The terrors in Colin Barrett’s debut novel, “ Wild Houses,” seep across the page like black mold. Oh, there’s action in this thriller, too — fights! kidnapping! extortion! — but what ...

In her new book, the historian Tiya Miles shows how formative outdoor experiences helped diverse women — from Harriet Tubman to Indigenous athletes — transcend prescribed social and gender roles.

The timing couldn’t have been more ideal, because the next day we captured what we all called “Rae’s First Bear.” Its fur wasn’t black, but light brown, which is typical for western bears. As I’d soon ...