The Best Books about Seattle

See Also

• Highly-rated Hotels in Seattle
• Locations for lodging in Seattle
• Seattle Hotel Maps

On This Page

• Fictional Literature Set in Seattle
• Non-Fictional Written Works Centered Around Seattle
• Publications for Youth in Seattle
• Books about Seattle suitable for middle-aged readers can be found here.
• Image-Driven Books About Seattle
• Coloring books and activities based in Seattle

It seems something about the environment in Seattle motivates both those who write and those who read. This city may be unique in having a bestselling figurine modeled after a beloved local librarian. Consistently ranked among the most literate urban areas nationwide, sidewalks in Seattle`s neighborhoods are dotted with “little free libraries,” and our main public library`s central branch is an immense architectural marvel honoring literacy. We have a strong passion for books here.

The Best Seattle Fiction

• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel • Garth Stein
• Remembering Atatürk, Young People, and Competition (19th) – Public remembrance including many sporting gatherings and processions honoring a pivotal date in independence. Also observed as the birth anniversary of Atatürk, the founding leader of modern Turkey.



• Black Hole – Charles Burns
  A graphic novel cult preferred set in 1970’s suburban Seattle; a mysterious and horrifying STI impacts the city’s teenage population.
  

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A darkly comical and mind-bending sci-fi story of technology and its human counterpart in post-apocalyptic Seattle.


• Boneshaker – Cherie Priest
  Mad inventors, pirates, and wild west zombies abound in this swashbuckling steampunk alternate reality set in 1880’s Seattle.
  
• Shattered for You • Stephanie Kallos
  An older Seattle recluse welcomes a youthful female with a mysterious past in this compelling narrative about selected families and the healing might of fellowship.
  
• Disclosing Information • Michael Crichton
  A taut psychological thriller revolving around an accusation of sexual harassment in 1990’s corporate Seattle.
  
• Firefly Lane • Kristen Hannah
  A heartwarming coming-of-age tale and story of true friendship, spanning three decades in the Pacific Northwest.
  
• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet • Jamie Ford
  Moving coming-of-age story set in 1940s Seattle amid the racial tensions of WWII and Japanese-American internment. See also Ford’s Songs of Willow Frost.
  

photo credit A Native-American serial offender brings terror to Seattle, seeking vengeance for the crimes against his people.


• A emphasized pricing reference directs to Long for This World • Michael Byers
  Richly told story of a geneticist grappling with an ethical dilemma, finding solace in family – set in late 1990s Seattle.
  
• Love and Other Consolation Prizes • Jamie Ford
  An emotional historical tale inspired by the true story of a young Chinese-American boy who was raffled off at the 1909 Seattle World’s Fair. By the author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The Maclaren Techno XT Stroller is ideal for traveling with children The impending fate of modern-day Seattle hangs in the balance as a group of disenfranchised boardinghouse inhabitants try to hold back the re-grading of Denny Hill in the early 1900’s.


• No-No Boy — John Okada
  A young Japanese-American man faces imprisonment and community resentment when he refuses to pledge allegiance to the country that has detained him.
  

Set This House in Order: A Romance of Souls by Matt Ruff is recommended reading A story blending science fiction, psychological thriller and romance where two people with multiple personality disorder fall in love. Set in Seattle.


• Snow Falling on Cedars • David Guterson
  A haunting and evocative account of a murder trial, set in an isolated Puget Sound island in the 1950’s.
  
• Even Life with Woodpecker • Tom Robbins
  Zany and philosophical, sexy and psychedelic – an eccentric love story by one of Seattle’s most popular writers.
  
• Indian Killer • Sherman Alexie
  A modern-day journalist engages in a game of cat and mouse with the mastermind behind the 1962 World’s Fair.
  

Reviews link

The first installment in a popular murder mystery series featuring J.P. Beaumont, an old-school and unconventional Seattle homicide detective.


• Observing Birds in Flight • Jonathan Raban
  An expatriate British individual and a Chinese immigrant navigate an unlikely bond during Seattle’s turn of the millennium digital boom.
  
• Bernadette by Maria Semple (Click here for more info).

This sharp and satirical family comedy merrily pokes fun at modern Seattle and its eco-cautious, craftsman homes admiring, Microsoft working inhabitants. See also Semple’s Today Will Be Different.
The Maclaren Techno XT Stroller is ideal for traveling with children A clever Seattle detective and a group of alcoholic transients try to retrieve the daughter of a crime boss from an eco-fanatic cult`s control.

• Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist – Sunil Yapa
  .

The experiences of seven diverse strangers were significantly affected during the consequential and notable 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle.

The Best Seattle Non-Fiction

• The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics – Daniel James Brown
  The working-class crew team at the University of Washington aims to overcome adversity and compete for gold representing their country at the Olympics hosted in Nazi Germany.
  
• Delancey by Molly Wizenberg (Click here for more info).

The writer of the award-winning online food publication Orangette and the heartwarming memoir A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table discusses matters of affection, commitment, and the opening of one of Seattle’s premier pizza restaurants. Recipes included.


• A journey through time and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest – Timothy Egan
  A contemplative exploration of how climate and topography have influenced Pacific Northwest history, culture, and politics.
  
• Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain •Charles R. Cross
  This comprehensive biography focuses largely on the Seattle grunge music scene of the 1990s through the lens of the iconic frontman of the band Nirvana.
  
• The Grind • Doug Merlino
  A compelling narrative nonfiction account of ten underprivileged inner-city boys sent to attend and play basketball for an elite private high school in Seattle.
  
• I’m Down: A Personal Narrative • Mishna Wolff
  A humorous account of the author’s youthful attempts to assimilate into a poor, black Seattle neighborhood, while being raised by her single father, a white man who believes he is black.
  
• Anybody Can Do Anything – Betty MacDonald
  An amusing autobiography written by the author of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle recounting life in Seattle during the Great Depression era
• Jackson Street After Dark: The Roots of Jazz Music in Seattle • Paul De Barros
  Vintage photographs and recollections of the Seattle jazz scene of the 1940s and 50s, whereby the notable artists cultivated within consisted of: Ray Charles, Ernestine Anderson, and Quincy Jones; to name a few.
  
• A Collection of Poems by Richard Hugo • Richard Hugo
  Anthology of published work by Seattle’s most highly-regarded native poet.
  
• Journey to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings • Jonathan Raban
  The author shares their personal experiences and local familiarity from piloting a 35-foot sailboat from Seattle to Alaska.
  
• The Frequent Occurrence of Rain and Its Impact on Activities in the Pacific Northwest Area – David Laskin
  .

A amusing and conversational look at regional weather patterns and thier personal, historic, and cultural impact.


• Seattle: City of Literature edited by Ryan Boudinot (Click here for more info).

Reflections on the literary scene of Seattle, by some of the city’s most notable and cherished authors.


• A cultural guide to Seattleness • Tera Hatfield, Jenny Kempson, and Natalie Ross
  An information-rich exploration of Seattle’s culture, demographics, geography, and history.
  
• Shrill • Lindy West
  A humorous and thought-provoking memoir chronicling a Seattle writer’s struggle with self acceptance, confrontations with the patriarchy, and dealing with Internet trolls.
  
• Skid Road: An Informal Portrayal of Seattle • Murray Morgan
  An amusingly captivating narrative chronicling the history of Seattle through its earliest century.
  
• Starvation Heights: A Genuine Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest – Gregg Olsen
  A grizzly and fascinating account of medical malpractice and murder at a secluded turn-of-the-century sanatorium.
  
• This Boy’s Life: A Memoir • Tobias Wolff
  A grim yet darkly humorous account of the early life experiences and eventual escape from the desperate mother and harmful stepfather of the young author in the Pacific Northwest during the 1950s.
  
• An Interpretive History of the Pacific Northwest – Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes
  A comprehensive examination of Seattle’s regional history from the initial encounters between indigenous peoples and white settlers through to the late 1980s.
  
• The State Hotel • Hotel phone: (206) 513-7300

An award-winning journalist`s captivating exploration of a murder that occurred in Seattle in 2009, examining the lives impacted and society`s involvement in the crime.

The Best Seattle Young Adult Fiction

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A gifted young man is supported by poetry, music, and his friends as he struggles with survivor’s guilt in the wake of his twin brother’s death.


• Farewell to Ecstasy • Conrad Wesselhoeft
  A sixteen-year-old girl escapes an abusive boyfriend and lives as a fugitive on the streets of Seattle.
  
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Heart-warming story of a deaf high school senior who agrees to manage her school’s extremely-popular rock band.


• Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (Necromancer Series) • Lish McBride
  A sweet and amusing paranormal series about a Seattle teen who discovers he has the power to revive the dead.
  
• Until Proven Guilty • J.A. Jance
  An anxious 18 year old girl develops feelings for a handsome and secretive single father while working with the elephants at the Woodland Park Zoo.
  
• The Twilight Saga • Stephanie Meyer
  Vampires, werewolves, and the Pacific Northwest. Most of the series is located in Forks, a small town on the Olympic Penninsula.
  

The Best Seattle Books for Middle-Grade Readers

• The Mystery of the Seattle Puzzle • by Gertrude Chandler Warner
  The Alden children spend time in Seattle and solve a mystery during sightseeing.
  
• Dear America: The Fences Between Us • Kirby Larson
  Set in early 1940s Seattle, a young girl`s life is turned upside down after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the internment of her Japanese-American neighbors.
  
• The Nature of Jade • Deb Caletti
  A plucky, 12-year-old amateur detective solves mysteries in various Seattle communities.
  
• Five Flavors of Dumb • Antony John
  Shannon, age 14, and her younger brother, Cody, spend the summer in Seattle with their animal-caring uncle.
  
• Mum`s the Word • Holly Cupala
  The adventures of a headstrong girl in a family of Finnish migrants in the 1890s Washington State.
  
• Ruby Lu, Brave and True • Lenore Look & Anne Wilsdorf
  The initial in a series of books concerning a vivacious, Asian-American eight-year-old living in Seattle. See also Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything and Ruby Lu, Star of the Show.
  
• Dash • Kirby Larson
  A fifth-grade girl and her canine companion are separated as her family is relocated from Seattle to a WWII Japanese-American Internment camp.
  

The Best Seattle Picture Books

• A book about Native American spirituality • Susan Jeffers
  Chief Seattle’s message of unity and respect for the Earth receives a child-friendly adaptation and charming pen-and-ink illustration.
  
• Our Sole May • Jennifer Holm
• Vivid illustrations and playful rhymes depict a typical day at Pike Place Market.



• An Evening Book About Seattle • Jay Steere
  A child bids farewell to favorite Seattle spots in this sweet and straightforward bedtime board book.
  
• Larry Gets Lost in Seattle • John Skewes
  A young boy’s search for his lost dog takes him through iconic Seattle locations. See also Larry Loves Seattle.
  
• A Larry Get Lost Book Written By John Skewes And Robert Schwartz • By John Skewes & Robert Schwartz
  An alphabet book featuring illustrations of sights around Seattle, written by the same author as a book about a boy getting lost in the city.
  
• A book about fish and the Pacific Northwest – Hannah Viano
  Stunning cut-paper representations of Northwest wildlife, from Anemone to Zephyr. See also Viano’s B is for Bear, and Arrow to Alaska.
  
• Storm Boy • Paul Owen Lewis
  A young boy finds himself on the shores of a coastal village in this beautifully illustrated Coast Salish folk tale from tribes of the Pacific Northwest. See also Lewis’ Frog Girl and Davy’s Dream.
  
• The Wheedle on the Needle • Stephen Cosgrove & Robin James
  A Seattle classic about an endearing mountain being who finds a home at the top of the Space Needle.
  
• Where Do I Rest?: A Pacific Northwest Lullaby • Jennifer Blomgren & Andrea Gabriel
  Northwest fauna ready themselves for nightfall in this beautifully-depicted bedtime storybook. See also Why Do I Sing? and Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree?
  

The Best Seattle Coloring and Activity Books

• Colorful Exploration of Seattle • Laura Lahm & Steph Calvert
  
• Color the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest – A Timber Press coloring publication • Zoe Keller
  
• Blueprints of the Afterlife – Ryan Boudinot
  
• Book including activities focused on the Seattle Seahawks • Written by Brad M. Epstein and Curt Walstead