Time zone changes, explosive files revealing earth-shattering truths somehow still being ignored, tariffs—wait, no tariffs—no, wait, actually, more tariffs, yet another illegal invasion in a region that hasn’t known peace in centuries, a budget deficit of double-digit billions—with a “B,” melting glaciers, warming climate, the spectre of fascism casting its shadow over everything… To put it simply: there’s a lot going on. The word “crisis” is losing all meaning and it’s easy to become exhausted and succumb to overwhelm.
What’s not easy to do is pause, check in with your body, and notice your surroundings. To stop and appreciate each other and this earth still teeming with defiant life. To hope even when things seem hopeless. But good books always help. Make the shift from skepticism and passiveness to positivity and action with these books that investigate root causes, guide us to rest to rebel better, keep young ones educated and informed, and show us how to find admiration in things big and small.
Understanding Today’s Political Climate
Love Rebels: How I Learned to Burn It Down Without Burning Out by Kitty Stryker, foreword by carla joy bergman (Thornapple Press)
Without taking care of interpersonal relationships, many people run the risk of burning out of activism at crucial times. Kitty Stryker shares her experience as an activist, street medic, and relationship educator to help others pursue the important work while maintaining healthy relationships and without burning out.
Out now
The Boys’ Club: The Many Worlds of Male Power by Martine Delvaux translated by Katia Grubisic (Talonbooks)
Author Martine Delvaux lays bare the brazen misogyny of boys’ clubs across many fields, including politics, entertainment, technology, law enforcement, architecture, and the military. Examining popular media produced by men about men, The Boys’ Club exposes a culture of consumption which profits off female experiences while disregarding female voices.
Out now
Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship by Ken McGoogan (Douglas & McIntyre)
Bestselling historian and author Ken McGoogan delves into dictatorships of the twentieth century to sound this crucial alarm about the possibility of democratic collapse in the US and its implications for Canada.
Out now
Environmental Activism
Conservation Confidential: A Biologist Investigates the Clash Between Progress and Nature by Lorne Fitch (Rocky Mountain Books)
Through personal insights and vivid anecdotes, Fitch examines the moral and ecological consequences of unchecked industrial growth while championing the urgent need for balance and foresight. His essays challenge readers to reconsider what progress truly means in a world where ecological boundaries are rapidly being surpassed.
Out now
Blockade by Christine Lowther (Caitlin Press)
West Coast activist Christine Lowther returns to her blockade years of the early nineties, marked by old-growth occupations, lockdowns and barricades on the frontlines of Vancouver Island’s ancient temperate rainforests. Blockade is a celebration of resilience, a rallying cry of hope for all those who stand up for the natural world, and a roadmap for future generations of defenders.
Out now
How to Be Hopeful: Empowering Practices to Overcome Despair and Act for Climate Justice by elin kelsey (Greystone Books)
Through personal reflections, scientific insights, and practical exercises, How to Be Hopeful emphasizes emotional awareness, community collaboration, and the agency of both humans and non-human species. Author elin kelsey empowers readers to confront their own emotional landscapes, engage in collective action, and envision a sustainable future.
Out now
Understory: An Ecologist’s Memoir of Loss and Hope by Kevin Van Tighem (Rocky Mountain Books)
Written with the lyricism of a naturalist and the candour of a seasoned storyteller, Understory invites readers to confront their own relationships with nature and consider how they, too, can find purpose and hope in uncertain times.
Out now
Educating Young Readers
No Brainer by Lea Beddia (Orca Book Publishers)
Liv is comfortable with her body and more comfortable not wearing a bra. When a male classmate harasses her and she retaliates, Liv finds herself both in trouble at school and at the center of a feminist movement among her classmates. But Liv isn’t going to stand down. There are no school rules that dictate girls must wear bras. Why can’t girls wear what they want without being shamed?
Out now
Checked Out by Tony Correia (Orca Book Publishers)
Thirteen-year-old Seth discovers a love for queer teen literature, and he and a new friend set up a Pride display in their middle-school library. But when a conservative classmate checks out all the queer books to keep them out of students’ hands, Seth and his friend decide to take a stand and stage a protest of their own.
Out now
Sticking to the Facts: 10 Ways to Fight Misinformation by Gregor Craigie, illustrated by Bithi Sutradhar (Orca Book Publishers)
This book gives young readers ten practical actions they can take to fight misinformation, including how to consider the source, weigh the evidence of what they’re reading, read past the headline, use fact-checking resources, check bias, and how to be a skeptic rather than a cynic.
Out now