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America Reading Challenge: Books Set in Each State

Ever dreamt of taking the great American road trip and reading books set in each state along the way? Some of the most memorable travels in the United States are woven with literature. Stories add an extra dimension to travels and are an incredible way to absorb local culture.
The diversity of America is reflected in its literature and these books set in each state (plus Washington DC) aim to help capture it. There are classics from the past and bestsellers from the present, including both fiction and non-fiction. The books are related to the states in varied ways – are set there, have characters from there, reflect the local culture or are by notable authors from there. Selections are based on a number of criteria; including overall popularity, awards, reviews and ratings.
Hopefully you find something here to inspire your next read, or even consider taking on the America Reading Challenge yourself. Why not read your way around American with these books set in each state?
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Alabama: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Alabama: To Kill a Mockingbird
1
Harper Lee
Alaska: Into the Wild (Jon Krakauer)
Alaska: Into the Wild
2
Jon Krakauer
Arizona: The Bean Trees (Barbara Kingsolver)
Arizona: The Bean Trees
3
Barbara Kingsolver
Arkansas: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou)
Arkansas: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
4
Maya Angelou
California: East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
California: East of Eden
5
John Steinbeck
Colorado: Plainsong (Kent Haruf)
Colorado: Plainsong
6
Kent Haruf
Connecticut: Revolutionary Road (Richard Yates)
Connecticut: Revolutionary Road
7
Richard Yates
Delaware: The Book of Unknown Americans (Cristina Henriquez)
Delaware: The Book of Unknown Americans
8
Cristina Henriquez
Florida: There Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston)
Florida: There Eyes Were Watching God
9
Zora Neale Hurston
Georgia: The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
Georgia: The Color Purple
10
Alice Walker
Hawaii: The Descendants (Kaui Hart Hemmings)
Hawaii: The Descendants
11
Kaui Hart Hemmings
Idaho: Housekeeping (Marilynne Robinson)
Idaho: Housekeeping
12
Marilynne Robinson
Illinois: Dandelion Wine (Ray Bradbury)
Illinois: Dandelion Wine
13
Ray Bradbury
Indiana: A Girl Named Zippy (Haven Kimmel)
Indiana: A Girl Named Zippy
14
Haven Kimmel
Iowa: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Peter Hedges)
Iowa: What's Eating Gilbert Grape
15
Peter Hedges
Kansas: In Cold Blood (Truman Capote)
Kansas: In Cold Blood
16
Truman Capote
Kentucky: Icy Sparks (Gwyn Hyman Rubio)
Kentucky: Icy Sparks
17
Gwyn Hyman Rubio
Louisiana: The Awakening (Kate Chopin)
Louisiana: The Awakening
18
Kate Chopin
Maine: The Cider House Rules (John Irving)
Maine: The Cider House Rules
19
John Irving
Maryland: The Accidental Tourist (Anne Tyler)
Maryland: The Accidental Tourist
20
Anne Tyler
Massachusetts: Infinite Jest (David Foster Wallace)
Massachusetts: Infinite Jest
21
David Foster Wallace
Michigan: The Virgin Suicides (Jeffrey Eugenides)
Michigan: The Virgin Suicides
22
Jeffrey Eugenides
Minnesota: Ordinary Grace (William Kent Krueger)
Minnesota: Ordinary Grace
23
William Kent Krueger
Mississippi: The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
Mississippi: The Help
24
Kathryn Stockett
Missouri: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain)
Missouri: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
25
Mark Twain
Montana: A River Runs Through It (Norman MacLean)
Montana: A River Runs Through It
26
Norman MacLean
Nebraska: My Ántonia (Willa Cather)
Nebraska: My Ántonia
27
Willa Cather
Nevada: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Hunter S. Thompson)
Nevada: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
28
Hunter S. Thompson
New Hampshire: A Separate Peace (John Knowles)
New Hampshire: A Separate Peace
29
John Knowles
New Jersey: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Oscar Wao)
New Jersey: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
30
Oscar Wao
New Mexico: The Green Glass Sea (Ellen Klages)
New Mexico: The Green Glass Sea
31
Ellen Klages
New York: The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
New York: The Great Gatsby
32
F. Scott Fitzgerald
North Carolina: A Walk to Remember (Nicholas Sparks)
North Carolina: A Walk to Remember
33
Nicholas Sparks
North Dakota: The Round House (Louise Erdrich)
North Dakota: The Round House
34
Louise Erdrich
Ohio: Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
Ohio: Little Fires Everywhere
35
Celeste Ng
Oklahoma: Where the Heart Is (Billie Letts)
Oklahoma: Where the Heart Is
36
Billie Letts
Oregon: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Ken Kesey)
Oregon: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
37
Ken Kesey
Pennsylvania: The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
Pennsylvania: The Lovely Bones
38
Alice Sebold
Rhode Island: My Sister's Keeper (Jodi Picoult)
Rhode Island: My Sister's Keeper
39
Jodi Picoult
South Carolina: The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
South Carolina: The Secret Life of Bees
40
Sue Monk Kidd
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