Basket: 
Reader-in-Residence Debbie Rolls gives her suggestions for an A-Z of Teesside related books in her latest blog post.
Redcar & Cleveland Libraries have challenged readers to complete an A-Z of books they have read with each letter of the alphabet featuring in the author’s name or title as part of the 2026 National Year of Reading.
My Reading the Local Area project has seen me reading all kinds of books set within the Crossing the Tees Book Festival area. I thought I would try making an A-Z with those books. I managed to produce a broad selection including fiction and non-fiction based in a variety of Tees locations.
I am afraid I had to cheat a bit when I got to X. All the books I have read that feature authors with names beginning with X feature China, France or Africa, not the Tees. Unless anyone knows an author with a name that starts with X writing locally or has a guide to X-rays on Teesside I think this will have to do. Weirdly the Middlesbrough Library Catalogue did offer me a document about buying X-ray equipment in Northern Ireland in the 1990s.
Can you complete an A-Z of what you have read for 2026 Year of Reading?
A At the Works Florence Bell
B Bilgewater Jane Gardam
C Ernie Crust A dash between the tides
D Deadline Stephen McGovern
E Eleanor Fairburn The Green Popinjays
F Funicular T F Lince
G C J Grayson The Tees Valley Killings
H Highwayman Mark Hadlett
I Ironopolis Glen James Brown
J Joan Leech Married to the Man Who Washed Himself Away
K Khadim Hussain Going for a Curry
L Losing Control Fiona Erskine
M Murder at Deviation Junction Andrew Martin
N No More Heroes A S French
O Ormesby Urban District Paul Stephenson
P David Phillipson All her glories past: the story of the Zetland lifeboat
Q Joyce Quin & Moira Kilkenny Angels of the North
R Riverskin Mike Edwards
S Steel River Steve Nicholls
T Twisted Mind Eva Carmichael
U Union Street Pat Barker
V Vin Garbutt All the very best! The autobiography
W Ellen Wilkinson Clash
X Middlesbrough Royal Exchange Year Book 1926
Y Deborah Young Dear Future Me
Z Rock Zombie A B Finlayson
Visit any library in Redcar & Cleveland to join the challenge yourself.
