Nestled in the heart of New England, Vermont serves as the perfect canvas for storytelling, with its picturesque landscapes and small-town charm.
Let’s embark on a literary journey across Vermont as we explore the enchanting worlds depicted in these novels.
Chris Bohjalian’s “Midwives” tells a powerful story of a home birth gone tragically wrong in an isolated Vermont community.
Through the eyes of a midwife’s daughter, readers experience the dramatic trial that follows and the ethical dilemmas surrounding childbirth practices.
The novel delves into the intricacies of trust, duty, and the profound ways that a single event can ripple through a small town.
“The Secret History,” penned by Donna Tartt, is an enthralling tale set at a fictional college in Vermont.
It follows a group of classic students who become entwined in a web of mystery and murder.
Tartt’s masterful prose unravels the dark secrets beneath the idyllic surface of academic life, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers gripped until the last page.
Eleanor H. Porter’s timeless classic “Pollyanna” introduces us to an orphan girl who comes to live in Vermont with her strict Aunt Polly.
Through the “glad game,” Pollyanna teaches those around her to find the positive in every situation.
The quaint town and its transformation under the influence of Pollyanna’s irrepressible optimism have endeared generations of readers.
In Stephen King’s postapocalyptic epic, “The Stand,” a devastating plague wipes out most of humanity, and the survivors converge in various parts of the United States, including Vermont.
Within this dystopian setting, King weaves a story of good versus evil, as his characters navigate the moral complexities of a society rebuilding from scratch against a supernatural backdrop.
Also set in the Green Mountain State is “Firestarter,” another of Stephen King’s chilling novels.
This story revolves around a young girl with the power to set fires with her mind.
As she and her father flee from agency operatives who wish to control her abilities, the essence of Vermont serves as both a sanctuary and a battleground.
Mary McGarry Morris’s “Songs in Ordinary Time” is set in the fictional town of Atkinson, Vermont.
It poignantly portrays the struggles of a divorced mother trying to raise three children amidst the complexities of love, poverty, and the longing for something more.
Morris’s novel captures the spirit of a small town on the cusp of the 1960s.
Sinclair Lewis’s satirical and cautionary tale “It Can’t Happen Here,” published in 1935, is alarmingly prescient and relevant today.
Set in Vermont, it explores the frightening possibility of a totalitarian regime rising in America.
The novel follows a newspaper editor who confronts the perils of fascism in his own Vermont town, reminding us of the ever-present vigilance needed to protect democracy.
This haunting tale seamlessly blends mystery and the supernatural in the rural town of West Hall, Vermont.
McMahon’s “Promise Not to Tell” reveals the sinister events connecting two generations of families.
The story unravels a chilling ghost tale and a murder mystery as it keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Jodi Picoult’s “Second Glance” delves into the shadows of Vermont’s past with themes of love, loss, and redemption.
A grief-stricken man seeks answers about his deceased wife, only to uncover chilling secrets that stretch back to the eugenics projects of the 1930s.
Picoult interlaces the past and present, creating a multi-layered narrative that challenges readers’ perceptions of history and morality.
Another emotionally charged drama by Jodi Picoult, “House Rules” follows a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome who becomes entangled in a murder investigation.
The familiarity of Vermont’s settings contrasts sharply with the mysteries and misunderstandings that arise from the protagonist’s condition, painting an intimate portrait of family dynamics and societal biases.
Set in a small Vermont village, Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is a mesmerizing tale of two sisters living in isolation after a family tragedy.
The novel’s eerie atmosphere and exploration of psychological tension reflect Jackson’s mastery in the horror and mystery genre.
This heartfelt novel by Katherine Paterson tells the story of a refugee family from Kosovo finding asylum in Vermont.zeich
“The Day of the Pelican” captures their adjustment to a new life while maintaining their culture and identity, providing a glimpse into the universal themes of displacement and the search for home.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s “Understood Betsy” is a delightful children’s novel about Elizabeth Ann, who discovers her independence and self-reliance upon moving to Vermont.
The transformative journey through rural life in the early 1900s offers timeless lessons in growth and resilience.
Karen Hesse’s “Witness” is a moving verse novel set in 1920s Vermont, where the Ku Klux Klan’s infiltration disturbs a small town.
The story unfolds through the perspectives of different characters, highlighting issues of racism and bigotry in a place many consider safe and untouched by such social upheavals.
Set in rural 1920s Vermont, Robert Newton Peck’s semi-autobiographical novel “A Day No Pigs Would Die” presents a poignant coming-of-age tale.
It narrates the life of a Shaker boy learning about life’s harsh realities and the meaning of hard work and sacrifice on his family’s farm.
Robert Cormier’s suspenseful young adult novel, “I Am the Cheese,” follows a teen boy’s quest to uncover the truth about his family.
Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s countryside, the journey becomes a harrowing ride through memory, identity, and conspiracy.
“The Game of Sunken Places” by M.T. Anderson weaves a fantastical story of two friends who discover a strange board game while visiting Vermont.
What starts as an innocent game turns into an adventurous quest through a world brimming with magical and ominous layers.
Mari Tomasi’s “Like Lesser Gods” is an evocative portrayal of the lives of Italian granite workers in Barre, Vermont.
The novel explores themes of labor, community, and the immigrant experience, revealing the strength of the human spirit amid the struggles of the 1930s.
“Fatal Cure” by Robin Cook brings us a thrilling medical drama set in a Vermont hospital.
As a doctor couple uncovers a series of disturbing events in their new workplace, the novel becomes a suspense-filled exploration of ethics in the medical field.
Finally, “Shadow Child” by Joseph A. Citro dives into the realm of horror.
Set in the remote hills of Vermont, this chilling tale blends folklore with a gripping narrative, as a man confronts the haunting legacy of a family curse that has terrorized generations.
With Vermont as their setting, these novels capture the diverse storytelling possibilities nestled within the state’s rolling hills and quaint towns.
From suspense and horror to heartwarming and thought-provoking narratives, every tale is a glimpse into the enduring allure of Vermont.