MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association has announced its sixth-annual U.P. Notable Books List.

UPPAA Notable Books chairman Mikel Classen of Sault Ste. Marie initiated the effort in 2019 as a response to the lack of representation of U.P. writers in other Michigan state literary circles.

“Traditionally, recognition of Michigan books has been dominated by the university presses downstate and we would like to take this opportunity to highlight literature that focuses closer to home for us,” Classen said.

Evelyn Gathu, director of the Crystal Falls District Community Library, will continue the library’s alliance with UPPAA to co-sponsor the U.P. Notable Book Club. The club is available to any interested reader and features monthly Zoom meetups with national bestselling U.P.

Notable authors have included Karen Dionne, “The Wicked Sister”; Sue Harrison, “The Midwife’s Touch”; and Steve Lehto, “Death’s Door.” Members borrow the books from their local libraries or purchase them at local stores prior to discussions.

Presentations include author readings, a conversation on the making of the book, and a live Q&A with the audience. The next meeting is Feb. 13 and the full year-long calendar will be announced shortly.

To build this list, UPPAA consulted with Upper Michigan booksellers, book reviewers, writers, and publishers to winnow down the notable books to a bare 10 titles. These titles demonstrate the wide reach of U.P. literature, as they span juvenile, middle grade, young adult and adult audiences. Reviews of many of these books can be found on the UP Book Review.

The award committee emphasizes the list is unranked — each title deserves equal merit as a U.P. Notable Book. These 10 books have been deemed essential reading for every U.P. lover and they recommend patrons ask their local librarian or booksellers for them today. Librarians may request a list annotated with ISBNs from president@UPPAA.org.

The books include:

­– “To Be Marquette: A Novel” by Sharon Dilworth;

— “Animals Out-There W-i-l-d: A Bestiary in English and ASL Gloss” by Raymond Luczak;

— “Make It Go in the Snow: People and Ideas in the History of Snowmobiles” by Larry Jorgensen;

— “Limpy’s Adult Lexicon: Raw, Politically Incorrect, Improper & Unexpurgated As Overheard & Noodled” by Joseph Heywood;

— “Memories of a Mackinac Island Native: Life on the Island from 1940s to 2020s” by Tom Chambers;

— “How to Hike the North Country Trail: Not Quite a Guide” by Joan H. Young;

— “The Story of Journey: The Great Horned Owl” by Carol L. Schultz;

— “The Last Huck: A Novel” by J.D. Austin;

— “Ellie and the Midwest Goodbye” by Nikki Mitchell;

— “Michigan Indian Boarding School Survivors Speak Out: A Narrative History” by Sharon Marie Brunner.

The U.P. Notable Books Committee continues its initiative called U.P. Notable Classics, which highlights significant U.P.-themed literature that has remained essential for at least 10 years. The committee hopes these books can bring enjoyment to a new generation of readers:

— “Lumberjack: Inside an Era in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – 70th Anniversary Edition” by William S. Crowe;

— “A Face in the Rock: the Tale of a Grand Island Chippewa” by Loren Graham.

The U.P. Notable Books List will also appear in the upcoming ninth volume of U.P. Reader, UPPAA’s own annual literary anthology featuring short stories, poetry and essays by its members.

This successful publication helps spread the word about the organization, raises money for educational programming, and encourages people in the Upper Peninsula and beyond to read U.P. writers.

Complimentary copies of the U.P. Reader are available to all U.P. educators and media for the asking. The on-sale date is scheduled for April 15. Consult your local bookseller for availability or purchase at Amazon.

Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing and publishing books.