This young adult novel takes place in a small Arkansas town during World War II. Patty, a 12-year-old girl, secretly befriends Anton, a German prisoner of war held nearby.
Prejudice, family conflicts, and local suspicion shape Patty’s daily struggles as she forms this dangerous friendship. Through Patty’s eyes, readers witness vivid issues of loyalty, family, and identity in a troubled time.
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross sets out across the lawless Arkansas frontier after the murder of her father. She hires Rooster Cogburn, a tough, irritable US Marshal, to guide her through dangerous territory. Along the way they face ruthless criminals and unexpected allies.
Mattie’s stubborn determination and Portis’s sharp dialogue makes this adventure unforgettable.
Donald Harington’s novel follows traveling entertainer Gildon Beul as he arrives in a small Arkansas community. Using painted illustrations, Gildon shares colorful stories with the local Ozark residents.
His interactions with the townsfolk bring humor and warmth to the narrative. The novel captures rural life, local charm, and the relationships Gildon forms along his journey.
In rural 1950s Arkansas, seven-year-old Luke Chandler witnesses life’s struggles on his family’s cotton farm. Harvest season brings migrant workers, simmering tension, and hidden secrets.
Luke quietly observes life’s drama unfold around him, including conflict, family hardship, and deep local traditions. Grisham captures the realities and subtle tensions of small-town life through Luke’s observant eyes.
Andy Davidson crafts a dark southern gothic tale centered around young Miranda. She lives deep in the wild Arkansas bayous, surrounded by danger, strange forces, and powerful supernatural threats.
Miranda protects an orphaned boy while encountering violent men who are as unsettling as the supernatural realm itself. Davidson blends Southern realism with atmospheric horror in Miranda’s tension-filled story.
In Stephen Hunter’s fast-paced crime novel, Earl Swagger returns from World War II ready to restore lawfulness to Hot Springs, Arkansas. The town teems with corruption, mobsters, and illegal gambling rings.
With help from fellow ex-soldiers, Earl undertakes a dangerous mission filled with explosive action and confrontations against ruthless criminals. Hunter vividly captures Earl’s grit and Hot Springs’ criminal underworld.