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Best Books Set in Wyoming

Every state is known for something. As you work your way through the list, don’t miss the best books set in Wyoming.

Wyoming is a state in the Mountain West sub-region of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the south.

What themes are in Books Set in Wyoming?

Books set in Wyoming often explore a variety of themes that are influenced by the state's unique landscapes, history, and culture. Some common themes found in literature set in Wyoming include:

  1. Nature and Wilderness: Wyoming's stunning natural beauty, including the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and vast open spaces, often serves as a backdrop for themes related to the wilderness, preservation, and the human connection to the natural world.
  2. Isolation and Solitude: The state's vast and sparsely populated landscapes can lead to themes of isolation, solitude, and the challenges of rural living. These themes may be explored through the lives of characters living in remote areas.
  3. Ranching and Agriculture: Wyoming has a rich history of ranching and agriculture, and many books set in the state delve into the challenges and traditions of this way of life, as well as the conflicts and changes it has undergone over the years.
  4. Frontier and Western History: Wyoming played a significant role in the American frontier and the Old West, so books set in the state often delve into themes related to the history of exploration, settlement, and the clashes between settlers, Native Americans, and the U.S. government.
  5. Independence and Self-Reliance: Wyoming's culture often emphasizes self-reliance and independence, which can lead to themes exploring individualism, self-sufficiency, and the values associated with the cowboy way of life.
  6. Conservation and Environmentalism: Given the presence of national parks and the state's commitment to preserving its natural beauty, themes related to conservation, environmentalism, and the impact of human activity on the environment can be prevalent in Wyoming-based literature.
  7. Native American Culture: Wyoming is home to several Native American tribes, and books set in the state may explore themes related to Indigenous cultures, history, and contemporary issues faced by Native American communities.
  8. Migration and Change: Wyoming has a history of boom-and-bust cycles driven by mining, energy production, and other industries. Books set in the state may explore the themes of migration, economic change, and the impact on communities and individuals.
  9. Identity and Belonging: Characters in Wyoming-based literature often grapple with questions of identity and belonging, whether they are newcomers to the state or long-time residents with deep roots.
  10. Hardship and Resilience: The challenging climate and conditions in parts of Wyoming can lead to themes of hardship and resilience, where characters must overcome adversity and harsh environments.
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How to create a State Unit Study for Wyoming?

Creating a unit study in Utah, or any other location, is a flexible and personalized approach to education that allows you to tailor your curriculum to a specific theme, topic, or location. Here are steps to create a unit study in Utah:

  1. Choose a Theme or Topic: Decide on the theme or topic you want to explore in your unit study. Consider the interests and learning needs of your students. It could be related to Utah's history, geography, culture, or any other subject you want to delve into.
  2. Define Learning Objectives: Clearly outline the educational goals and objectives for the unit study. What do you want your students to learn and achieve by the end of the study? Be specific and measurable in your objectives.
  3. Gather Resources: Collect a variety of resources such as books, articles, websites, videos, and educational materials that relate to your chosen theme and are relevant to Utah. Local libraries, museums, and online sources can be valuable in this regard.
  4. Plan Activities: Develop a range of activities that engage your students in hands-on learning. Consider field trips to local sites of interest, guest speakers, experiments, art projects, and interactive assignments. These activities should align with your learning objectives.
  5. Create a Schedule: Outline a timeline for your unit study. Specify when each topic or activity will be covered and how long you plan to spend on it. Flexibility is key, as students might need more or less time on certain subjects.
  6. Integrate Subjects: A unit study often incorporates multiple subjects like science, history, language arts, and math. Find ways to connect your theme to various academic disciplines, making learning more holistic and interconnected.
  7. Assess Progress: Develop assessment methods to track your students' progress. This can include quizzes, projects, presentations, or portfolios. Regularly assess their understanding and adapt your teaching accordingly.
  8. Document and Reflect: Keep a journal or portfolio to document your students' work and experiences during the unit study. Encourage them to reflect on what they've learned and their personal growth.
  9. Involve Students: Encourage student involvement in the planning process. Allow them to express their interests and ideas related to the theme, making the study more engaging and relevant to their lives.
  10. Review and Adjust: Throughout the unit study, regularly review your plan, assess what's working and what isn't, and make adjustments as needed to ensure a successful learning experience.
  11. Culminating Project: Consider a culminating project or activity that allows students to showcase what they've learned. It could be a presentation, a research paper, an art exhibit, or any creative expression of their newfound knowledge.
  12. Share and Celebrate: Share the final results of the unit study with family and friends. Celebrate your students' achievements and what they've learned during their exploration of Utah.
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Best Books Set in Wyoming

Sale
Open Season (A Joe Pickett Novel)
  • Box, C. J. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

Open Season

Author: C.J. Box

Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, a town where nearly everyone hunts and the game warden—especially one like Joe who won't take bribes or look the other way—is far from popular. When he finds a local hunting outfitter dead, splayed out on the woodpile behind his state-owned home, he takes it personally.

There had to be a reason that the outfitter, with whom he's had run-ins before, chose his backyard, his woodpile to die in. Even after the “outfitter murders,” as they have been dubbed by the local press after the discovery of the two more bodies, are solved, Joe continues to investigate, uneasy with the easy explanation offered by the local police.

Ridgeline

Author: Michael Punke

Throughout this taut saga – based on real people and events – Michael Punke brings the same immersive, vivid storytelling and historical insight that made his breakthrough debut so memorable. As Ridgeline builds to its epic conclusion, it grapples with essential questions of conquest and justice that still echo today.

Sale
Close Range : Wyoming Stories
  • Proulx, Annie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

Close Range : Wyoming Stories

Author: Annie Proulx

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Stories in Close Range have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, and GQ. They have been selected for the O. Henry Stories 1998 and The Best American Short Stories of the Century and have won the National Magazine Award for Fiction. This is work by an author writing at the peak of her craft.

Sale
Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Black, George (Author)

Empire of Shadows

Author: George Black

Empire of Shadows is the epic story of the conquest of Yellowstone, Wyoming, a landscape uninhabited, inaccessible and shrouded in myth in the aftermath of the Civil War.

The Wake Up
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Hyde, Catherine Ryan (Author)

The Wake Up

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Something has been asleep in forty-year-old cattle rancher Aiden Delacorte for a long time. It all comes back in a rush during a hunting trip, when he’s suddenly attuned to the animals around him, feeling their pain and fear as if it were his own.

But the newfound sensitivity of Aiden’s “wake up” has its price. He can no longer sleepwalk through life, holding everyone at arm’s length. As he struggles to cope with a trait he’s buried since childhood, Aiden falls in love with Gwen, a single mother whose young son bears a burden of his own.

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

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 Wyoming.

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