Raven Book Store

Raven Book Store has been a literary institution in downtown Lawrence since 1987, serving the University of Kansas community and the broader Lawrence population with a selection that reflects this town's unique combination of Midwestern warmth and progressive activism. The store's compact space is curated with precision, every title earning its place on shelves that emphasize literary fiction, poetry, social justice, and Kansas authors. The political section is unapologetically progressive, reflecting Lawrence's identity as a blue island in a red state. The Kansas authors section reveals the surprising literary depth of the Sunflower State, from frontier narratives to contemporary fiction. The store's social media presence has earned it a national following, and its staff's witty, passionate advocacy for reading has made Raven a model for how small bookstores can punch above their weight in the cultural conversation.