“Dicey’s Song” by Cynthia Voigt is a heartfelt story about a girl named Dicey who takes on adult responsibilities while navigating life with her three younger siblings.
After their mother’s illness leaves them on their own, Dicey works to create a stable home with their grandmother in rural Maryland. The book explores family bonds and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when life gets hard.
“Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson tells the story of Sara Louise Bradshaw, a girl growing up on the isolated Rass Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Her twin sister, Caroline, is talented and beloved by everyone, leaving Sara Louise to feel overshadowed and bitter.
The book explores her struggles with jealousy, family, and her search for her own identity in a tight-knit, rural community.
“The Accidental Tourist” by Anne Tyler follows Macon Leary, a travel guide writer who hates traveling and prefers a predictable life. After his marriage falls apart following a family tragedy, Macon meets Muriel, a quirky dog trainer who pulls him out of his routine.
Their relationship challenges his need for control and forces him to confront changes he never thought possible. The book looks at grief, relationships, and finding connection in unexpected places.
Anne Tyler’s “A Spool of Blue Thread” tells the story of the Whitshank family, spanning several generations in Baltimore, Maryland. The novel explores their everyday lives, their shared history, and the secrets that shape their relationships.
Central to the story is the family home, a place full of memories and tensions, especially as aging parents face growing challenges. The book weaves through moments of love, misunderstandings, and the bond that keeps the Whitshanks tied together despite their differences.
Ronald Malfi wrote “December Park,” a story about a group of teenagers in a small Maryland town who uncover a chilling mystery. When kids start disappearing, locals blame a figure they call the Piper.
The main character, Angelo, and his friends decide to investigate on their own, leading them into dangerous and unsettling territory. It’s a mix of friendship, fear, and that eerie transition from childhood to adolescence.
The book “Homecoming” by Cynthia Voigt follows four siblings who are abandoned by their mother and must embark on a difficult journey to find a new home.
Led by the oldest sister, Dicey, they face struggles as they travel through Maryland, relying on their resourcefulness and each other to survive. The story captures their determination as they search for a sense of belonging and security.
Priscilla Cummings wrote “Red Kayak,” a story about a boy named Brady who lives by the Chesapeake Bay. When a tragedy strikes involving a neighbor’s young son, Brady faces tough decisions that test his friendships and his sense of right and wrong.
The book explores how one moment can change everything and the weight of making choices that matter.
Laura Lippman’s “What the Dead Know” follows a woman who claims to be one of two sisters who vanished decades earlier. Her appearance raises doubts, as her story is full of gaps and inconsistencies.
The book explores the mystery behind the disappearance and the secrets hidden in the lives of various characters tied to the case. Set around Baltimore, it captures both the atmosphere of the area and the weight of unresolved loss.
“The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter” by Kia Corthron explores the lives of four boys growing up in different parts of the United States during the mid-20th century.
Two brothers in Alabama and two in Maryland face racial tensions, family struggles, and the shifting social and political climate of the time. The story spans several decades, connecting these lives in unexpected ways and shedding light on themes of identity and justice.
Katherine Paterson’s “The Great Gilly Hopkins” tells the story of Gilly, a tough and clever 11-year-old who moves through foster homes. She’s placed with Maime Trotter, an unconventional and kind-hearted woman, and starts plotting to reunite with her biological mother.
Gilly’s sarcastic attitude and stubbornness create challenges, but her time with Maime and other characters begins to change her in unexpected ways. This story is about family, acceptance, and the relationships that shape us.
The novel “Mister Death’s Blue-Eyed Girls” by Mary Downing Hahn is based on a true crime that shocked a quiet Maryland town in the 1950s. It follows Nora, a teenager grappling with the aftermath of the brutal murder of two girls she knew.
The story explores how fear, rumors, and the search for answers affect the community, and how Nora begins to question everything she thought she understood about life, death, and people she trusted.
“Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance” by John Waters is a dark and eccentric story about a con artist named Marsha Sprinkle. She travels around stealing luggage from airports, living a bizarre and chaotic life that clashes with her dysfunctional family.
The book dives into strange and over-the-top situations, filled with sharp humor and outrageous characters that only Waters could create.
Saundra Mitchell’s “The Vespertine” is set in Baltimore during the late 1800s and follows Amelia, a young girl sent to live with her cousin for the summer. Amelia discovers she has the strange ability to see glimpses of the future at sunset.
She meets a mysterious artist, Nathaniel, and an intense romance develops between them. The story weaves together societal expectations, supernatural elements, and secrets hidden beneath polite appearances.
John Barth wrote “Coming Soon!!!”, a novel about a writer at a crossroads. The story focuses on a college professor whose goal is to rewrite a traditional Chesapeake Bay tale from the 19th century.
As he works on this, he faces challenges from a rival writer and deals with questions about creativity and legacy. The book plays with storytelling itself, blending humor and reflection in a way that keeps you curious.
Jonathon Scott Fuqua wrote “King of the Pygmies,” a story about a teenager named Penn who hears voices in his head. Rather than dismissing them as his imagination, he believes they’re the thoughts of others around him.
As Penn struggles to understand what’s happening, his family and friends have their own doubts and fears about his sanity, leading to tension in his relationships.
Set in a small Maryland town, the book explores Penn’s journey through isolation, self-discovery, and the challenges of being different.
“The Sot-Weed Factor” by John Barth is a satirical novel set in colonial Maryland. It follows Ebenezer Cooke, a young poet who is named Poet Laureate of Maryland and travels to the New World to manage his family’s tobacco plantation.
The story is filled with colorful characters, unexpected twists, and sharp humor as Ebenezer navigates political intrigue, personal misadventures, and the challenges of his idealistic nature. The book paints a vivid picture of life in early America, full of chaos and absurdity.
Annette Curtis Klause wrote “Blood and Chocolate,” a novel about Vivian, a teenage werewolf who struggles with her dual nature while trying to fit into the human world. After her father’s death, her pack moves to Maryland, where she falls for a human boy named Aiden.
This relationship forces her to confront choices between her werewolf identity and her desire for a normal life. The book explores loyalty, love, and the dangers that arise from secrets.
Ronald Malfi’s “Floating Staircase” follows Travis Glasgow, a writer who moves with his wife to a small lakeside town in Maryland. When they settle into their new home, Travis becomes obsessed with a haunting tragedy tied to the property’s past.
As he uncovers dark secrets involving a missing boy and a mysterious staircase leading to the water, the story grips you with its eerie and unsettling atmosphere. It’s a tale that weaves past and present in a way that leaves you wanting to uncover every layer.
Doris Buchanan Smith wrote “A Taste of Blackberries,” a heartfelt story about friendship and loss. The book follows Jamie and his best friend as they navigate their carefree childhood in a Maryland neighborhood.
Tragedy strikes when an unexpected accident changes everything, leaving Jamie to face feelings of guilt and grief. It’s a short but powerful story that captures the innocence of youth and how kids cope with tough emotions.
Carolyn Keene’s “The Clue of the Broken Locket” follows Nancy Drew as she investigates strange happenings around an old inn near a Maryland lake. A mysterious broken locket, missing treasure, and a spooky legend about a phantom singer all add to the suspense.
Nancy uncovers secrets tied to a showbiz family and their hidden past, while also chasing clues that point to something valuable buried in the area. The eerie setting by the water and the twists in the case make it an exciting read.
The book “Debt of Honor” by Tom Clancy takes readers into the world of international politics and military strategy.
Jack Ryan finds himself navigating a tense situation when Japan, embroiled in economic and political conflicts with the United States, initiates an elaborate plan that escalates into real danger.
The story features sharp moments, like an unexpected attack on U.S. soil, showing the fragility of global alliances and the weight of calculated decisions.
Octavia E. Butler’s “Kindred” follows Dana, a Black woman from 1970s California, who is thrown back in time to the antebellum South. She discovers she’s connected to a white plantation owner and must navigate the dangers of slavery to ensure her own existence.
The story shows her struggles to survive while facing the brutal realities of her ancestors’ lives.
The novel “Let’s Go Play at the Adams’” by Mendal W. Johnson tells the story of a babysitter named Barbara who is left in charge of two children while their parents are away. The kids, along with their neighborhood friends, overpower her and take her prisoner.
What starts as an unsettling situation escalates into something far darker, as the children’s actions grow increasingly cruel.
“Richard Carvel” by Winston Churchill is a historical novel set in the late 1700s. It follows Richard, a young man from Maryland, as he navigates love, loyalty, and political intrigue during the American Revolution.
The story takes Richard from his Maryland home to England and back, as he encounters figures like George Washington and John Paul Jones while seeking his place in a world full of change.
The vivid settings and dramatic conflicts make it an engaging read for fans of early American history.
“The Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she tries to track down a serial killer named Buffalo Bill. To catch him, she seeks help from the imprisoned and brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Lecter offers clues, but his twisted mind games add tension to the hunt. The story moves through chilling encounters and psychological battles as Clarice races to stop the murderer before he kills again.
Jane Leslie Conly wrote “Crazy Lady!”, a story about a boy named Vernon who lives in a working-class neighborhood in Maryland. After his mother dies, Vernon struggles in school and at home.
He forms an unexpected friendship with Maxine, a woman the town sees as eccentric, and her son Ronald, who has disabilities. Through their relationship, Vernon learns about kindness and challenging judgments.
The book paints a heartfelt picture of life in a tight-knit, flawed community.
The book “Without Remorse” by Tom Clancy follows John Clark, a former Navy SEAL, as he seeks vengeance after a personal tragedy. Set partly in Maryland, the story combines his quest for justice with a secret mission involving the rescue of American prisoners of war.
Clark’s actions reveal his darker side while showcasing his skills and ingenuity.