5 best novels set in West Virginia
Feel the rhythmic cadence of the Appalachian Mountains, smell the aromatic scent of the wild Rhododendrons, and experience the rich, rugged, and remarkable character of West Virginia as it comes alive in the world of letters. Novels set in West Virginia serve as an enticing canvas that vividly portraits its raw beauty and undeniable charm, while narrating intriguing tales of hardship, resilience, and triumph.
A Shiloh Christmas
By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
How it fits the "novels set in West Virginia" vibe: The classic Newbery Medal winner tells the tale of a young boy, Marty, who encounters a beagle named Shiloh in his small West Virginia town. It captures the folk culture and the folkloristic essence of life in a downtrodden area of West Virginia.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Page Count: 272
Published Date: 2016-09-20
The Glass Castle
By Jeannette Walls
How it fits the "novels set in West Virginia" vibe: This moving memoir presents Jeannette Walls' upbringing in multiple locales, including Welch, West Virginia. It perfectly encapsulates the hardscrabble life, cluttered with raw poverty and a nomadic existence that people in such areas sometimes face.
Publisher: Scribner
Page Count: 304
Published Date: 2006-01-17
Rocket Boys
By Homer Hickam
How it fits the "novels set in West Virginia" vibe: This real-life story that inspired the film 'October Sky' vividly portrays the author’s youth in the coal-mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. It tells tales of struggles, aspirations and the beauty of dreaming in an otherwise ungenerous setting.
2.5 / 5 Stars on Google Books
Publisher: Delta
Page Count: 394
Published Date: 2000-01-11
The Truth According to Us
By Annie Barrows
How it fits the "novels set in West Virginia" vibe: Set during the summer of 1938 in the small town of Macedonia, West Virginia, this book beautifully captures small-town life. It uses West Virginia as a backdrop to unravel a rich, evocative and historical narrative that immerses readers into the state.
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback
Page Count: 530
Published Date: 2016-06-14
Lark and Termite
By Jayne Anne Phillips
How it fits the "novels set in West Virginia" vibe: This novel of love and loss is set in both the 1950s in Korea and in West Virginia. It employs the magnificent backdrop of West Virginia’s landscape and atmosphere to explore the depths and heights of human bonds in a poor but resilient society.
Publisher: Vintage
Page Count: 306
Published Date: 2009-01-06