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What Novel Set in Maine Have You Read?

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What Novel Set in Maine Have You Read?


There are numerous novels where the story takes place in Maine. That should come as no surprise when you think about how easy it would be to fictionally fall in love with someone among the beautiful foliage while visiting Maine. You are probably also aware of the many places to hide a body for a murder-mystery. And of course, the HORROR, with the gothic and macabre architecture setting the tone for any ghoul or evil demon to terrorize humans.

Stephen King

Hodder Paperbacks

I’m going to leave Mr. King out of this list with by no means any intended disrespect nor disregarding how wonderful his novels are. Stephen King taught me so much as a 9-year-old child through reading his novels – waaaaaay more than I should’ve known at that age, but I’ve since been an avid fan to this day. It is extremely discernible where Stephen King books take place. I want to offer top-rated books that might be more obscure.

What Does A.I. Say About the Best Novels Set in Maine?

The Cider House Rules

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Ballantine Books

Let’s begin with artificial intelligence, since we all probably succumb to relying on it for all information in the near future. On its list at number 1 (before a King novel at #2), is John Irving’s, “The Cider House Rules.”

It was first published in 1985, and a 7-time Academy Award nominated eponymous film was created. On Amazon, this novel has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. This story set in early 20th century rural Maine is a must to dive into if you haven’t already.

Bookglow.net’s #1 Novel Set in Maine Recommendation

Olive Kitteridge

Random House

There is no surprise that this novel from 2008 was recommended as a top novel set in Maine to read by bookglow.net when you consider all the accolades. “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was created into an HBO miniseries in 2014 that picked up 8 Emmy Awards.

This story takes place in the fictional coastal town of Crosby, Maine. If you happen to enjoy this Maine novel as so many already have as evident by the 4.5 rating out of 5 on Amazon, then you may enjoy the 2019 sequel, “Olive, Again.”

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Goodreads.com Has This Novel Set in Coastal Maine as a Top Read

Orphan Train

Mariner Books

Nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline was published in 2013 and is still being discovered atop recommendation charts. 80,000 readers on Amazon have given this novel a 4.5 out of 5-star rating, making it a pretty safe bet to be a story set in coastal Maine that you can disappear into while reading on the beaches of Maine.

When Your Mainer Boss Recommends a Novel Set in Maine, You Add it to The List

Morgan Talty’s novel, “Fire Exit” is the newest on the list being published in 2024 and takes place in the tribal community on the Penobscot Reservation. The reviews from reputable sources speak for themselves in addition to a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon.

Spellbinding―TIME, A Best Book of Summer

Remarkable.―NPR

Morgan Talty is a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation and teaches at the University of Maine in Orono! Below are more recommendations of novels set in Maine that have a rating higher than 4 out of 5 stars from readers on Amazon!

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Top Rated Novels Set in Maine

Top rated novels set in Maine that aren’t Stephen King.

Gallery Credit: David

Maine Children’s Books

Entertain and educate your children with these greatly reviewed and award-winning children’s books that take you on adventures all over Maine.

Gallery Credit: David

 

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NMCC Nursing Program Ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025

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NMCC Nursing Program Ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025


PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -Northern Maine Community College’s registered nursing program has been ranked No. 2 in Maine for 2025 by NursingExplorer.com, a national education resource that evaluates nursing programs based on graduate success on licensure examinations.

The NMCC program earned the recognition with a 96.60% weighted average pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses over the past three years, placing the college among the top-performing nursing programs in the state. The ranking comes as demand for qualified nurses remains strong across Maine, particularly in rural and northern communities.

“These results demonstrate the dedication of our students, faculty and clinical partners who work together to ensure graduates are prepared for the realities of today’s health care environment,” said Andrew Gagnon, RN, MSN, CCRN, NR-P, CHSE, department chair of nursing, EMS and allied health at Northern Maine Community College. “We are proud to see our program recognized for its consistent quality as we continue preparing nurses to serve communities across Aroostook County and throughout Maine.”

Maine is home to approximately 15 nursing education programs, with most concentrated in southern and central population centers such as Portland, Lewiston, Bangor and Augusta. This distribution can create access challenges for students in more rural regions, making northern training opportunities especially important for local workforce development.

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“Northern Maine Community College is proud to provide nursing education that meets the highest standards while remaining accessible to students in northern Maine,” said Doug Binsfeld, Ed.D., president of Northern Maine Community College. “Our graduates make a meaningful impact in rural communities and are equally prepared to pursue opportunities in larger health care settings across the state.”

Employment prospects for nurses in Maine remain favorable, driven by an aging population and ongoing workforce shortages. Maine’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact also allows licensed nurses to practice in more than 30 participating states, expanding career mobility and professional opportunities for graduates.

According to NursingExplorer.com, rankings are based on NCLEX pass-rate data collected over a three-year period. Results are weighted by the number of test takers in each cohort, with additional emphasis placed on more recent outcomes to reflect current program performance.



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Maine DHHS data shows recent spike in cases of alleged fraud

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Maine DHHS data shows recent spike in cases of alleged fraud


PORTLAND (WGME) – New numbers from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are revealing a recent spike in cases of alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Maine over the past few years.

The state released the data after CBS13 filed a public records request.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit is responsible for looking into allegations of fraud within major state assistance programs.

That includes MaineCare, SNAP and temporary assistance for needy families.

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We looked back eight years to get a sense of just how many cases the state has seen.

According to data CBS13 obtained through a public records request, in 2018, the unit received more than 1,400 fraud complaints.

In 2019, it was more than 1,000.

Amid all those complaints, investigators found 77 were “intentional program violations.”

Many more over those two years were referred to the Attorney General, local district attorneys and even federal prosecutors for review.

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We don’t know the outcomes of those cases.

Fast forward to 2024, where complaints reached close to 1,000 again. This time, the unit found 164 intentional violations.

Fifty-one were referred to local DAs, five to the AG and three to the federal government.

Last year, there were still hundreds of complaints, and investigators found only 52 intentional violations, with 38 cases referred for prosecution on some level.

New numbers from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are revealing a recent spike in cases of alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Maine over the past few years. (WGME)

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And as of February of this year, the unit has received 94 complaints and found three program violations.

So far, no cases have been referred for prosecution.

Maine DHHS also has a program integrity unit, focused on waste, fraud or abuse within Maine’s Medicaid program.

Complaints have risen there, too, from 153 in 2023 to 183 in last year, a nearly 17 percent increase.

About a dozen of those cases were referred to the U.S. Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which accepted all for investigation or prosecution.

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The Maine Attorney General’s Office says when a complaint is referred to them, it’s reviewed, and the AG then decides whether there is enough evidence to move forward.

We’re still waiting on a response from the U.S. Inspector General about how they handle these case referrals.



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Meet the 2025-26 Varsity Maine All-State girls wrestling team

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Meet the 2025-26 Varsity Maine All-State girls wrestling team


Hannah Perro, Noble senior, 100 pounds

An All-State selection last year, Perro returned this winter after offseason shoulder surgery and thrived. She became the first four-time girls state champion, allowing just two points on her way to the title, while leading the Knights to a co-team championship with Mt. Blue. A former two-time New England girls champion, Perro also reached the quarterfinal round of the Class A co-ed championships. She finished fourth at 106 pounds at the Class A South championships.

Sora Bukoski, Penobscot County sophomore, 107

Bukoski placed herself among the more dominant female grapplers in New England. She didn’t allow a single point on her way to the 107-pound girls state title, then allowed just six points — all in the finals — on her way to the New England title. Bukoski earned a win at the Noble Invitational in December. She also finished runner-up at 106 pounds at the Class A North co-ed championships and fifth at the Class A championships.

Brooklynn Webber, Mt. Blue senior, 114

After winning the 126-pound girls title last year, Webber moved down two weight classes and claimed the 114 championship this year, helping the Cougars to a share of the team title. Webber earned her 100th career victory during the girls championship meet. She wrapped her career with three state titles. She also won the 120-pound title at the Franklin Savings Bank tournament in Rumford and the Belfast Girls Invitational. She is a two-time All-State pick.

Martina Gili Fernandez, Maine Central Institute senior, 120

After winning her first state title last year at 145 pounds, Gili Fernandez dropped four weight classes and won another title this winter, beating Alanna Smith of Camden Hills by a 14-8 decision. She also won the 120 title at the Skowhegan Girls Open, as well as the 126 title at the Belfast Girls Invitational. Gili Fernandez is a two-time All-State selection.

Delaney Frost, Noble junior, 126

Frost, a two-time All-State pick, helped the Knights to a share of the girls team state title. After winning the state and New England titles at 120 pounds last season, Frost moved up to 126 and dominated the competition on the way to another girls state championship. She finished third in her weight class. Frost also won her weight class at the Noble Girls Invitational.

Kaydn Hansen, Mt. Blue sophomore, 132

After winning the 114-pound state title last season, Hansen moved up three classes and won another title. She allowed just four points in four matches on the way to the 132 championship. She also finished fourth at New Englands. She also won the 126 championship at the Franklin Savings Bank Girls Invitational, and the 132 title at the Skowhegan Open and Belfast Girls Invitational. Hansen is a two-time All-State selection.

Nevaeh Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 138

Grunhuvd helped the Mustangs win their first New England girls championship this winter. The state champion at 132 pounds last year, Grunhuvd edged Erskine Academy’s Maxine Spencer by a 6-5 decision for the 138 title. Grunhuvd, a two-time All-State pick, finished runner-up at 138 at New Englands.


Sophie Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 145

A two-time All-State selection, the Varsity Maine Girls Wrestler of the Year was the driving force for the Mustangs capturing their first New England team championship. Grunhuvd allowed just three points in her final three matches at New Englands, and she allowed two points to capture the state title. She also won tournament titles at the Noble Girls Invitational, the Belfast Girls Invitational and the Skowhegan Open.

Ava McGinnis, Nokomis junior, 152

McGinnis captured her first New England championship this winter, topping Nmachukwu Okoli of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, for the 152-pound crown. The two-time All-State pick didn’t allow a point at the state championship meet to defend her title. She won tournament titles at the Skowhegan Open, the Belfast Girls Invitational and finished third at the Noble Girls Invitational.

Aesa Brock, Massabesic junior, 165

A runner-up in her weight class at the Belfast Girls Invitational early in the season, Brock had a breakout performance in December, winning the 165-pound title at the Noble Girls Invitational. She was dominant at the girls state championships, winning by pin in the quarterfinals and finals, and by tech fall in the semifinals. Her performance helped Massabesic to a runner-up finish.

Izzy Bertocchi, Maine Central Institute sophomore, 185

Bertocchi didn’t allow a single point and won all three of her matches by pin at the state championship, beating Amelila Maillet of Dirigo for the title. She had an equally dominant performance at the Skowhegan Open, where she allowed just one point, winning her semifinal and championship final by tech fall.

Lilly Soper, Bucksport junior, 235

A two-time All-State pick, Soper won her third straight state title this winter, beating Theresa Campbell of Belfast by pinfall. All three of Soper’s wins in the tournament were by pin. She finished third for the second straight year at New Englands, winning her first two bouts by an 11-1 margin.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ken Hall, Massabesic: A former standout at Massabesic, Hall led the Mustangs to a runner-up finish at the state meet and the program’s first girls New England championship. Led by Sophie and Nevaeh Grunhuvd, the Mustangs finished with 52 points at New Englands, holding off runner-up Salem (New Hampshire), which scored 48 points, and Woburn (Massachusetts) which scored 44.

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Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports…
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