Best Books Set in Arkansas

Every state is known for something. As you work your way through the list, don't miss the best books set in Arkansas. While you're at it, check out the best movies set in Arkansas, too.

Arkansas is a southern U.S. state bordering the Mississippi River. It's known for its abundant park and wilderness areas, with terrain encompassing mountains, caves, rivers, and hot springs. The rugged Ozarks region in its northwest has hiking trails and limestone caves such as Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Its capital, Little Rock, hosts the Clinton Presidential Center, housing Bill Clinton’s presidential archives.

In this post:

Best Books Set in Arkansas

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Angelou, Maya (Author)
English (Publication Language)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Author: Maya Angelou

Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.

A Painted House: A Novel

Amazon Kindle Edition
Grisham, John (Author)

A Painted House

Author: John Grisham

A brutal murder leaves the town seething in gossip and suspicion. A beautiful young woman ignites forbidden passions. A fatherless baby is born and someone has begun furtively painting the bare clapboards of the Chandler farmhouse, slowly, painstakingly, bathing the run-down structure in gleaming white.

And as young Luke watches the world around him, he unravels secrets that could shatter lives — and change his family and his town forever.

True Grit: A Novel

Amazon Kindle Edition
Portis, Charles (Author)

True Grit

Author: Charles Portis

True Grit tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen when the coward Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash. Mattie leaves home to avenge her father’s blood.

With one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshal, by her side, Mattie pursues the killer into Indian Territory. True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight, and unflinching, like Mattie herself. From a writer of true status, this is an American classic through and through.

The Lions of Little Rock

Amazon Kindle Edition
Levine, Kristin (Author)

The Lions of Little Rock

Author: Kristin Levine

As twelve-year-old Marlee starts middle school in 1958 Little Rock, it feels like her whole world is falling apart. Until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is everything Marlee wishes she could be: she's brave, brash, and always knows the right thing to say.

But when Liz leaves school without even a goodbye, the rumor is that Liz was caught passing for white. Marlee decides that doesn't matter. She just wants her friend back.

Sugar: A Novel

Amazon Kindle Edition
McFadden, Bernice L. (Author)

Sugar

Author: Bernice L. McFadden

A young prostitute comes to Bigelow, Arkansas, to start over, far from her haunting past. Sugar moves next door to Pearl, who is still grieving for the daughter who was murdered fifteen years before. Over sweet-potato pie, an unlikely friendship begins, transforming both women's lives—and the life of an entire town.

Now that you've completed the list of best books Set in this state, why not check out some others? Here are the Best Books Set in All 50 States.

To continue learning, check out The Arkansas State History Project.

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT BOOKS SET IN ALL 50 STATES

Click here to download the printable. It has a list of books in all 50 states including the Best Books Set in Arkansas.

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RELATED: Best Books Set in Minnesota

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Maxanne

Anne is a recent college grad who majored in Business Administration and Marketing Management. She is a hopeless romantic who makes sure our content stays up-to-date.