Books Are My Bag, the consumer campaign division of the Booksellers Association, has today announced Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili as Fiction Book of the Month, and Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable by Tom Percival as Children’s Book of the Month for February.
 
Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting Hard by a Great Forest and Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable  throughout February on social media and in-store. Books Are My Bag will be supporting the promotion of the Indie Books of the Month through social media and promotional material.
 
From Leo Vardiashvili, an Observer Best New Novelist for 2024, comes an extradionary debut novel that has been sold in over 15 countires worldwide and was shortlisted for The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2024. Described as ‘powerful’ (Mail on Sunday), ‘moving’ (Sunday Times) and ‘poignant’ (Observer), Hard by a Great Forest tells the story of Saba, who’s father is missing and the trail leads back to Tiblisi, Georgia.
 
It’s been two decades since Irakli fled his war-torn homeland with two young sons, now grown men. Two decades since he saw their mother, who stayed so they could escape. At long last, Tbilisi has lured him home. But when Irakli’s phone calls stop, a mystery begins... Arriving in Tbilisi, Saba must follow the trail of clues that seem to be laid out for him: pages from his father’s unpublished manuscript scattered like breadcrumbs, strange graffiti, bewildering messages transmitted through the radio. And as the voices of those left behind pull at the edges of his world, Saba will discover that all roads lead back to the past, and to secrets swallowed up by the great forests of Georgia.
 
 
Leo Vardiashvili, author of Hard by a Great Forest commented: “For me, indie bookshops serve as small islands of peace, quiet and shelter from a world drenched in algorithms, adverts, wish-lists and AI-powered recommendations. Each one is genuinely unique and curated by passionate, knowledgeable lovers of literature. Get to know your local indie bookshop – turn up with no idea of which book(s) to buy. Relax, take a seat, have a coffee, or have a chat. I promise you’ll come away with personalised recommendations that those algorithms can’t replicate. Think of them as that one friend that always pressed a book you didn’t know existed into your hands and told you – ‘I know you; you’ll like this There simply isn’t a better way to discover new voices, new perspectives, hidden gems and a much-needed community of book lovers and writers.”
 
From Tom Percival, creator of the widely loved Big Bright Feelings picture book series exploring emotions including World Book Day title Billy’s Bravery, comes the first book in a brilliantly funny, colourful new illustrated fiction series entitled Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improable. Young readers will love this zanily brilliant story, full of unlikely scenarios and laugh-out-loud moments, perfect for fans of the Mr Gum, Dog Man and Grimwood series.
 
Squirrel and Duck might seem strange housemates but they are drawn together by their secret – they are the only two talking animals in the world. When bulldozers arrive to redevelop the abandoned theme park they call home, they flee with nothing but Mr Spikes, Duck’s beloved ‘pet’ cactus. Overhearing a conversation between two nincompoop art thieves puts them on the trail of untold riches (according to Squirrel) or a great deed to help the nation (as far as Duck’s concerned). Only some surprisingly unhelpful woodland creatures and a temporary lack of transport stand in their way.
 
Tom Percival , author of Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improable commented: “I love independent bookshops! I love the sense of community which they generate on the high street, and the creativity and passion that they bring to the industry. I especially love that when the last shadowy and secretive guild meeting of indie booksellers occurred, they all threw back their hooded capes and roared in full-throated approval of Squirrel & Duck - Mission Improbable as their pick for February Indie Book of The Month. At least, that’s how I assume they make these decisions, like I say, it’s a very secretive guild, so I don’t know for sure…” 
 
The Indie Book of the Month titles are selected by panels of booksellers from publisher submissions. The Fiction panel were from Literary Cat in Machynlleth, The Wedale Bookshop in Galashiels, Cover to Cover in Swansea and Red Lion Books in Colchester. The Children’s panel for December comprised members from Booka Bookshop in Oswestry, Owl and Pyramid in Seaton, Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath and Kenilworth Books in Warwickshire.

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