Books on Vacation: Home Sweet Home

image via google image search, text by me

I know this is supposed to be "Books on Vacation", but I wanted to feature some books that were set around where I live (Harrisonburg, VA and the Shenandoah Valley).

Upper Elementary / MG:
-Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder (not the naughty book, but rather a historical fiction set right around the time of the Civil War and takes place near Winchester, VA)
-Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin.  This is actually set in the town where many of my students live (New Market).  It is a fantasy, where a boy who is visiting his grandmother in New Market meets the ghost of a boy who fought in the Battle of New Market in the Civil War.  The ghost has some unfinished business and needs the boy to help him.

Other upper elementary books set in Virginia:
-Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Patterson
-The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson
-Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (though that's on the complete other side of the state from me!)

I also heard somewhere that the new Maggie Stiefvater book (The Raven Boys) is set in Virginia, though I'm not 100% sure.

Do you know of any other books set in Virginia?

Books on Vacation: Iowa

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One of our last big stops this year is in Iowa (who would have guessed?!)  There is a flowrider outside of Des Moines that Aaron would like to hit, and much like Shoeless Joe and the other baseball players, "If you build it, they will come."

Anyway, here are some books set in Iowa:
*Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella
*Ashfall by Mike Mullin
*and several romance novels

Ok...not many books set in Iowa....but I will leave you with our favorite "Field of Dreams" clips...

Books on Vacation: Calgary

image via google image search, text by yours truely

Today's edition of Books on Vacation comes to you from Calgary, Alberta, Canada!  We're here to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede!

To help do that, here are some books set in or around Calgary!
*Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman (and several sequels)
*The Alchemist's Portrait by Simon Rose
*Mystery in the Attic by Valerie Walker


Ok, this was one of the hardest ones to do.  Not many books are set in or around Calgary.  However, I do remember reading Mrs. Mike when I was in high school and really liking it.

This is by no means a complete list.  If you think I left a super awesome children's to YA book set in or around Calgary off the list, please leave the title and author in the comments and I'll be more than happy to add it to the list (and give you credit!) 

Books on Vacation: Canada

image via google image search, text by me!

In an upcoming edition of Books on Vacation, I *try* to create a list of books set in or around Calgary.  Its a small list as I couldn't find very many books set in or around Calgary.  So, I decided to make a "Canadian Edition" and feature books set in Western Canada (specifically British Columbia, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Alberta...but not Calgary, since you'll see that list on the 6th).  As always, this is by no means a complete list, I just wanted to feature some books from where we were visiting. 

Hope you enjoy this list of books children's to YA books set in Western Canada:  
*A Time for Courage by Dorothy Joan Harris
*Vancouver Nightmare by Eric Wilson
*What's a Daring Detective Like Me Doing In The Doghouse by Linda Bailey (and several alliterative others)
*Vancouver: Gateway to the Pacific by Jill Foran

Y'all, this was hard!  I'm sure I left some great ones off the list, so if you know of any, leave the title and author in the comments section.  I'll be more than happy to add it to the list and credit you!  

Books on Vacation: Seattle

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For this edition of Books on Vacation, we're stopping in Seattle! 

Here is a quick list of MG / YA (and one super adult) books set in or around Seattle!  I hope you enjoy :)

*Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
*Succubus Blues by Richelle Meade
*Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
*Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
*Vesper by Jeff Sampson
*The Boxcar Children #111:  The Seattle Puzzle by Gertrude Chandler Warner
*and don't forget the Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy (this is the only time this book / series shall be mentioned on my blog)

This is by no means a complete list.  If you think I left a super awesome children's to YA book set in Seattle off the list, please leave the title and author in the comments and I'll be more than happy to add it to the list (and give you credit!)