20.2 – Rookie at the Top – Pamela3265’s task: Exploring America's National Park System

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

20.2 – Rookie at the Top – Pamela3265’s task: Exploring America's National Park System

I grew up near Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and worked 15 miles from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 1988 which became known as the “Summer of Fire”. I have a National Park Passport and have been fortunate to be able to visit several Parks, Monuments, and National Historic Sites outside of my local area. Because of these visits, I’ve developed a great love for the United States National Park System. For this challenge, I thought it would be fun to explore some of our National Parks.

For the options below we will use the following list:
National Parks of the United States

This is a one book task. Please select one of the options below.

Option 1: Read a fictional book set in a National Park. At least 50% of the book needs to be set in the National Park.

Required: Identify which National Park the book is set in.

Option 2: Read a non-fiction book about the National Park System or one of our National Parks.

Examples: The National Parks: America's Best Idea,
Grand Canyon Ghost Stories: Spooky Tales about Grand Canyon National Park
Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park,
Before They're Gone: A Family's Year-Long Quest to Explore America's Most Endangered National Parks

Option 3: Read a book with a title/subtitle that contains a word found in a name of a National Park found on the National Parks of the United States list. Words must match exactly, but "Saint" may also be used for "St." The following words are excluded: of, the.

Required: Identify the National Park.

Optional Activity: Identify your favorite National Park.

Required: Indicate the option.

[Pamela]

Approved Books

Option 1:
Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr - Guadalupe Mountains
Letters from Yellowstone by Diane Smith - Yellowstone
Ill Wind by Nevada Barr - Mesa Verde
Borderline by Nevada Barr - Big Bend National Park


Option 2:
Night of the Grizzlies by Jack Olsen - Glacier National Park
Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir - Yosemite
Yosemite: An American Treasure - Yosemite
National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 7th Edition


Option 3:
The April Tree by Judith Arnold - Joshua Tree National Park
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake - Lake Clark National Park
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird - American Samoa
The Erotic Silence of the American Wife - American Samoa
American Psycho - American Samoa
Badlands Bride - Badlands National Park
Death Comes to Pemberley - Death Valley
Big Sky Mountain - Big Bend
Judgment in Death - Death Valley

[Pamela]

Not Approved Books

Option 1:
Eruption - Not set primarily in a National Park
A Fatal Thaw - Set in a generic national park

Option 2:

Option 3:

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

This help thread is open!

[KSMary]

So, it sounds like all of the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr qualify such as the first one Track of the Cat for Option 1. I've never read any of these but just read the descriptions.

[Dee]

just to clarify for option 3 - it only has to be one of the words if the park is like a 2 word name?

[Pamela]

KSMary wrote: "So, it sounds like all of the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr qualify such as the first one Track of the Cat for Option 1. I've never read any of these but just read the descriptions."

Since Track of the Cat is set in Guadalupe Mountains National Park it works for this task. Thanks for letting me know about this series.

[Pamela]

Dee wrote: "just to clarify for option 3 - it only has to be one of the words if the park is like a 2 word name?"

You only need one of the words from the name of the park. For example, you could use Black, Canyon, or Gunnison for Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

[Dee]

that's what i thought, but wanted to double check ;)

[Dee]

can i get Letters from Yellowstone and Eruption approved for option 1 - not sure which route i'm going to go ;)

[Pamela]

Letters from Yellowstone is approved. From the description I read on Harry Turtledove's Wiki it looks like most of the book takes place outside of Yellowstone, so I'm not going to approve Eruption.

[Book Concierge]

Option 1 - - Mesa Verde National Park

Option 2 - - Glacier National Park.
I read this book last year, but neither the goodreads description nor my review mention the park by name. Some reviews on both goodreads and amazon.com do mention the park.

[Pamela]

Book Concierge wrote: "Option 1 - - Mesa Verde National Park

Option 2 - - Glacier National Park.
I read this book last year, but neither the goo..."

Both of these are approved.

[Megan]

The April Tree for option 3? I'd use "tree" from Joshua Tree.

[Pamela]

Ms Anderson wrote: "The April Tree for option 3? I'd use "tree" from Joshua Tree."

This book is approved.

[Megan]

Yay! Thanks :D

It's interesting--I always thought that Valley Forge was a national park, but it's apparently a national historical park. I didn't realize there was a difference.

[♞ Pat]

Fun task!

Option 3 : The Homecoming of Samuel Lake for Lake Clark

[Janice]

I love this task.

I wanted to check on two possibilities for option 2.

The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures

and

My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir

I'm assuming that both books are set, for the most part, in Yosemite Valley and the Sequoia forest before the areas were designated as National Parks.

This might be one of those cases where I need to read the book(s) before I know if the chosen one fits for sure.

Also, if anyone is still looking for a book, I highly recommend Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks. It is a real page turner as it is hard to believe the situations people get themselves into while exploring.

[Pamela]

Pat wrote: "Fun task!

Option 3 : The Homecoming of Samuel Lake for Lake Clark"

This book is approved.

[Pamela]

Janice CA wrote: "I love this task.

I wanted to check on two possibilities for option 2.

The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures

and

My First Summer in the Sierra..."

I'm going to say yes on My First Summer in the Sierra. From what I can find most of it takes place in what became Yosemite National Park.

I can't find enough information on The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures to make a call on this one.

Thanks for the suggestion Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks. I will add it to the list.

[Prajakta]

Would American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer work for Option 3 ? National Park name: American Samoa

[Pamela]

Prajakta wrote: "Would American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer work for Option 3 ? National Park name: American Samoa"

That works for option 3.

[Lys]

For Option 3, I was hoping to use Never a Hero: a Tucker Springs Novel. Does that work? (For Hot Springs)

If not, I will use the The Erotic Silence of the American Wife for American Samoa.

[Pamela]

Alyssia wrote: "For Option 3, I was hoping to use Never a Hero: a Tucker Springs Novel. Does that work? (For Hot Springs)

If not, I will use the The Erotic Silence of the American Wife.

The Erotic Silence of the American Wife will work for American Samoa.

[Pamela]

American Psycho works.

[Connie]

Could I use this book for Option 2?

Yosemite: An American Treasure by Kenneth Brower

[Claire]

I am going to read Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr.

[Stacie]

I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acres of national Park..." Anyone know off the top of their heads which one it's set in?

[Stacie]

Stacie wrote: "I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acres of national P..."

After looking over the list of Parks, I'm thinking it' Denali, but I'm not 100% positive. I know the book will mention which one. Can I get it approved, even though I'm not sure which Park it's set it?

[Book Concierge]

Stacie wrote: "I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acres of national P..."

Hoping to help I checked the author's website:
http://www.stabenow.com/novels/kate-s...
She states that Kate lives "in a generic national park". It's definitely NOT Denali .. because The Park includes a river that flows into Prince William Sound. Her website includes a map of The Park.

[Stacie]

Book Concierge wrote: "Stacie wrote: "I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acre..."

Shoot. I could've sworn it was a real park! Thanks for your help. Off to find another book!

[Pamela]

Connie wrote: "Could I use this book for Option 2?

Yosemite: An American Treasure by Kenneth Brower"

This sounds like an awesome book on Yosemite. It's approved.

[Pamela]

Claire wrote: "I am going to read Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr."

This one works.

[Pamela]

Book Concierge wrote: "Stacie wrote: "I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle of twenty million acre..."

Thanks for your help, Book Concierge!

[Book Concierge]

Pamela wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Stacie wrote: "I'm thinking of A Fatal Thaw for option 1. I'm not sure which National Park it's set in, but from the description "On her homestead in the middle..."

Happy to help ... I've had that series on my radar for a while and I got all excited thinking I could use it too. Well ... I do like the Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr, so there's plenty there to choose from.

[Abigail]

For option 2, would travel books be okay? For example: National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 7th Edition?

Thanks!

[Pamela]

Abigail wrote: "For option 2, would travel books be okay? For example: National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 7th Edition?

Thanks!"

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 7th Edition works for this task.

[Hina]

Would this book work for option 3?

[Pamela]

Hina wrote: "Would this book work for option 3? "

This works for Badlands National Park. Enjoy!

[Delmy]

For Option 3:

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (park: Death Valley)

[Pamela]

Delmy =^.^= wrote: "For Option 3:

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (park: Death Valley)"

This works for Death Valley. Enjoy!

[Lacy]

Requesting approval, please!

Big Bend: Big Sky Mountain
Death Valley: Judgment in Death

Thanks!

[Pamela]

Lacy wrote: "Requesting approval, please!

Big Bend: Big Sky Mountain
Death Valley: Judgment in Death

Thanks!"

Both of these work for the challenge. Enjoy!

[Juana "Darkness"]

Would be ok?

[Pamela]

Juana "Darkness" wrote: "Would be ok?"

No. I can't match the title to a national park and the book description doesn't say that it's set in a national park. Sorry.

[Melanie]

Can I get approval for Option 3:

The Inn at Lake Devine for Crater Lake national park.

Thanks! :-)

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Melanie wrote: "Can I get approval for Option 3:

The Inn at Lake Devine for Crater Lake national park.

Thanks! :-)"

yes, "lake" works

[Andy]

Could I please get this book approved for Option 1 (set in a National Park)? Borderline by Nevada BarrAccording to the book description it takes place in Big Bend National Park.
Thanks,
Andy

[Pamela]

Andy wrote: "Could I please get this book approved for Option 1 (set in a National Park)? Borderline by Nevada BarrAccording to the book description it takes place in Big Bend Nati..."<

Yes, this works. Enjoy!

[Andy]

Pamela wrote: "Andy wrote: "Could I please get this book approved for Option 1 (set in a National Park)? Borderline by Nevada BarrAccording to the book description it takes place in ..."

Thank you, I know she has written several that are set entirely in a National Park, but I've read all those. Trying to avoid a reread