- “Rocket Boys” by Homer Hickam – This memoir, also known as “October Sky,” tells the story of Homer Hickam’s upbringing in the coal-mining town of Coalwood and his pursuit of building rockets.
- “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls – While not entirely set in West Virginia, this memoir recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Welch, West Virginia, and her unconventional family life.
- “The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake” by Breece D’J Pancake – This collection of short stories explores the lives of people in rural West Virginia, capturing the hardships and beauty of the region.
- “Eveningland” by Michael Knight – Though not exclusively set in West Virginia, this collection of interconnected short stories includes “An Old Recipe,” which is set in a small town in West Virginia.
- “Storming Heaven” by Denise Giardina – This historical novel portrays the struggles of coal miners in the southern part of the state during the 1920s.
- “Mothman Prophecies” by John A. Keel – Based on true events, this book explores the legendary creature known as the Mothman, which was reported in the 1960s in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
- “Bastard Out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison – Although primarily set in South Carolina, this novel does have a portion set in the coal-mining towns of West Virginia, portraying the poverty and challenges faced by the characters.
- “The Living” by Annie Dillard – This novel is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia but also explores the neighbouring regions of West Virginia, providing a rich natural landscape as the backdrop.
- “The Sugar Camp Quilt” by Jennifer Chiaverini – Part of the Elm Creek Quilts series, this novel is set in a quilter’s retreat in fictional Adams County, West Virginia.
- “Doublewide” by Jim Bledsoe and Jeff Bridges – This novel presents a humorous and poignant story of a young man attempting to escape his small West Virginia hometown and the colourful characters he encounters along the way.
WANDERLIST: Ten famous novels set in West Virginia
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