Audacity Book Club: Winter Break
By Celeste Daniels
Hello, audacious readers!
I had originally planned to introduce a book that really helps us kick off 2026 with some energy and pep. And then the first week happened. So, we’re going on break!
This is not me saying take a break from reality. Instead, I am suggesting you take time to find ways to engage with what’s going on in the world right now. The truth is we’re entering a dangerous time, which calls for us to stay alert and figure out the best ways to connect with our communities. I wish I had better advice, but all I can say is that it’s going to get worse before it gets better. But whatever you do, don’t give up. Think critically. Stay in the fight. Resist and remember you have every right to do so.
Of course, I won’t leave you without a few suggestions that can help you do just that:
Black in Blues by Imani Perry: A meditation on the color blue and its role throughout Black history.
Version Zero by David Yoon: A blackballed employee and his best friend decide to reboot the entire internet and cause unintended consequences.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah: A criminal, jinn, and cowardly prince cross paths and are forced by the sultan go on a dangerous quest for an ancient artifact—or die.
Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans: A poetry collection exploring the joy and pain of a young, queer Black woman.
Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke: Piranesi lives in a house with infinite rooms, endless corridors, and countless statues. He lives to explore the house and starts to uncover a terrible, unraveling truth.
Anything You Want by Whoever You Want: Whether long, short, audiobook, kindle book, hardcover, paperback, something from your TBR or a book you just saw on the shelves—PLEASE just read a book, especially one that challenges you.
I hope you enjoy your winter break. I’ll be back in February with a brand new book of the month. Check out our previous selections on Bookshop.org as well as your local library. And as always, make sure to read audaciously!
Audacity Magazine & Events is an affiliate partner of Bookshop.org. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. All books are selections of the Audacity Book Club curator.
