2025:
February 2025 – Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
2024:
1. Arctic Traverse: A Thousand-Mile Summer of Trekking the Brooks Range by Michael Engelhard
Published in March 2024, this memoir chronicles Engelhard’s solo journey across Alaska’s Brooks Range. The narrative intertwines personal experiences with reflections on Indigenous cultures, conservation, and the natural history of the region. It has been recognized with the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award in Journeys.
2. Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls
This graphic memoir delves into three generations of women in Hulls’ family, starting with her grandmother, a journalist in Shanghai during the 1940s. The book explores themes of family history and personal identity, with Hulls connecting her family’s past to her experiences in Alaska.
3. On Heaven’s Hill by Kim Heacox
Set in a coastal Alaska town, this novel addresses environmental and social issues through the story of a proposed bridge project. The narrative brings together a diverse cast of characters, including a former trapper, a young newcomer, and a wild wolf, highlighting the healing power of Alaska’s wild spaces.
4. Into the Thaw by Jonathan Waterman
In this memoir, Waterman documents the dramatic changes in the Arctic over four decades, focusing on the impacts of climate change on permafrost, sea ice, wildlife, and Indigenous cultures. The book offers a personal perspective on environmental transformations in Alaska.
5. Alaska Native Resilience: Voices from World War II by Holly Miowak Guise
This scholarly work presents oral histories and interviews with Indigenous elders, exploring the complex relationship between Alaska Natives and the U.S. military during World War II. It sheds light on Indigenous resistance and sovereignty in the face of colonial expansion.
6. Walled-In: Arctic Housing and a Sociology of Walls by Lisa-Jo K. van den Scott
An ethnographic study examining the lived experiences of Inuit communities in Arviat, Nunavut. The book discusses how colonialism has influenced the built environment and how residents navigate and resist these imposed structures.
7. The Queen of Fairbanks: Extraordinary Family Secrets & Untold Stories of America’s Farthest North by Phyllis Demuth Movius
This biography tells the story of Irene Sherman, a well-known figure in Fairbanks, Alaska. Through extensive research, the author uncovers Sherman’s personal history and her unique place in the community.
8. Alaska by Dennis Paulson and Les Beletsky
A comprehensive travel guide that combines detailed information on Alaska’s natural habitats, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The book includes illustrations and habitat photography, making it a valuable resource for eco-travelers.
9. Alaska on a Low Budget 2024 by Selena Muray
This guidebook offers practical advice for exploring Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes without overspending. It includes tips on budget-friendly accommodations, transportation, and dining, as well as suggested itineraries and safety information.
Far from Home by Lisa Murkowski: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, DC with Charles Wohlforth