Book Lists

Nebraska 150 Reading Challenge
Classic Nebraska
Entertaining Nebraska
Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Nebraska Style
Football: The Nebraska Way
In Their Own Words: Nebraska Style
Killer Nebraska Books
Novel Nebraska
Picturing Nebraska
Recent Nebraska
Writing from Nebraska
Young Nebraska

Titles link to WorldCat, where you can find a copy at a library near you. Printable versions of these lists are available in PDF format. Printable bookmarks are also available for each list.

Classic Nebraska

Black Elk Speaks John G. Neihardt
Ceremony in Lone Tree Wright Morris
The High and the Mighty Ernest K. Gann
History of Nebraska James C. Olson
A Lantern in Her Hand Bess Streeter Aldrich
Mother Mason Bess Streeter Aldrich
My Ántonia Willa Cather
Nebraska Coast Clyde Brion Davis
Nebraska Folklore Louise Pound
The Night Country Loren Eiseley
O Pioneers! Willa Cather
Old Jules Mari Sandoz
The Patient in Room 18 Mignon G. Eberhart
The Ponca Chiefs: An Account of the Trial of Standing Bear (Standing Bear and the Ponca Chiefs) Thomas H. Tibbles
Selected Short Stories of Weldon Kees Weldon Kees; Dana Gioia
The Star Thrower Loren Eiseley
Take All to Nebraska Sophus Keith Winther
Yonnondio: From the Thirties Tillie Olsen

> Back to top

Entertaining Nebraska

Bess Streeter Aldrich: The Dreams Are All Real Carol Miles Petersen
Buffalo Bill and His Wild West: A Pictorial Biography Joseph G. Rosa and Robin May
Cavett Dick Cavett
David Janssen, My Fugitive Ellie Janssen as told to J.D. Michael Phelps
Gordon MacRae: A Bio-bibliography Bruce R. Leiby
Fonda: My Life Henry Fonda
Here’s Johnny! Ed McMahon
Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian Jeffrey Vance and Suzanne Lloyd
Hilary Swank Dwayne Epstein
Mari Sandoz: Story Catcher of the Plains Helen Winter Stauffer
Marlon Brando Patricia Bosworth
Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck: The Golden Years at Twentieth Century-Fox Rudy Behlmer, Editor
Montgomery Clift: A Biography Michelangelo Capua
The Most Beautiful Man in the World: Paul Swan, from Wilde to Warhol Janis and Richard Londraville
Nick Nolte: Caught in the Act Mel Weiser
Sandy Dennis, a Personal Memoir Sandy Dennis
Vanished Act: The Life & Art of Weldon Kees James Reidel
Willa Cather: The Emerging Voice Sharon O’Brien

> Back to top

Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Nebraska Style

Boy from Nebraska: The Story of Ben Kuroki Randolph G. Martin
Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward Charlyne Berens
Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History Theodore C. Sorensen
Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas Mari Sandoz
A Forgotten Voice: The Biography of Leta Stetter Hollingworth Ann G. Klein
Fox at the Wood’s Edge: A Biography of Loren Eiseley Gale E. Christianson
Harry Kirke Wolfe: Pioneer in Psychology Ludy T. Benjamin
L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman? Bent Corydon
Louise Pound: The 19th Century Iconoclast Who Forever Changed America’s Views on Women, Academics, and Sports Marie Krohn
Malcolm: The Life of a Man Who Changed Black America Bruce Perry
Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics Beth Boosalis Davis
The New Buffettology: The Proven Techniques for Investing Successfully in Changing Markets That Have Made Warren Buffett the World’s Most Famous Investor Mary Buffett
Of Diamonds and Diplomats Letitia Baldridge
Sharpie: The Life Story of Evelyn Sharp, Nebraska’s Aviatrix Diane Ruth Armour Bartels
Susan La Flesche Picotte, M.D.: Omaha Indian Leader and Reformer Benson Tong
Waltzing Matilda: The Life and Times of Nebraska Senator Robert Kerry Ivy Harper

> Back to top

Football: The Nebraska Way

A View from the Bench: A Story of a Nebraska Football Player George Mills
Behind Every Champion Keith Zimmer
Big Red!: The Nebraska Cornhuskers Story John Nichols
Faith in the Game: Lessons on Football, Work, and Life Tom Osborne
Forever Red: Confessions of a Cornhusker Football Fan Steve Smith
I Played for Coach Osborne Bob Schaller
More Than Winning Tom Osborne & John Roberts
On Solid Ground Tom Osborne & Gordon Theissen
One Final Pass: The Brook Berringer Story Arthur Lindsay & Jan Berringer
Red Zone: The Greatest Victories in the History of Nebraska Football Tom Shatel
Roar of Silence Bob Schaller
Tales from the Nebraska Sidelines: A Collection of the Greatest Nebraska Stories Ever Told Don Bryant
The Game of the Century: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma in College Football’s Ultimate Battle Mike Corcoran
Touchdown Tommie: The Tommie Frazier Story Tommie Frazier with Bob Schaller
What It Means to Be a Husker: Tom Osborne and Nebraska’s Greatest Players Jeff Snook, Editor

> Back to top

In Their Own Words: Nebraska Style

The Christmas of the Phonograph Records: A Recollection Mari Sandoz
The Dry Divide Ralph Moody
Fifty Years a Country Doctor Hull Cook
Ham, Eggs, and Corn Cake: A Nebraska Territory Diary Erastus Flavel Beadle
Happy as a Big Sunflower: Adventures in the West, 1876-1880 Rolf Johnson; Richard E. Jensen, Editor
Hawk Flies Above: Journey to the Heart of the Sandhills Lisa Dale Norton
Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age Susanne George-Bloomfield, Editor
It’s Not the End of the Earth, But You Can See It from Here: Tales of the Great Plains Roger L. Welsch
A Keith County Journal John Janovy
Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps Ted Kooser
Moving Out: A Nebraska Woman’s Life Polly Spence
My First 81 Years Dorcas Cavett
The Nature of Home: A Lexicon and Essays Lisa Knopp
A Prairie Populist: The Memoirs of Luna Kellie Jane Taylor Nelson, Editor
Take Two and Hit to Right: Golden Days on the Semi-Pro Diamond Hobe Hays

> Back to top

Killer Nebraska Books

Abandoned Prayers Gregg Olsen
All She Wanted Aphrodite Jones
Bet Your Life: A Novel Richard Dooling
The Cleanup Sean Doolittle
Doc Middleton: Life and Legends of the Notorious Plains Outlaw Harold Hutton
Evil Harvest: The True Story of Cult Murder in the American Heartland Rod Colvin
Heartland: A Novel David Wiltse
The Magician’s Assistant Ann Patchett
The Mover of Bones Robert Vivian
A Need to Kill Mark Pettit
Outside Valentine Liza Ward
A Perfect Evil Alex Kava
Recipe for Murder: A Patrick and Grace Mystery Janet Elaine Smith
Shadow of the Gun Wayne C. Lee
Starkweather: The Story of a Mass Murderer William Allen
Things Invisible William J. Reynolds
A Title to Murder: The Carhenge Mystery: A Western Story James C. Work
The White Elephant Caper Georgette Livingston

> Back to top

Novel Nebraska

Autumn Letters: A Novel Frederick Michael
A Child among Us Caryl Porter
The Echo Maker Richard Powers
Evening News: A Novel Marly A. Swick
The Floor of the Sky Pamela Carter Joern
Goodnight Nebraska: A Novel Tom McNeal
If Love Were All Judith Henry Wall
Isn’t It Romantic?: An Entertainment Ron Hansen
The Man Who Ate the 747 Ben Sherwood
Nebraska Night Riders Jon Sharpe
Night Woman Nancy Price
The Ogallala Trail: A Ralph Compton Novel Dusty Richards
The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters Timothy Schaffert
The Road Home Jim Harrison
Secrets on the Wind Stephanie Grace Whitson
Strangers & Pilgrims Stephen A. Bly
The Weight of Dreams Jonis Agee
The Widows of Eden: A Novel George Shaffner

> Back to top

Picturing Nebraska

Along the Edge of Daylight: Photographic Travels from Nebraska and the Great Plains Georg Joutras
Dreams in Dry Places Roger Bruhn
Encyclopedia of the Great Plains David J. Wishart, Editor
Ghost Railroads of Nebraska: A Pictorial Michael M. Bartels & James J. Reisdorff
In the Kingdom of Grass Margaret A. MacKichan & Bob Ross
Mari Sandoz’s Native Nebraska: The Plains Indian Country LaVerne Harrell Clark
Marking Time: Nebraska’s Historic Places Bobbi & Steve Olson and David L. Bristow
The National Grasslands: A Guide to America’s Undiscovered Treasures Francis Moul
Nebraska: The Good Life Grows Nebraska Quasquicentennial Commission
Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky Joel Sartore
Nebraska 24/7: 24 Hours, 7 Days: Extraordinary Images of One Week in Nebraska Rick Smolan & David Cohen
The Nebraska Adventure Jean Lukesh
On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North America Michael Forsberg
Sculpture from the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery Karen O. Janovy, Editor
Visions of Freedom on the Great Plains: An Illustrated History of African Americans in Nebraska Bertha Calloway & Alonzo N. Smith
Visions of Lincoln: Nebraska’s Capital City in the Present, Past and Future James L. McKee & Joel Sartore

> Back to top

Recent Nebraska

Artifacts & Illuminations: Critical Essays on Loren Eiseley Tom Lynch and Susan N. Maher, Editors
Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge Hon. Warren K. Urbom
A Captain for Laura Rose Stephanie Grace Whitson
Free Radical: Ernest Chambers, Black Power, and the Politics of Race Tekla Agbala Ali Johnson
George Norris, Going Home: Reflections of a Progressive Statesman Gene A. Budig and Don Walton
Hell or High Water: A Novel Joy Castro
"I Am a Man": Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice Joe Starita
Jury of Six Dave P. Fisher
Lake Country: A Novel Sean Doolittle
Backstage: Stories from My Life in Public Television Ron Hull
Portraits of the Prairie: The Land that Inspired Willa Cather Richard Schilling
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride Victoria Alexander
She Loves Me Not: New and Selected Stories Ron Hansen
Standing Firmly by the Flag: Nebraska Territory and the Civil War, 1861-1867 James E. Potter
Stray Cat Blues Hal Sirowitz
The Swan Gondola: A Novel Timothy Schaffert
What the River Carries: Encounters with the Mississippi, Missouri, and Platte Lisa Knopp

> Back to top

Writing from Nebraska

Africa on Six Wheels: A Semester on Safari Betty Levitov
All the Strange Hours: The Excavation of a Life Loren Eiseley
America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers Chuck Hagel
Brighten to Incandescence: 17 Stories Michael Bishop
Crime & Clutter: A Friday Afternoon Club Mystery Cyndy Salzmann
Cromm Kenneth C. Flint
Dead Ex: A Novel Harley Jane Kozak
Elantris Brandon Sanderson
Exiles Ron Hansen
Hannah’s Vow Pam Crooks
Hood Stephen R. Lawhead
Murder is Absurd Patricia McGerr
One O’clock Jump Lise McClendon
The Quick and the Dead Randy Lee Eickhoff
Secrets of a Proper Lady Victoria Alexander
Sorrowheart M.K. Lorens
The Troublemaker Jean Potts
The Well of Stars Robert Reed

> Back to top

Young Nebraska

Anna’s Blizzard Alison Hart
Arbor Day Square Kathryn O. Galbraith*
Bluestem Frances Arrington
Born to Fly: The Heroic Story of Downed U.S. Navy Pilot Lt. Shane Osborn Shane Osborn, Malcolm McConnell & Michael French
Calling Me Home Patricia Hermes
Champion of Arbor Day: J. Sterling Morton Sandy Beaty and J. L. Wilkerson
Dandelions Eve Bunting
The Decoding of Lana Morris Laura & Tom McNeal
Elsie's Bird Jane Yolen*
The Great American Elephant Chase Gillian Cross
Heaven Is for Real for Kids Todd Burpo*
House Held Up by Trees Ted Kooser*
Light on the Prairie: Solomon D. Butcher, Photographer of Nebraska's Pioneer Days Nancy Plain*
Native American Doctor: The Story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte Jeri Ferris
Night of the Twisters James Solheim
The Only Alex Addleston in All These Mountains Ivy Ruckman*
Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie Andrea Warren
Prairie Friends Nancy Levinson
Prairie Visions: The Life and Times of Solomon Butcher Pam Conrad
The Red Umbrella Christina Diaz Gonzalez*
The Ring Bear N.L. Sharp*
Room One: A Mystery or Two Andrew Clements
The Schoolchildren’s Blizzard Marty Rhodes Figley
Scribe of the Great Plains: Mari Sandoz J. L. Wilkerson
Simpson's Sheep Won't Go to Sleep! Bruce Arant*
The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind Kirstin Cronn-Mills*
Sky Sailors: True Stories of the Balloon Era David L. Bristow*
Steelheart Brandon Sanderson*
Together Apart Dianne E. Gray
Tomorrow, the River Dianne E. Gray
Worth A. LaFaye
*Added to book list in 2014

> Back to top

The Nebraska Center for the Book

RESOURCES

Related Links

Book Lists

Classic Nebraska

Entertaining Nebraska

Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Nebraska Style

Football: The Nebraska Way

In Their Own Words: Nebraska Style

Killer Nebraska Books

Novel Nebraska

Picturing Nebraska

Recent Nebraska

Writing from Nebraska

Young Nebraska

Related Links