It includes —

— “Straw Horse: A Kat Wilde U.P. Mystery” by Terri Martin;

— “Superior Stories” by Helen Raica-Klotz;

— “The Mysteries of Marquette” by Tyler R. Tichelaar;

— “Enduring Legacies: People of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster” by Mary V. Tippett;

— “Wild Blueberry Summer: More Upper Michigan Moments and Memories” by Jon C. Stott;

— “Piracy on the Great Lakes: True Tales of Freshwater Pirates” by Mikel B. Classen;

— “The Caving Grounds: Poems” by Kathleen Heideman;

— “Vigil: Poems” by Ellen Lord;

— “Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing: In and Around All Year Long” by Diana Magnuson;

— “Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog” by Sue Harrison.

This year’s U.P. Notable Classics are:

— “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald — 50th Anniversary Edition” by Frederick Stonehouse

— “Living On Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy” by Deborah K. Frontiera

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

The UPPAA first initiated the effort in 2019, as a response to the lack of representation of U.P. writers in other Michigan state literary circles. They developed the program because traditionally, recognition of Michigan books had been dominated by the university presses downstate.

As a non-profit organization that has represented U.P. authors for more than 25 years, UPPAA was in a unique position to highlight locally themed literature.

“What I found most surprising this year was the almost 50 wonderful submissions to U.P. Notable. We had more books to choose from than ever before, and the competition was steep,” said Evelyn Gathu, Crystal Falls District Community Library director, who has been closely involved with the program.

This year’s winning authors can be found in Marquette, as well as in smaller towns from Pickford to Calumet.

The list also reflects a diverse group of popular U.P. authors, including as Tyler Tichelaar and Sue Harrison, along with some new writers, including Helen Raica-Klotz and Ellen Lord. Readers will also find Jon C. Stott and Mikel B. Classen, who represent the nostalgic U.P. in their works.

“What a treat it is to have Deborah Fronteria and Frederick Stonehouse — both awarded as recipients of U.P. Notable Classic distinctions,” she added. “Debbie wrote ‘Living on Sisu,’ a wonderful young adult tale told in journal entries about the 1913 Copper Union Strike and its heartbreaking Christmas Eve Italian Hall disaster. Frederick wrote the ‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzerald,’ and he has dedicated much of his life to learning about and sharing his research with the world about this well-known U.P. historical tragedy.”

Gathu noted this year’s list truly has something for every reader.

To build the seventh-annual list, UPPAA created a unique panel of jurists of Upper Michigan booksellers, book reviewers, librarians, academics, authors and publishers to narrow the list down to the top 10.

Readers can find reviews of many of these books on the U.P. Book Review. The award committee emphasizes that the list is unranked — each title deserves equal merit as a U.P. Notable Book.

The top 10 books have been deemed essential reading for every lover of U.P. literature, and judges highly recommend them.

The U.P. Notable Books List will also appear in the upcoming 10th volume of U.P. Reader, UPPAA’s own annual literary anthology featuring short stories, poetry, and essays by its members.

The 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 upon request. The on-sale date is scheduled for April 15. Consult your local bookseller for availability or purchase at Amazon.

An index of all past lists can be found on the UPNotable.com website.

Gathu will continue the Crystal Falls library’s alliance with UPPAA to co-sponsor the U.P. Notable Book Club. The club is available to any interested reader and has featured monthly Zoom meet-ups with national bestselling U.P. notable authors such as Karen Dionne “The Wicked Sister,” Sue Harrison “The Midwife’s Touch,” and Steve Lehto “Death’s Door.”

Members borrow books from their local libraries or purchase them at local stores prior to discussions.

Presentations often include author readings, a conversation on the making of the book, and a live question and answers with the audience.

The next meeting is set for Jan. 22. The full year-long calendar will be announced shortly.

Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan non-profit association with more than 175 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 U.P. connection, who is interested in writing and publishing books.