The Scrambled States of America is a series of two books written by children's book author Laurie Keller ("Who is she?" "Never heard of her.") centered around the antics of the United States of America as narrated by Uncle Sam...and by states, we mean the actual states themselves and not the people who live in them.
The first book in the series is The Scrambled States of America, written in 1998. Tired of living in the center of the country surrounded by the other noisy states and never getting to meet anyone else or go anywhere else, Kansas arranges a meet-and-greet party for the fifty states with help from his good friends Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa. The states hit off pretty well, but as the party winds down, Virginia and Idaho present an idea they were just talking about: What if all the states switched places with each other so they could see what it's like being in other parts of the country? The states all agree to try it out. What Could Possibly Go Wrong??
The first book would be followed by a sequel in 2008: The Scrambled States Of America Talent Show. In this book, New York wakes up one morning with the idea to hold a talent show for all the states so they can showcase their various talents and what they're famous for. The states jump at the chance to hold a talent show, and Hilarity Ensues.
Both books are lauded for being useful in introducing young kids to USA geography, and proved to be popular enough to get a card game based on the first book made by Gamewright, and a fairly obscure educational video based on the second book.
These books provide examples of the following:
- Ambiguous Gender: The states themselves. Only a few states seem to have explicit genders; many other states can have eyelashes in one illustration only to appear to be male in another one.
- And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: At the end of the book following the states resuming their normal places, New York (who took up California's spot alongside Alabama and Indiana) is shown giving Michigan a T-shirt that reads: "My friend switched places with California and all I got was this stupid T-shirt!"
- Michigan: This is a classic!
New York: I knew you'd like it!
- Be Careful What You Wish For: The whole plot is kick-started by Kansas's desire to not be stuck in the center of the country surrounded by his fellow states, and he switches with Hawaii when the states trade places so he can finally have some peace and quiet. Needless to say, he goes nearly mad from the loneliness.
- The Cameo: The states do so in many of Laurie Keller's later books. Lampshaded when Florida appears in Keller's later book Open Wide: Tooth School Inside and nervously comments that he's in the wrong book.
- End-of-Episode Silliness: Both books end this way. In the case of the first book, many of the states' respective landmarks and state objects/animals are shown interacting with each other.
- Embarrassingly Painful Sunburn: Poor Minnesota, who switched places with Florida woefully unprepared for Florida's hot and sunny climate. Vermont's misguided methods of combating Minnesota's sunburn really don't help.
- Vermont: A big hug will make your sunburn feel all better!
Minnesota: YEEEOOOOWWWW!!!!
- Funny Background Event: Near constantly.
- Gender Flip: Massachusetts between the first book and the second. Massachusetts was shown in most of their appearances in the first book with thick eyelashes, but is stated to be male in the second. This also happened with other states in either the same way or vice versa.
- Hey, Let's Put on a Show: The premise of Talent Show, but it's really just for the fun of having one with nothing really at stake.
- Love at First Sight: Nevada and Mississippi, who meet at the party and become completely smitten with each other. They're the only states who are explicitly stated to not experience any sort of discomfort after the states all switch around, having chosen to be next to each other, and the only ones sad to return to their normal places. (As it means they'll be once again on opposite sides of the country from each other.)
- Narration Echo: Happens twice in the first book."Well, it was just your basic, ordinary day in the good old U.S. of A. States all over the country were waking up, having their first cups of coffee, reading the morning paper, and enjoying the beautiful sunrise. All the states, that is, except for Kansas. He was not feeling happy at all. How do I know this? Because he said,"
Kansas: I'M NOT FEELING HAPPY AT ALL!
* Later, after the states have all switched places*
"And worst of all, Kansas, who had switched places with Hawaii because he was sick of being stuck in the middle of the country, was now stuck in the middle of NOWHERE, feeling lonesome and seasick."
Kansas: *singing* In the middle of nowhere, feeling lonesome and seasick, my guitar is soggy and I feel so blue... - Sibling Rivalry: North and South Dakota argue constantly according to Nebraska. North Dakota, in fact, takes Alaska's place to get away from South Dakota when the states all switch places. They make up by the story's end. Averted with North and South Carolina in case you're wondering, who seem to get along pretty well in all their appearances together.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Nevada and Mississippi fall in love and are very happy with the switch, having arranged to be next to one another. The two of them are separated again at the end when the states go back to their places.
- Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: Female states are indicated by this.
- There's No Place Like Home: In some form or fashion, the states decide that they prefer their old positions and the downsides that come with them (which at least are familiar) after they switch places.
