At Craft’n Pages, reading has always been about more than checking a box or chasing a trend. It’s about slowing down, listening closely, and letting stories stretch our understanding of the world—and of each other.
February gives us two meaningful opportunities to do just that: Black History Month and Lunar New Year. These moments aren’t about spotlighting for a season—they’re about honoring voices, histories, and lived experiences that deserve space on our shelves all year long.
Below are some thoughtfully chosen books to help guide that reading.
Black History Month
Observed annually in the United States from February 1–28, Black History Month honors the contributions, resilience, creativity, and history of Black Americans—past and present. It’s a time to reflect, learn, and intentionally make space for Black voices, particularly those who have shaped literature, culture, and storytelling.
Foundational & Literary Voices
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Beloved – A haunting, essential exploration of memory, motherhood, and the legacy of slavery.
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Angelou’s lyrical memoir of identity, trauma, and finding one’s voice.
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Their Eyes Were Watching God – A powerful story of selfhood, love, and autonomy.
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The Color Purple – A deeply moving novel about survival, connection, and reclaiming joy.
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12 Years a Slave – A firsthand account that remains vital and sobering.
Poetry, Reflection & Contemporary Voices
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Call Us What We Carry – Poetry that holds grief, hope, and collective memory with grace.
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Harlem – Short, powerful poems that still resonate today.
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The Underground Railroad – A reimagining of American history that is both brutal and necessary.
Romance, Joy & Everyday Life
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The Proposal – Smart, funny, and warm—romance that centers Black joy.
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Take a Hint, Dani Brown
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Get a Life, Chloe Brown – Hibbert’s books are witty, tender, and deeply human.
Nonfiction & Personal Growth
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Year of Yes – A candid look at creativity, fear, and saying yes to life.
This month—and every month—is a reminder that Black stories are not a genre. They are history, imagination, joy, pain, and brilliance.
Our Black History Month recommendations can be found HERE.
🧧 Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025, marking the start of the Year of the Snake. Celebrated across many East and Southeast Asian cultures, Lunar New Year symbolizes renewal, family, reflection, and hope for the year ahead.
Reading stories rooted in Asian and Asian-American experiences can be a powerful way to engage with themes of heritage, identity, migration, and belonging.
Fiction & Contemporary Classics
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Crazy Rich Asians – Glamorous, sharp, and culturally layered.
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Pachinko – A sweeping, multi-generational story of family and survival.
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The Joy Luck Club – Mothers, daughters, and the stories that bridge generations.
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Little Fires Everywhere – Suburban life, identity, and quiet tensions beneath the surface.
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Yellowface – A sharp, uncomfortable, and important commentary on publishing, power, and cultural appropriation.
Romance & Modern Voices
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The Kiss Quotient – A tender, neurodivergent love story that broke barriers in romance.
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Never Thought I’d End Up Here – A modern story of self-discovery and unexpected paths.
Poetry, Philosophy & Reflection
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The Art of War – Strategy, leadership, and perspective that has endured for centuries.
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Night Sky with Exit Wounds – Poetry that explores identity, war, love, and language with breathtaking care.
Check out our list of Lunar New Year recommendations HERE.
A Closing Note
These books are not here because it’s February—or because it’s Lunar New Year. They’re here because stories matter, and whose stories we choose to read matters too.
If one of these books finds its way into your hands this month, we hope it offers connection, understanding, and maybe even a moment of quiet reflection. And if it inspires you to keep seeking out voices beyond what’s familiar—well, that’s the kind of reading we believe in.
