The 50 States of Literature (see original post here) goes to Arizona this week (they seem to have migrated back to the A’s).

Barbara Kingsolver’s novel “The Bean Trees” is “about finding salvation in an ostensibly barren situation — appropriately, this low-key debut novel is set in Arizona.”

Taylor Greer leaves rural Kentucky to find adventure out west, and by the time she hits Tucson, she’s achieved it, having mysteriously “inherited” a Native American toddler named Turtle. Taylor becomes involved with a sanctuary for Central American refugees run by Mattie, owner of “Jesus Is Lord Used Tires,” and soon finds herself struggling to understand the conflicts she must face head-on, from immigration and divorce to her newfound daughter’s unknown past. Kingsolver, as she does in all her novels, balances heady topics with quick-witted dialogue and her ever-present wry humor.

And we missed Hawaii last week — columbiaspectator.com chose “Heads by Harry” by Lois-ann Yamanaka. Wouldn’t have been my pick, but nobody asked me… The book is about a girl who is a constant disappointment to her parents, but wants to be apprenticed in her father’s taxidermy shop (hence, the book’s title). Her other goal is to catch the eye of the town hottie. Ultimately, she just wants to be understood. Don’t we all…

Arkansas might be coming up soon. Or it could be Wyoming, who knows? What would be your book pick for the “Natural State”?