Indie book reviews

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IndieReader’s reviewers are tough, but fair

Our Reviewers won’t judge your book as compared to other self-published titles, but against other books, period. Our ratings are based on the following criteria, although reviewers are able to award partial stars (i.e. a 1.3 or a 4.7), rather than rounding up or down to a whole or half number.

1/5

Really bad 
Work on it.

2/5

Mediocre
1-2 bright spots.

3/5

Good
Worth reading.

4/5

Very Good
1-2 spots that need work

5/5

Excellent!
Must-read.

* IndieReader receives compensation for most of the books it reviews, along with copies of those books.

IR Approved
June 16, 2026

TOOFER & THE GIBLET

By Paulette LeBlanc (Author), Dmitry Morozov (Illustrator)
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Paulette LeBlanc's heartwarming chapter book with pictures TOOFER & THE GIBLET achieves all its narrative goals by integrating life lessons about complex emotions into short,...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Through a combination of practical information, actionable skill-building advice, and passion for the role, Linda Soules’s SO YOU WANT TO BE A VIDEO GAME DESIGNER...

IR Approved
March 29, 2026

FIRST THERE WAS A BIRD

By Linda Oatman High
Rating:
4.3 / 5.0

Written by Linda Oatman High, FIRST THERE WAS A BIRD is a coming-of-age tale that expatiates movingly on the issue of young grief with pertinent...

IR Approved
November 24, 2025

THE INVISIBLE THREAD

By Sue Lamorree
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Heartfelt and hopeful, Sue Lamoree’s THE INVISIBLE THREAD offers middle-grade readers an inspiring look at courage, friendship, and the invisible bonds that hold people and...

IR Approved
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Matthew A. Tower’s LOVE WARS: Clash of the Parents details the aftermath of an exceptionally acrimonious divorce, the pain of generational trauma, and the possibility...

IR Approved
October 17, 2025

THE WATCHWOOD INHERITANCE

By Ann Huchingson
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Middle-grade readers who enjoy stories with haunted mansions, small-town summer adventures, first crushes, and mysteries that echo through history are sure to love Ann Huchingson's...

IR Approved
August 22, 2025

ELLIE MENT AND THE MATERIAL MATTER

By Bertie Stephens
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Bertie Stephens’s ELLIE MENT AND THE MATERIAL MATTER is a perfect blend of fun, informative, and timely.

IR Approved
June 6, 2025

DIGGER: Dig or Die!

By Deborah Cholette
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

With a very neat premise and memorable characters, Deborah Cholette’s DIGGER: Dig or Die! offers an exciting and educational variation on the dystopian thriller. Fast...

IR Approved
March 19, 2025

RED AND ME

By Terry Lee Caruthers
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Terry Lee Caruthers's RED AND ME is a charming, innocent tale of childhood in an America gone by—as well as a heartfelt paean to the...

IR Approved
December 18, 2024

BACK TO BAINBRIDGE

By Norah Lally
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Moving at an uninterrupted, steady pace, BACK TO BAINBRIDGE by Norah Lally emotively captures the struggles of a young teen as she tries to find...

November 29, 2024

DODGING CUPCAKES

By Laura Pashley
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Laura Pashley’s DODGING CUPCAKES heartily tackles serious and relatable elements of being the new kid at school.

IR Approved
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

FLICK YOUR HEART-LIGHT ON, LET YOUR FEARS BE GONE!: Helping Children Connect to Their Heart to Soothe Their Mind by Tonia Cianciulli is a warm...

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