where your worth is determined by your player score. As Pia hunts for a way to bring her grandfather back from the Pawn Isles, she gains a greater insight into the ethical dilemmas of her nation’s class-based structure. Fagan does an incredible job at discussing pertinent social issues such as classism, law enforcement, and unionization in a manner that is easily digestible for younger readers. The lucid prose, complex world-building, and well-developed characters make A Game of Noctis a great choice for fans of The Hunger Games who want a recommendation for a similarly passionate reading experience.

A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan, (List Price: $8.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665930208, April 2025)

Reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan Read More »

Tiana’s Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose

So fantastic to be back with Prince Naveen and Tiana after so long! I was expecting to have a book about the restaurant or Tiana and Naveen on their own, but I was so pleasantly surprised with the idea of Tiana having to impress her in-laws. It’s the perfect storytime book for any parents looking for one that can entertain them as well as their children.

Tiana’s Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose, (List Price: $18.99, Disney Hyperion, 9781368081603, October 2024)

Reviewed by Anna Trevathan, The Bottom in Knoxville, Tennessee

Tiana’s Perfect Plan by Anika Noni Rose Read More »

The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd

Natalie Lloyd’s books are the literary equivalent of your grandmama’s blueberry crunch cobbler fresh out of the oven. They’re warm, a little bit magic, and a whole lotta heart. Roxie and Grayson will tug at your heartstrings with their inner strength and innate kindness, even when the world is throwing hard things at them. And that pilfering Witching Wind will definitely steal your heart and fill it up with hope, though not before sending you on a whirlwind first.

The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd, (List Price: $17.99, Scholastic Press, 9781338858600, September 2024)

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd Read More »

Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle

A cute cautionary tale with beautiful art. I love how the wolf follows Millie around in the illustrations, and how Millie was able to outsmart the traps. The narration was easy to understand and fun. A great read for children.

Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9780735268562, July 2024)

Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle Read More »

Tiny Jenny by Briony May Smith

Tiny Jenny is a wingless fairy born in a nest of wrens. She goes in search of her fairy family and hopes to earn her wings. After a surprising journey, she finds where she truly belongs in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Tiny Jenny by Briony May Smith, (List Price: $18.99, Anne Schwartz Books, 9780593650479, August 2024)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Tiny Jenny by Briony May Smith Read More »

Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands

Oh wow, what an amazing conclusion to a thrilling trilogy! Cal and his squad of thieves have one last mission to carry out before the Eye will let them go… but what if their success means the end of the world as they know it? To thwart the Eye, they must find allies among Spirits, industrialists, and runners for the rival thieves guild. These characters were as electric as ever, and the magic of this world was tantalizing.

Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593620953, November 2023)

Reviewed by Jordan April, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands Read More »

The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr

Just delightful! A charming narrative with colorful characters, a magic book, a mad dictator, and heroic kids, pretty much everything you need for an enchanting story.

The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr, (List Price: 18.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665922579, May 2023)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr Read More »

Spotlight on: Greenwild by Pari Thomson

ad

Pari Thomson, photo credit Pari Thomson

I’m lucky enough to live near Kew Gardens, a huge botanical garden in London, and I’ve always loved walking through its magnificent glasshouses. Some of the plants there are stranger than fiction – tiny hairy pink bananas, giant lily-pads big enough for a person to lie down on, and poisonous flytraps that sense movement in the air around them. I’ve always thought that plants are a little bit magic, and I wanted to take that idea and run with it. What if plants really WERE magic? What would a magical garden look like? Writing Greenwild was an opportunity for me to explore that world and make it feel real. ― Pari Thomson, Interview, MacKids School & Library

Greenwild by Pari Thomson

What booksellers are saying about Greenwild

  • Greenwild is pure magic in every sense of the word. From the immediate ‘hook’ in the prologue, the story grabs you and never lets go for an instant. The world-building of the Greenwild is reminiscent of Harry Potter (in all the best ways), but the plant magic wielded by the Botanists was refreshingly original and utterly captivating.
      ― Kate Snyder from Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, KY | Buy from Plaid Elephant Books

  • Greenwild is a brilliant magical adventure that gave me the Harry Potter feelings in all the best ways. The characters are lovable and diverse. The magic is novel and timely. The illustrations are gorgeous. My only complaint is that I need the next book stat.
      ―Melissa Taylor from E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, GA | Buy from E. Shaver Booksellers

  • There are so many magical middle grade novels out there, but this one felt so unique and so beautiful. Greenwild is a combination of the power of nature, community, and found family. The world building was fast, easy, and addicting. I wanted more and more of Mallowmarsh! It was the type of world that makes you want to jump right in and make it your home as well. Then you have Daisy, who is a main character , in search of her mother and ancestry. Daisy is confident, smart, and someone you want as your best friend. Greenwild was fantastic! Can’t wait for number two! 
      ―Olivia Schaffer from The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA | Buy from The Bookshelf

  • Go green gets a whole new meaning in this Botanical Fantasy where a stray cat, a missing mother, and a dandelion paperweight are Daisy Thistledown’s ticket into a world of green magic…. even without a grassport. This one is just perfect for fans of Morrigan Crow, Keeper of Lost Cities and The Marvellers.
      ―Angie Tally from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC | Buy from The Country Bookshop

About Pari Thomson

Pari Thomson works as a Senior Commissioning Editor for picture books at Bloomsbury Children’s Books. Half Persian, half English, she lived in many places while she was growing up, including India, Pakistan, the USA, the UK and Belgium. She studied at Oxford University and now lives near the river in London, not far from Kew Gardens. @PariThomson on Twitter.

ad

Spotlight on: Greenwild by Pari Thomson Read More »

The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson

A May 2023 Read This Next! Title

Ziggy is just a regular kid. Well, a regular kid who encounters talking coyotes, singing frogs, prophesying snakes, truth-telling horses, a very interesting Grandma, and Nunnehi- spirits who protect those of Cherokee descent. Funny, sad, wise, and jam-packed with adventure, Ziggy’s story, The Storyteller, may be the very best book you’ll read in 2023.

The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson, (List Price: 17.99, Scholastic Press, 9781338797268, May 2023)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson Read More »

The Golden Swift by Lev Grossman

A middle grade fantasy novel with magical trains, a magical submarine, an apartment in the sky, a missing uncle, talking animals, endangered species and rewilding? Yes, please! This series is proof that kids can learn about current day issues in novels. Not that any of us in the industry need convincing of this, but this series does it effortlessly. Brilliant! Can’t wait for more!

The Golden Swift by Lev Grossman, (List Price: $35, Little Brown and Company, 9780316283540, May 2022)

Reviewed by Jill Naylor, Novel in Memphis, Tennessee

The Golden Swift by Lev Grossman Read More »

The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan

I finished this book in three days, and it did NOT feel like it took me that amount of time. It felt like time stood still as I read through the whole book, which I guess in kind of ironic, considering the book’s themes.I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well written and captivating. The world was both mysterious and filled to the brim with lore. And the themes hit hard and were still realistic; I truly believed in every characters motivation and cause.I would happily read a sequel or prequel to this book, or even something entirely unrelated, if it was from this author. The way the world was described and the author’s writing style was both unique and perfectly fitting for this book. A wonderful read, and I would gladly spend my time reading this book again!

The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan, (List Price: $16.99, HarperCollins, 9780063054608, May 2022)

Reviewed by Mandolin Moore, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan Read More »

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

This beautiful tale is cleverly oozling with allegory–but it boils down to a simple message: knowledge, education, and the written word are power, kindness matters, and together we are stronger. Kelly Barnhill has crafted a masterpiece chock full of mistrusting citizens in a ruined village, an ogress with a big heart, orphans who pay attention, crows with a language of their own, a scarily charismatic mayor who isn’t who he seems, and an unnoticed stone at the heart of it all. This reader was thoroughly bedazzled and charmed by its brilliance.

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill, (List Price: $28, Algonquin Young Readers, 9781643750743,  February 2022)

Reviewed by Damita Nocton from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill Read More »

Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray

Perfect for middle readers with a sense of adventure, this book is a fun ride from the first page! The mystery of learning the identity and nature of the Enemy is captivating, and the tight bonds between both friends and siblings are explored beautifully. I’d absolutely recommend this book to young readers, and I hope to see more from this author, and in this world!

Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray, (List Price: $17.99, HarperCollins, 9780063043114, December 2021)

Reviewed by Kate Wilder, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray Read More »

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha

Small Knight’s parents want her to be a princess, but that is the opposite of what she wants, which is to be a knight who goes on adventures. Small Knight worries about telling her parents the truth, and finds that the worry she keeps inside has grown into a dark monster who follows her everywhere. During a quest to find the truth about the monster, Small Knight realizes she has to look inside herself to fight the monster, and although it may never fully go away, she is in control of her destiny and dreams. SMALL KNIGHT AND THE ANXIETY MONSTER is an honest and important book for children.

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha (List Price: $18.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250618795, 6/1/2021)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha Read More »

Scroll to Top