Barbara Kingsolver's Best Books (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Barbara Kingsolver has become one of the most notable authors of her generation. Her work spans fictional novels, nonfiction essays, and poetry — and her decades of accolades speak for themselves. She's a Pulitzer Prize winner for the 2023 book "Demon Copperhead," won the 2010 Women's Prize for Fiction for "The Lacuna," and took home the 1993 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for "Pigs in Heaven." 

Much of her success comes from her determination not to be anything but herself in her work, as she hasn't shied away from bucking literary trends. She's never avoided tough subjects either, as Kingsolver's releases aren't exactly considered easy, breezy beach reads (though we've rounded up some of the best beach reads for your reading list, if that's more your thing). "At the beginning of my writing career, in the 1980s, there was a great withdrawal from the third conflict (the environmental drama). It seemed as though most of the writing that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s was very small in scale, minimalist," she told Longreads. "And I've always been restless, I've always wanted bigger than that," she added.

If you're unfamiliar with Kingsolver's progressive books, or you're looking to re-familiarize yourself with her poignant work, we've got you. We ranked Kingsolver's 12 best books so far, including fiction and non-fiction releases, according to their average rating out of 5.0 and reader reviews on Goodreads. To ensure they're truly fan favorites, we included only releases with 1,000 or more ratings at the time of writing.

"How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)" has amassed a 3.85 Goodreads score from over 3,400 ratings at the time of writing. Barbara Kingsolver presents several poems in the book, which was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Poetry category in 2020. The collection touches on a wide range of topics, from prayer to death to relationships, as Kingsolver examines almost all aspects of life with her signature analytical literary twist.

"She is a poet who still knows what it is to be a poet, to say things in such a way that you think of little things in brand new ways, to use words as art and dance, to make you understand the nature of life with tiny observations that give meaning to the most insignificant things around us," one Goodreads reader, who gave the poetry book five stars, wrote. "Barbara Kingsolver has visions, knows and uses words like an alchemist," another review read, while a third reviewer shared how the poems encouraged them to become more in tune with the little things in life.

"Homeland and Other Stories" edges out "How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)" thanks to its higher number of Goodreads ratings. It matches the score of Barbara Kingsolver's second poetry collection with a 3.85 rating on Goodreads, but has more than 9,500 ratings at the time of writing. The fiction release is a collection of 12 tales that pull on the heartstrings, but still bring some humor.

One reviewer pointed out that Kingsolver purposely doesn't resolve the serious issues she dives into in her tales, which mirrors the way they often play out in real life. "This is a serious read. The heroines of these stories are torn, tugged at and sometimes tempted, but they are not toadies," they wrote. A second Goodreads user recommended enjoying the tales as audiobooks and shared, "[Kingsolver is] a magician with language, and never was her use of language more beautiful than in these short stories."

"Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983" has amassed a 3.93 Goodreads score from more than 1,200 ratings at the time of writing. The nonfiction political history book delves into a protest against Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation in 1983 that lasted a year and a half. As the working men abandoned their work positions, the women in the area banded together to fight for what they felt was right. The book highlights their plight and sacrifice.

"This story will interest non-fiction readers with an interest in social change and labour movements as well as those who follow women's rights and social anthropology in general," shared one Goodreads user. Another highlighted how well the author focused on the women and their stories during such a difficult time. "Barbara Kingsolver uses her strong writing skills in portraying the anger, frustration, determination, and accomplishments of these women," they wrote, praising Kingsolver for focusing on how the women in particular found empowerment through their own actions.

"The Bean Trees" marks the first of Barbara Kingsolver's books to reach a Goodreads score of more than 4.0. It has a 4.02 rating from more than 179,900 ratings at the time of writing. The fictional story is the first in Kingsolver's "Greer Family" series and her first-ever novel. It introduces the protagonist Taylor Greer, who decides to leave her simple, small-town Kentucky life behind for something more exciting in Arizona. But her road trip to a new life of fun and freedom doesn't exactly go as planned when she finds herself responsible for a 3-year-old girl named Turtle, whom she rescues along the way.

One reviewer noted that the book is not a straightforward, easy read, sharing that, in typical Kingsolver fashion, she touches on multiple deep issues such as politics and human rights. Another complimented the way Kingsolver built up the novel's storyline, writing, "A story that started out very basic and straightforward becomes rich and multi-faceted. By the end I was shocked at the transformation that happened in just 200+ pages, just as Taylor must have been to see herself and her world change in less than a year."

Barbara Kingsolver's "Small Wonder" has a 4.03 Goodreads score from over 11,500 ratings at the time of writing. It's another essay collection from the astute author and, in keeping with her other work, offers deep and meaningful takes on the sometimes mundane aspects of life. Kingsolver touches on everything from motherhood to the vegetables she's growing and encourages readers to find the beauty in them.

In a four-star review, one Goodreads user complimented the author's detailed writing style. "Kingsolver is a keen observer of the world, and she writes beautifully detailed anecdotes that are incorporated into broader messages," they wrote. Another doubled down on how poignant and relevant the essays, which were first published in 2002, still are today. "It moved me to tears, informed me, and (what is increasingly challenging to do) offered hope," they shared. A third highlighted the emotion in some of Kingsolver's essays, sharing that the one titled "My Mother" made them cry.

"Pigs in Heaven" is the second in Barbara Kingsolver's "Greer Family" collection and follows "The Bean Trees." It fared better than its predecessor in our ranking, though, thanks to over 70,200 Goodreads ratings at the time of writing and an average score of 4.03. Protagonist Taylor returns in the follow-up, as does her rescued daughter Turtle. Turtle finds herself in the news when she witnesses a crime, but, unfortunately for Taylor, her newfound fame draws attention to the fact that she didn't legally adopt Turtle. When a lawyer gets involved, Taylor decides to leave town with the youngster, but things don't exactly go as planned when Taylor's mother becomes entangled in the situation.

"I actually liked this book better than 'The Bean Trees,'" wrote a Goodreads reviewer. "Kingsolver has clearly matured as an author. The plot is more focused and cohesive and flows smoothly, without ever feeling slow," they added. Another echoed how well the second book further developed the characters from the first book, while another praised Kingsolver's detailed writing style. "The language in this book is beautiful, in the way that Barbara Kingsolver calls out the most extraordinary visuals and metaphors," they wrote.

Barbara Kingsolver is the main author of "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life," but she released the book with additional insights from her family members Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver. The nonfiction book details the Kingsolver family's move from Arizona to rural Appalachia to live their dream of living off the land. The book contains firsthand accounts of their life-changing journey, including insight into the struggles of farming, how they used their produce to create a thriving restaurant, and how Kingsolver's children balanced rural life with furthering their educations. The memoir, at the time of writing, has over 114,100 ratings on Goodreads and a 4.05 score.

"[Kingsolver is] a wonderful writer, and much of the information and storytelling was totally fascinating. I will be thinking about this book for a long time, and it really has inspired me to pay more attention to local growing seasons," one Goodreads user wrote. "Kingsolver is engaging, funny, convincing and just an all round excellent writer. The book is an eat your local veggies & meat mantra but the narrative of her family keeps it personal and interesting," another shared, while a third recommended it for those looking for a simpler life — and those who aren't.

"Prodigal Summer" is the first book to crack our top five. At the time of writing, it's amassed a 4.06 score on Goodreads from more than 133,300 reader ratings. The fictional book entwines multiple plots into one story and is set over a single summer in rural Appalachia, where we meet the reclusive Deanna Wolfe. She moved to the area to study coyotes, but finds herself at loggerheads with hunters with no conscience. Her story runs parallel with farmer Lusa Maluf Landowski's, who lives in the same area. She owns a farm with her husband, but the two experience a difficult time and could be on the cusp of losing everything they've built. At the same time, we meet two elderly farmers who are locked in an increasingly nasty feud.

"The writing in Prodigal Summer is just beautiful and the descriptions lyrical. It is a book to read carefully and slowly and just enjoy," wrote one Goodreads user. "It was a lovely read with some charming characters, very human behaviours and a positive, hopeful ending," they added. A second praised the way Kingsolver developed and fleshed out her characters, while a third shared, "I absolutely loved how the three 'separate' stories wove together as the novel progressed."

"High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never" includes 25 of Barbara Kingsolver's essays. It has a 4.08 score from over 13,100 Goodreads ratings at the time of writing. The shorter offerings cover a range of topics in Kingsolver's signature thought-provoking style, including her thoughts on everything from housework to promiscuity.

One Goodreads user complimented the book's structure, noting it made it easy to savor one essay at a time before jumping to the next topic. "It's a pretty well rounded combination of essays that come across simply as 'this is what I think now' or 'this is what I've been thinking about lately' – in Kingsolver's voice, almost like glorified journal entries," a five-star review read, which also praised Kingsolver for keeping her writing simple. "The essays always make me think and evaluate my own beliefs, biases, prejudices, actions," another reader wrote.

"Animal Dreams" just beat "High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never" into the top three thanks to its higher number of Goodreads ratings. At the time of writing, it has the same 4.08 score from more than 79,400 ratings. The novel is one of Barbara Kingsolver's fictional novels and, much like many of her other releases, centers on Appalachian characters and Arizona. The book introduces Codi Noline, who heads home to Arizona to take care of her sick dad. But when she gets there, she realizes the town needs some serious help — and so does she. The novel isn't a straightforward telling, though, as Kingsolver makes use of flashbacks, tall tales, and dreams to convey her story.

Multiple Goodreads users praised Kingsolver's writing style and the way she presented her characters. "... Every character is filled with so much wisdom and humor that I feel like I was given a sneak peak into Kingsolver's personality," one wrote. Another noted the book fit in the author's repertoire thanks to its activism-esque, nature-focused themes, while a third reader shared, "This book was captivating. Kingsolver has a rare gift of painting emotion with every word."

"The Poisonwood Bible" is set in the late 1950s and the three decades that follow. It's one of the best modern classics to pick for your next book club read and follows the Price family as they undertake a Baptist mission in Africa. The book is told from the perspectives of Orleanna, the wife of the deeply religious Nathan Price, and their daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May. The family uproots their whole lives to spread the message of their religion, only to find they may have gotten more than they bargained for after starting anew halfway across the world. The historical fiction book has more than 808,500 ratings and a 4.12 score at the time of writing and has been compared by a Goodreads user to one of Ann Patchett's best books (so far), "State of Wonder."

"There is great craft at work here. Kingsolver offers poetic descriptions that I found extremely beautiful, rich and moving. Her main characters were well-realized and accessible, and she succeeded nicely in giving each a very individual voice," one five-star review read. "This is multi-layered, multi-faceted, and multi-narrated. But the many themes all concern the craving for freedom," a second pointed out. A third highlighted how well Kingsolver voiced her characters and told the story from their different perspectives. It's also one of Hillary Clinton's favorite books, so readers are in good company.

Taking the top spot in our ranking is "Demon Copperhead," one of the best picks of the 2020s from Oprah's Book Club. Its 4.46 Goodreads score from over 882,400 ratings at the time of writing confirms it's been a huge hit with readers, as does its nomination for the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Fiction category. Also proving its popularity is its 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Barbara Kingsolver takes readers back to Appalachia in the fictional novel. There, we meet the young Damon Fields (also known as Demon Copperhead) and see him make his way through a very difficult childhood, including growing up in foster care and being forced into work. As he grows older, he finds himself lost in a sea of bad relationships and addiction. 

One impressed Goodreads reviewer gave the novel, which draws inspiration from Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," five stars. "Big and messy and sprawling; funny and tense and sad; and written by an author whose talents are awe-inspiring," they wrote. Another Goodreads user noted the book was as funny as it was devastating, while a third wrote that, although the book is lengthy at more than 600 pages, it packs in plenty of story.

We ranked Barbara Kingsolver's best books so far according to their user-given Goodreads rating out of 5.0. The higher the score, the higher the book ranked. When multiple books had the same score, we placed the book with the higher number of ratings higher to represent its popularity. We only included Kingsolver's releases with more than 1,000 ratings on Goodreads at the time of writing, excluding any books not released before June 2026. Though "Partita" has a 4.25 score at the time of writing, its October 2026 release date rendered it ineligible — no 2027 new book releases were considered either. We considered fiction and nonfiction books, and though we included collections of poems or essays designed to be presented in a single book, we did not include compilations of multiple books that were originally standalone releases.