2025 - Make a STATEment

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

We are bringing this challenge back for a second year.

For this challenge, choose one of the U.S. states (home state, place you'd like to visit, etc) and record the books you read set in that state. For an added bonus, add a bullet list or brief summary of new things learned about the state from your reading.

Who's in for making a STATEment? Which state do you choose?

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Participants

Beth
Brittany
Bonny
Carissa
Hannah
Karen
Karen
Katrina
Loraine
Lynnette
Maria
Michelle
Shellie
Staci
Wendy

[Brittany]

I'm in!

CALIFORNIA

[Carissa]

I'm in

[Karen]

I'm in. Need to think about which state this time.

[Michelle]

I'm in! I'll pick Kansas.

1. - Takes place in the fictional town of Winter Break, Kansas. It was a winter rest stop for pioneers before heading out to the Rocky Mountains.

2. - Takes place in the small town of Hope, Kansas. Dwight D. Eisenhower's father was a co-owner of a general store there.

3.

4. contemporary, relating to adults with disabilities

5. Mail order bride

6. There is a flood in the spring before the ground thaws.

7. There are caves on Cade's property.

8. Part of if takes place in Lindsborg, Kansas. A town with Swedish residents. (Most of it is set in Minnesota.)

9. Bookish tourists destinations in Kansas.

10. Partially takes place in Wichita.

[Bonny]

Sure, I'll do this again! My home state New Jersey, since I'm a local historian!

1) (family goes to the Jersey shore)
2) (mostly set at Princeton)
3) (true story set in Matawan)
4) (characters go to the Jersey shore)
5) (memoir set in Woodstown in Salem County)
6) (true story set at the Jersey shore)
7) (history set in Greenwich in Cumberland County)
8) (journal partially set in Cohansey & Greenwich in Cumberland County)

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

This was fun last year. I'm going to focus on the state of Maine for 2025.

#1 central Maine

#2

#3 Set in Hollowell, Maine and includes lots of history about midwife Martha Ballard. This novel is General Market.

#4 Set in beautiful Bar Harbor and I was just there last week!

#5 Set in Freeport, Maine (near Portland) and loosely based upon the business success of LL Bean.

#6 near Portland

#7 General Market, some foul language

#8

[Karen]

Staci wrote: "This was fun last year. I'm going to focus on the state of Maine for 2025."

Staci - I found lots of good books set in Maine this year, just didn't get to read as many as I hoped.

[Karen]

I'm going to focus on Arkansas for 2025 since we may possibly move there in the future.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Karen wrote: "Staci wrote: "This was fun last year. I'm going to focus on the state of Maine for 2025."

Staci - I found lots of good books set in Maine this year, just didn't get to read as many as I hoped."

Awesome Karen! I'll have to take a look at your 2024 Make a STATEment thread. :-)

[Lynnette]

Im in!
I’ll try my home state of Texas this year.

January - December 2025

1. Resolutions by Jenn Faulk
(02/26/25)

2. No Pit So Deep, 2 by James Nathaniel Miller II
(03/01/25) CF, but has Cursing

3. You and Me, Baby by Jenn Faulk
(03/20/25)

4. Deadly Image by. Tamelia Tumlin
(05/31/25)
(set in Louisiana, but Lexi is from Dallas and her parents still live there)

5. The Lies We Believe by Lisa Harris
(06/19/25)

6. Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate
(06/24/25)

7. The Shimmer on the Water by Marina McCarron
(07/10/25) GM - foul language & content

8. The Secret's in the Sauce by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
(07/14/25)
(set in Colorado, but several characters are from Texas)

9. An Agent for Bernadette by Jovie Grace
(07/28/25)

10. The Libyan Diversion by Joel C. Rosenberg
(08/10/25) (briefly in Texas)

11. Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache by Granger Smith
(08/17/25)

12. Mismatched in Texas by Janice Thompson
(10/22/25)

13. The Doctor's Unexpected Family by Kristen Ethridge
(10/25/25)

[Karen]

Staci wrote: "Karen wrote: "Staci wrote: "This was fun last year. I'm going to focus on the state of Maine for 2025."

Staci - I found lots of good books set in Maine this year, just didn't get to read as many a..."

Please do, Staci. I've updated it with books I've read and still hope to read. I also have a shelf for Maine books - feel free to check it out.

[Hannah]

Karen wrote: "I'm going to focus on Arkansas for 2025 since we may possibly move there in the future."

They are kinda hard to find. Valerie Hansen sets a number of her suspense books in AR.

Let me know if you have any questions about living in Arkansas/what’s a good area to settle in. :)

[Katrina]

I'm in!

I am going to choose New York for the state for 2025.

After a Fashion (Jan 5/25)
Irish Meadows (March 31/25)

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Look forward to seeing the titles for this challenge. Links should be added to here. Let me know if anyone has been missed.

[Wendy]

I'm in. I'm choosing Montana.

[Hannah]

Well, Staci, I guess I got missed because I never said I was in! Haha.

I’m going for Texas.


Can I pick a second and also do Tennessee?

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Welcome! Got you both added.

LOL Hannah. I apologize if I missed you. The goal is to select one state and really put an increased focus there, but there isn't a challenge police. :-)

[Karen]

Staci - since we're focused on learning about our chosen state - I assume fiction and non-fiction both count - correct?

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Karen wrote: "Staci - since we're focused on learning about our chosen state - I assume fiction and non-fiction both count - correct?"

You got it Karen. Either one is good.

[Karen]

Hannah wrote: "Karen wrote: "I'm going to focus on Arkansas for 2025 since we may possibly move there in the future."

They are kinda hard to find. Valerie Hansen sets a number of her suspense books in AR.

Let m..."

Thanks, Hannah - I have found quite a bunch after deep looking.

Thanks for the offer, I'll contact you separately concerning living in Arkansas.

[Beth]

I am In. I picked Alaska last year and had 15.
This year I will pick Montana, since it is just below Alberta.

I changed my mind. Instead of a state, I am picking my country - Canada. I kept track last year and had seven different provinces.


Beth - ;
in Calgary

[Hannah]

Staci wrote: "Welcome! Got you both added.

LOL Hannah. I apologize if I missed you. The goal is to select one state and really put an increased focus there, but there isn't a challenge police. :-)"

Haha about challenge police!

Last year I tried for Texas but read more from NC by accident, so I decided to try again to make it my top state for the year.

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Sounds good Hannah.

Got you linked up Beth.

[Loraine]

I'm in! My state will be my current home - Colorado.

#1 #2 #3 #4

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Such a beautiful state Loraine. Lots of CF set there. Got your link added.

[Shellie]

I’m in ! Taking an Alaska Cruise later this year, so I’m going to pick Alaska

[Beth]

I changed my mind. Instead of a state, I am picking my country - Canada. I kept track last year and had seven different provinces.

Beth - ;)
in Calgary

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

How exciting Shellie! Got your link added.

Sounds good Beth. Please update your original thread as that is where your link goes.

[Karen]

Finished my first Arkansas book. It's the start of a whole series that takes place in Arkansas:

(2/10/25)

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Way to go Karen! Sounds like a good find.

[Karen]

Staci wrote: "Way to go Karen! Sounds like a good find."

Thanks, Staci. It looks like an interesting series.

[Maria]

I am in

I chose the State of New York.

After a Fashion

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Welcome Maria! I've got your link added.

[Maria]

I loved this challange ♥
I chose NY
Finished
After a Fashion

In Good Company

Playing the Part

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Way to go Maria! Glad you are enjoying this challenge.

[Karen]

Just finished my second Arkansas book -

[Staci, Book Awards Specialist]

Karen wrote: "Just finished my second Arkansas book - "

Excellent Karen!