YA novels by location

This is the shortest list now but fear not! It'll grow 😁

I feel the need to remind you that the YA genre (even the Christian version of it) tends to be gritty so parents may want to research and choose for themselves what they're comfortable with. Not every book on this list is one I've added to my own children's lists but none were wildly inappropriate by my own standards 

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸

Alaska- Replication

California- Summer Promise

Colorado- The Silence Between Us

Idaho- Beyond // some of the Out of Time books 

Illinois- Left Behind: The Kids

Missouri- A Time to Die

North Carolina- Meet the Sky

Pennsylvania- The Color of Lies

Texas- The Delusion

Washington- Echo Island 

🌎 International 🌎 

Antarctica- some of the Out of Time books 

Costa Verde- If We Survive (major violence trigger warnings... This sensitive reader could not finish!)

England- Dust // Fawkes // The Merchant's Daughter

Germany- The Healer's Apprentice  

Russia- Romanov 

Christmas fiction by location

I have really loved having a master list of favorite Christian fiction organized by year and location so I thought I'd separate out the Christmas reads. It's a short list this year but fear not- it'll grow! 

🇺🇸 US 🇺🇸  

Arizona- Christmas Joy Ride // The Christmas Pony 

California- The Christmas Blessing 

Florida- Prayers of a Stranger 

Idaho- Bundle of Joy // A Carol for Christmas 

Indiana- A Baxter Family Christmas 

Minnesota- One Perfect Day 

Montana- The Christmas Blessing

Missouri- Catching Christmas // Tending Roses 

Nebraska- One Perfect Day 

Oregon- The Bridge // The Christmas Bus 

Pennsylvania- Naomi's Gift 

South Carolina- The Perfect Love Song

Tennessee- The Bridge // Christmas at Carnton // The Wedding Dress Christmas 

Texas- Under the Texas Mistletoe 

Washington- The Christmas Spirit // Christmas in Winter Hill 

🌎 International 🌎 

China- Perfectly Arranged 

England- Once Upon a Dickens Christmas 

Ireland- The Perfect Love Song 

Israel- Prayers of a Stranger 

Middle grade books by year

1461- The Trumpeter of Krakow (secular) 

1620- Almost Home (Christian) 

1755- Alone Yet Not Alone (Christian) 

1761- Freedom's Pen (Christian)

1762- Freedom's Pen (Christian) 

1765- Freedom's Pen (Christian) 

1766- Freedom's Pen (Christian) 

1768- Freedom's Pen (Christian) // The Sign of the Beaver (secular) 

1770- Freedom's Pen (Christian) 

1771- Freedom's Pen (Christian)

1775- The Runaway's Revenge (Christian)

1803- Cabin on Trouble Creek (secular) 

1812- Captain of the Ship (secular) 

1824- American Girl: Josefina (secular) 

1830- A Gathering of Days (Secular)

1831- A Gathering of Days (secular) 

1832- Emma's Secret  (Christian) // A Gathering of Days (secular) 

1864- American Girl: Addy (secular) // Caddie Woodlawn (secular)

1878- Riddle of the Prairie Bride (secular)

1888- Blizzard! (secular)

1893- Danger on the Flying Trapeze (Christian)

1906- The Strange Case of Baby H (secular)

1907- Looking for Home (Christian)

1913- The House on Walenska Street (secular)

1914- American Girl: Rebecca (secular)

1918- The Night Flyers (secular)

1925- Esperanza Rising (secular)

1929- Orphan Train Girl (secular)

1934- Flight of the Fugitives (Christian) // Sweet Home Alaska (secular)

1935- Rosa Takes a Chance (Christian) 

1939- Jane and Henry: A World War II Adventure (Christian) 

1940- The Bicycle Spy (secular) // Snow Treasure (secular) 

1943- The Plot to Kill Hitler (secular) 

1944- Hunger Winter (Christian)

1961- A Night Divided (secular)

1964- American Girl: Melody (secular)

1968- One Crazy Summer (secular)

1984- Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key (Christian) 

2018- All Thirteen (secular) 

Picture Books by Location

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸 

Alabama- Let the Children March 

Alaska- Alaska's Three Bears // Arrow to Alaska // Cozy // The Salmon Princess // Sunrise Summer 
Arizona- Grand Canyon // Roxaboxen // The Three Little Javelinas 

California- Antsy Ansel // I Love Saturdays y Domingos // Julia Morgan Built a Castle // Redwoods // The Tree Lady 

Connecticut- Kid Blink Beats the World 

Hawaii- Dear Katie, The Volcano is a Girl 

Idaho- Beauty and the Beak // The Boy Who Invented TV // Skydiving Beavers 

Illinois- Aliens are Coming! The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast // The Fantastic Ferris Wheel // Honest Abe Lincoln // Looking at Lincoln // Mr. Ferris and His Wheel 

Iowa- Dear Librarian // Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library // Dewey's Christmas at the Library 

Louisiana- Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood 

Maine- Circus Ship // Miss Moore Thought Otherwise 

Maryland- The Highest Tribute 

Massachusetts- A Home for Mr. Emerson // Miss Dorothy and her Bookmobile // Toot and Puddle: I'll be Home for Christmas 

Michigan- Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair // An Orange for Frankie 

Montana- Bear Dogs 

Nebraska- Elsie’s Bird // The Schoolhouse Blizzard (TGTB)

New Hampshire- The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever

New York- 21 Elephants and Still Standing // Balloons Over Broadway // Dream Big, Little Pig // Go Forth and Tell // Grandma Moses // Julia Morgan Built a Castle // A Lady Has the Floor // The Man Who Walked Between the Towers // Ocean Speaks // Planting Stories // Splash 

Ohio- Nothing Here but Trees 
Pennsylvania- The Santa Thief 

South Carolina- Bubbles: An Elephant's Story 

Tennessee- Wilma Unlimited

Texas- Armadillo Rodeo // The Gingerbread Cowboy // The Legend of the Bluebonnets // Madeline in America // Opal Lee and what it Means to be Free // The Three Little Tamales 

Virginia- Grandma Moses 

Washington- Ivan  

Wisconsin- Summertime in the Big Woods 

DC- A Lady Has the Floor // Rolling Thunder 

Puerto Rico- Schomburg 

🌎 International 🌎  

Afghanistan- The Library Bus 

Australia- The Leaf Detective  

Canada- Out of the Woods 

Chile- The World's Longest Sock
China- The Empty Pot // Grandma's Roof Garden // Panda Kindergarten // Pi-shu the Little Panda 

Colombia- Waiting for the Biblioburro 

Egypt- Egyptian Cinderella 

England- Katie in London // Katie's London Christmas // Lassie Come Home // Madeline in London // Paddington 
France- Anatole // Chasing Degas // Determined Dreamer // Julia Morgan Built a Castle // Madeline 

Germany- Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot 

Ghana- Emmanuel's Dream 
Holland- Boxes for Katje 

Iceland- Angela's Glacier // The Christmas Book Flood // Stranded! 

Kenya- Mama Panya's Pancakes // A Passion for Elephants // Rhino in the House // Wangari's Trees of Peace 

Malawi- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind 

Mexico- Danza // The Mystery of the Monarchs 

New Zealand- Herbert

Norway- The Christmas Wish // The Reindeer Wish // Christmas Trolls // The Trouble with Trolls // The Wild Christmas Reindeer // Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve 

Pakistan- Free as a Bird  

Poland- Jars of Hope // Little Dog Lost 

Scotland- Katie in Scotland // Lassie Come Home // Toot and Puddle: I'll be Home for Christmas 

Syria- Nour's Secret Library 

Tanzania- Elizabeti's Doll // We All Went on Safari 

Middle Grade Books by Location

I love choosing books specific to a location when we're learning about or traveling to that place! Some of these books are completely set in one place and others are only partially set there. Either way, happy reading! 

🇺🇸 USA settings 

Alaska- Sweet Home Alaska (secular)

Arizona- Brighty of the Grand Canyon (secular) 

Arkansas- Bound for Oregon (secular) 

California- Book Scavenger (secular) // By the Great Horn Spoon! (secular) // Echo (secular)) // Esperanza Rising (secular) // Lemons (secular) 

Colorado- Haunted Waters (Christian) // The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson 

Connecticut- Zeke and the Fisher Cat (secular) 

Hawaii- Soul Surfer (Christian) 

Idaho- Bound for Oregon (secular) // Running with Wolves (secular) 

Illinois- Danger on the Flying Trapeze (Christian) 

Indiana- Best Family Ever (Christian) // Salt (secular) 

Kansas- Cherokee Run (secular) // Riddle of the Prairie Bride (secular) 

Louisiana- Allie's Bayou Rescue (Christian)

Maine- Marjorie (secular) // The Sign of the Beaver (secular) 

Massachusetts- Freedom's Pen (Christian) // Kate and the Spies (Christian) 

Michigan- American Girl: Melody (secular) // Best Family Ever (Christian) 

Minnesota- American Girl: Kirsten (secular) // Landon Snow (Christian) 

Missouri- Bound for Oregon (secular) 

Nebraska- Bound for Oregon (secular) 

New Hampshire- A Gathering of Days (secular) 

New Jersey- Spirit Fighter (Christian) 

New Mexico- American Girl: Josefina (secular) // American Girl: Saige (secular) 

New York- American Girl: Rebecca (secular) // Captain of the Ship (secular) // Cricket in Times Square (secular) // Farmer Boy (secular) // Gone Away Lake (secular) //  June Sparrow and the Million Dollar Penny (secular) // Life With Lily (Christian) // A Little Princess (secular) // Melissa Across the Fence (secular) // My Side of the Mountain (secular) // Stuart Little (secular) // Toliver's Secret (secular) // The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (secular) 

North Carolina- The Night Flyers (secular) 

Ohio- Cabin on Trouble Creek (secular) // Orphan Train Girl (secular) // Sisters in Time: Emma's Secret (Christian)

Oklahoma- Summer of the Monkeys (secular) 

Oregon- Bound for Oregon (secular) 

Pennsylvania- Alone Yet Not Alone (Christian) // American Girl: Addy (secular) // The Angel Tree (secular)  // Echo (secular) // Looking for Home (Christian) // Miracles on Maple Hill (secular) 

South Carolina- The Runaway's Revenge (Christian) 

South Dakota- June Sparrow and the Million Dollar Penny (secular) 

Tennessee- Lizzie by May Justus (secular) // Susie by May Justus (secular) 

Texas- The Boy in the Alamo (secular) // The Restorationists (Christian) // Sisters in Time: Rosa Takes a Chance (Christian) 

Vermont- Pollyanna (Christian) // Understood Betsy (secular) 

Virginia- Vanished (Christian) 

Washington- The One and Only Ivan (secular) 

West Virginia- Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key (Christian) 

Wisconsin- Little House in the Big Woods (secular) 

Wyoming- Bound for Oregon (secular) 

🌎International settings 

Bangladesh- Rickshaw Girl (secular) 

Botswana- Precious Ramotswe (secular) 

Canada- The Adventures of Phillippe (secular) // Anne of Green Gables (secular) // Juddie (secular) // Mystery at Chilkoot Pass (secular) // Owls in the Family (secular) // The Trumpet of the Swan (secular)  

China- Chinese Menu (secular) 

Democratic Republic of the Congo- Mpengo of the Congo (secular) 

Denmark- Winterfrost (secular) 

Egypt- Boy of the Pyramids (secular) 

England- The Aedyn Chronicles (Christian) // The Door in the Wall (secular) // Jane and Henry // London Art Chase (Christian) // The Railway Children (secular) // The Secret Garden (secular) 

France- Bicycle Spy (secular) // The Family Under the Bridge (secular) // Jeanne Marie and her Golden Bird (secular) // Twenty and Ten (secular) 

Gambia-  Freedom's Pen (Christian)

Germany- The Clockmaker's Son (Christian, TGTB) // (Christian) Echo (secular) // The Elephant in the Garden (secular) // Life Behind the Wall (Christian) // A Night Divided (secular)  

Holland- The Winged Watchman (secular) 

India- Boys Without Names (secular) 

Ireland- Viking Quest series (Christian) 

Jericho- Tabitha's Travels (Christian) 

Jerusalem- Amon's Adventure (Christian) 

Korea- Seesaw Girl (secular) 

Lithuania- Words on Fire (secular) 

Malawi- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (secular) 

Mesopotamia- The Golden Bull (secular) 

Mexico- Esperanza Rising (secular) 

Nagpur- The Door in the Dragon's Throat (Christian) 

Netherlands- Hunger Winter (Christian) // Shadrach (secular) 

Newfoundland- Star in the Storm (secular) 

Norway- Snow Treasure (secular) // Viking Quest series (Christian) 

Philippines- Tino and the Typhoon (secular) 

Poland- The Trumpeter of Krakow (secular) 

Russia- Ivan series by Myrna Grant (Christian) // The House on Walenska Street (secular) 

Scotland- The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet (Christian) 

Sudan- A Long Walk to Water (secular) 

Switzerland- Heidi (secular) // Treasures of the Snow (Christian) 

Thailand- All Thirteen (secular) 

Texas

I've spent a good amount of time trying to figure out what this lovely purple flower is called (grows on a vine) but no luck! // Getting my amalgam fillings removed safely at Transcend Dental in Round Rock (Austin area)- highly recommend!!) // Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock // Magnolia Market in Waco // Welcome to Texas // cactus flowers on a cloudy day walk // Mardel Christian bookstore in Cedar Park (Austin area) // The craziest neon yellow mushrooms I've ever seen! Leucocoprinus birnbaumii // Fabled Books in Waco (full blog post here) 

Texas favorites: 

Austin- Always Hungry // ATX Cocina // Wilder Wood 

Bee Cave- Daily Juice Cafe // Learning Express Toys 

Brownwood- Honey Bee Natural Foods 

Cedar Park- Half Price Books // Mardel Christian Books 

Copperas Cove- Library bookstore // Underground Games 

Fredericksburg- Natural Baby + Kids (my favorite!) // walking downtown 

Georgetown- Half Price Books 

Johnson City- Johnson City Coffee Co (which also has the BEST Little Free Library in their outdoor seating area) 

Lampasas- Brooks Park Christmas lights // Mojo coffee // Putters & Gutters 

Lubbock- Mardel Christian Books // Museum of Texas Tech University // Sugar Browns Coffee 

Marble Falls- Hill Country Health // Johnson Park // Miss Lollipop's Toys // Mojo coffee // Putters & Gutters // Tea Thyme 

Round Rock- Transcend Dental! I had my mercury amalgam fillings safely removed and followed their protocol to pull additional mercury out of my system. I am eventually going to put up a full post about my health journey, including the books that have helped me along the way, but I do believe this procedure has been incredibly instrumental. I adored Dr. Chang and the whole staff and can't recommend them enough! As a note- they dont work with your insurance company so you'll have to pay out of pocket and then submit claims for reimbursement. 

Temple- The Book Cellar 

Waco- Magnolia Market // Fabled Bookshop 

Texas children's books we've loved: Goodnight Texas // I Love Saturdays y Domingos // The Legend of the Bluebonnet // Madeline in America // 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Texas // Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free // The Three Little Tamales 

Texas grown-up books I've loved: Beneath the Seams // The Delusion // Love and a Little White Lie // The Magnolia Story // Miracles from Heaven // Shadow in Serenity // Tacos for Two 

Christian fiction by location

After I made my post on Christian fiction by year I found that I really enjoy going back to it as I'm selecting a book or reflecting on a book and I decided to do the same thing for location. Some of the books listed here are only partially set in the state they are under but it's still a fun way for me to remember. This will be another ongoing list so I still have lots more work to do. I need to branch out in my locations a bit! 

I'll start in the US and then move into international locations. 

Alabama- Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton // Missing Isaac // Someone Like You (movie version only) // The Wedding Dress

Alaska- Alaska Twilight // Formula of Deception // Sunrise 

Arizona- Christmas Joy Ride // The Christmas Pony 

Arkansas- The Roads We Follow // Unveiling the Past 

California- All the Lost Places // Baxter Family books (starting with Fame) // The Choice // The Christmas Blessing // Dark Justice // Eli // I Think I Was Murdered // The Love Letter // Plot Twist // The Roads We Follow // Shaped by the Waves // The Words We Lost

Colorado- Black // The Thatcher Sisters series // A Thousand Tomorrows 

DC- The Berlin Letters // The Harbinger 

Florida- The Enlightenment of Bees // The Key to Everything // Prayers of a Stranger // The Ringmaster's Wife // Strands of Truth // Truth-Stained Lies 

Georgia- Aftermath // Chasing Fireflies (trigger warnings) // The Choice (trigger warnings) // Intervention (trigger warnings) // Jimmy // A Time to Stand 

Hawaii- The Hawaiian Quilt 

Idaho- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // Before I Called You Mine // Firstborn // I'll be Seeing You // A Promise Kept // The Roads We Follow 

Illinois- Dear Mr. Knightley // Even Now // Life After // The Printed Letter Bookshop // The Ringmaster's Wife // The White City

Indiana- Baxter Family books // The Hawaiian Quilt // The Italian Ballerina // Lifemark // Murder Simply Brewed 

Iowa- Where the Road Bends 

Kansas- The Roads We Follow // Roots of Wood and Stone // The Tapestry of Grace 

Kentucky- Missing The Moonlight School // The Ringmaster's Wife // When the Meadow Blooms 

Louisiana- Love Story 

Maine- Whose Waves These Are 

Massachusetts- House of Secrets // Plot Twist // A Skeleton in God's Closet 

Michigan- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // Rock Harbor series // Stories That Bind Us // The Words Between Us 

Minnesota- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // Christiansen Family series // The Lost Manuscript // One Perfect Day // The Promise of Dawn // Someday Home 

Mississippi- That Dog Won't Hunt

Missouri- Catching Christmas // The Divine Proverb of Streusel // The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip // Mind Games // Tending Roses // Though I Stumble

Montana- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // The Alliance (trigger warnings) 

Nebraska- One Perfect Day 

Nevada- Even Now // A Thousand Tomorrows // Unveiling the Past. 

New Hampshire- Before We Were Us 

New Jersey- The Ringmaster's Wife

New York- Airborne // Baxter Family books (starting with Remember) // The Harbinger // The Light on Halsey Street // Long Way Home // The Love Letter // A Novel Proposal // The Ringmaster's Wife // The Story Keeper

North Carolina- Bookshop by the Sea // A Hundred Crickets Singing // A Long Time Comin' // The Prayer Box // The Witnesses

North Dakota- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) 

Ohio- Hidden Among the Stars // The Ringmaster's Wife // To the Moon and Back 

Oklahoma- To the Moon and Back 

Oregon- The Bridge // Deadline (Trigger warnings) // The Lines Between Us // More Than We Remember // The Roads We Follow // The Shack // Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor // Shaped by the Waves // Someone Like You (original, non-movie version only) // The Way it Should Be // What Happens Next // The Winter Rose

Pennsylvania- The Amish Midwife // Firstborn // The Harbinger // The Midwife // The Midwife's Tale // Naomi's Gift // The Shunning // The Tinderbox // What I Would Tell You 

South Carolina- Because You're Mine // Bitter and Sweet // The Dead Don't Dance // The List // The Love Letter // A Novel Proposal // The Perfect Love Song 

South Dakota- Laura's Shadow // A Life Once Dreamed

Tennessee- The Bridge // Christmas at Carnton // Meet Me in the Margins // The Roads We Follow // Under the Tulip Tree // The Wedding Dress Christmas

Texas- Airborne // Beneath the Seams // The Delusion // Love and a Little White Lie // Shadow in Serenity // Tacos for Two // Under the Texas Mistletoe 

Virginia- All Things New // The Berlin Letters // Fireflies in December

Washington- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // The Christmas Spirit // Christmas in Winter Hill // Echo Island // The Enlightenment of Bees // House of Secrets (trigger warnings) // The Roads We Follow // The View from Rainshadow Bay // The Words We Lost 

West Virginia- The Promise of Jesse Woods // The Right Kind of Fool  

Wisconsin- All That Fills Us (trigger warnings) // The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

Wyoming- Never Let Go

🌎

Afghanistan- Even Now

Austria- Hidden Among the Stars

Bangladesh- Beneath the Seams 

Belgium- The Auschwitz Escape // Catching the Wind // Long Way Home 

Belize- A Distant Shore (trigger warnings) 

Canada- The Meeting Place // No Ocean Too Wide

China- Perfectly Arranged

England- 12 Days at Bleakly Manor // A Castaway in Cornwall // Catching the Wind // Fawkes // A Hundred Crickets Singing // The Italian Ballerina // The Lost Manuscript // The Merchant's Daughter // No Ocean Too Wide // The Ringmaster's Wife // Set the Stars Alight // Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor. // Shadows of Swanford Abbey // A Tale of Two Hearts

France- The Auschwitz Escape // Forgiving Paris // A Picture of Hope // Until Leaves Fall in Paris // The Winter Rose // The Witnesses

Germany- The Auschwitz Escape // The Berlin Letters // Catching the Wind // The Healer's Apprentice // Long Way Home // When Twilight Breaks // The Witnesses

Greece- What I Would Tell You 

Hungary- The Enlightenment of Bees

India- The Enlightenment of Bees

Ireland- The Perfect Love Song 

Israel- Prayers of Stranger // A Skeleton in God's Closet 

Italy- All the Lost Places // The Italian Ballerina // Plot Twist // A Skeleton in God's Closet // The Witnesses

Mexico- some of the Baxter Family books, starting in the Firstborn series // Remember Me (trigger warnings) 

Norway- The Promise of Dawn 

Russia- The Midwife of St. Petersburg

Spain- Remember Me (trigger warnings) // The Winter Rose  

Switzerland- The Witnesses 

Thailand- Truly, Madly, Deeply (trigger warnings)