Here we are at the start of another new year and, as I write this at the end of January, my brain and belly are swirling in the midst of what has been a turbulent two weeks in the US. I have found solace in this time, as I have in so many other times, in books.

Some of the books I read this month, like those by Cedrick May, Toni Morrison, Marilyn Nelson, and Elizabeth Varon, were a means of educating myself on the times and people who have come before. While others, such as those by Emma Cline and Hunter Hodkinson, were simply a means of escapism. Regardless, Toni Morrison’s words remain true: books are a form of political action. Now is a great time not only to put 2025 reading goals into place (if that’s your thing), but also to take a look again at where you buy or borrow your books, as well as the voices you prioritize, and those you do not. Now, more than ever, is a time for intentionality in all endeavors even, sometimes especially, in the turning of a page.