Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Best Indie Books of 2012: The Complete List (page 2)


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Cover art for THE GLASS SKY
INDIE
Released: June 1, 2012

"An exciting, well-written and compassionate eco-thriller with real heroes and a mission worth caring about."
An American biospherist and a Chinese nanoengineer risk everything to save Earth's climate in this thriller set 40 years in the future. Read full book review >
Cover art for BEAMISH BOY
INDIE
Released: June 1, 2012

"A beautifully written memoir of awakening and self-acceptance."
DeSilver's memoir recounts the adolescent and young-adult experiences that shaped his writing and artistic endeavors as an acclaimed poet. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE PIG WAR
INDIE
Released: May 26, 2012

"Clarity, engaging characters, and a surprise or two make for a delightful tale for young readers."
A boy's summer with his grumpy grandfather turns into a fun adventure on an island in the Pacific Northwest in this contemporary middle-grade novel. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE CHRONICLES OF IONA: EXILE
INDIE
Released: May 25, 2012

"Exciting, immersive and authentic."
This historical novel, set in sixth-century Scotland, relates the struggles of St. Columba to establish his monastery and of Aedan mac Gabran to gain a kingship. Read full book review >
Cover art for PETRA
INDIE
Released: May 25, 2012

"Highly recommended for anyone interested in architecture, classical history or travel photography."
Stunning panoramic views of Petra, one of the world's archaeological treasures, adorn this beautifully designed coffee table book. Read full book review >
Cover art for LIFE IN CONTINUUM
INDIE
Released: May 18, 2012

"A classic in the making, this collection of time-traveling sci-fi stories mixes gripping human narratives with provocative scientific speculation."
A dazzling collection of time-travel–themed sci-fi that stands with some of the classics of the genre. Read full book review >
Cover art for KINGDOM
INDIE
Released: May 10, 2012

"For fans of noir-laden science fiction in the vein of Philip K. Dick that is in equal measures suspenseful, gripping, darkly funny and philosophically challenging."
Against a backdrop of dystopian urban sprawl and human suffering, a morally questionable scientific corporation hunts for the gene responsible for the soul in O'Donnell's debut novel, the first in a planned sci-fi trilogy. Read full book review >
Cover art for TENEMBRAS
INDIE
Released: April 24, 2012

"A stellar sequel that can stand on its own."
A rollicking interplanetary tale of cunning, gumption and the human spirit. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE WATER THIEF
INDIE
Released: April 23, 2012

"Profound, provocative and sure to spark a reaction."
In a world ruled by capitalism, an empathetic corporate worker questions the principles upon which the society functions. Read full book review >
Cover art for LAY SAINTS
INDIE
Released: April 23, 2012

"A stylish reimagining of the psychic mystery genre."
Influence peddling--the telepathic kind--fuels the big city in this hard-boiled but soulful fantasy thriller. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SECRET SENSE OF WILDFLOWER
INDIE
Released: April 22, 2012

"A quietly powerful story, at times harrowing but ultimately a joy to read."
In this novel, life turns toward a dark horizon for a precocious adolescent grieving for her father in 1941 Tennessee. Read full book review >
Cover art for IMPORTANT NONSENSE
INDIE
Released: April 12, 2012

"A fine philosophical text to aid in considering the big ideas."
Brutus' first book of philosophy offers a glimpse into the minds of some of history's greatest thinkers. Read full book review >
Cover art for CAPTAIN NO BEARD
INDIE
Released: April 12, 2012

"Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates."
Debut author Roman pens a picture book about an imaginative boy who transforms his bed and stuffed animals into props for a marvelous pirate adventure. Read full book review >
Cover art for Sea of Crises
INDIE
Released: April 10, 2012

"A stellar thriller that handily juggles its formulaic elements to achieve near-perfect liftoff."
Debut author Steere shows off his air-and-space mastery in this swashbuckling tale of Apollo 18, the moon landing that never was. Read full book review >
Cover art for ROOM FOUR
INDIE
Released: April 5, 2012

"Witty and engaging, this short novel will provide readers a dose of hilarity and a quick cure for the workaday blues."
The laugh-out-loud tale of how a hapless accountant endures a three-day coma in the company of another soul in limbo, observing the gritty, often bizarre goings-on of an inner-city emergency room. Read full book review >
Cover art for MEMORIA
INDIE
Released: March 26, 2012

"Multiple genres come together to form a rewarding, incomparable novel."
In Segrave's debut mystery, a grad student in Venice becomes invested in recovering a stolen mask only to discover that the item is a relic of her own past. Read full book review >
Cover art for LOOKING IN THE MIRROR OUT
INDIE
Released: March 23, 2012

"Part memoir, part journal, part plan-in-progress, Bates has no time for self-pity, preferring instead to celebrate all that she is grateful for."
Labeled with Multiple Personality and Dissociative Identity disorders, author Bates writes about the 18 personalities living in her head. Read full book review >
Cover art for LIVING PROOF
INDIE
Released: March 22, 2012

"Highly readable, this engaging manual never veers from its focus of providing the basic skills one needs to tell a story that can truly make a difference."
Smart, well-delivered and timely advice to help advocates and spokespeople tell the most effective stories. Read full book review >
Cover art for HEART'S BLOOD
INDIE
Released: March 20, 2012

"An eloquent, refreshing perspective on the struggles faced by those living along the Mexican border."
Zinn (The Happiness Lottery, 2011, etc.) returns with a novel that chronicles the trials of a wandering cowboy who learns to take life by the horns. Read full book review >
Cover art for A REAL MOTHER
INDIE
Released: March 12, 2012

"A quick, lighthearted romp through the joys of motherhood as told by a real, honest and very funny mom."
Malloy presents a collection of 39 funny, charming and poignant snapshots of her life as the mother of two boys. Read full book review >