Hello friends! It’s that time of year again, snow is on the ground here in Colorado, and we’re probably all thinking at least a little about holiday shopping. But more than that, we are thinking about meaning. Our holiday feature is one of my favorites, and reads like a little holiday letter to our military reading-and-writing community. Each submission makes me smile and realize how much I enjoy this cool group of people.

So this season, how about giving the gift of literature? (I’m saying this while wearing a sandwich board outside King Soopers that just says, “BOOKS” and chanting at strangers.) Okay, kidding. I’m in my house.

But books are a gift that can last a lifetime; I have saved every inscribed book I’ve received. Today we’re starting a series of some of the best books our community of readers and writers are recommending for the holiday season and beyond:

Poetry Editor, Lisa Stice:

Lisa’s holiday book recommendations:

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
Algonquin Books

In his debut novel, Oscar Hokeah tells the story of Ever Geimausaddle (part Cherokee, part Kiowa, and part Mexican) through the narration of his family members. The chapters begin in his childhood with each chapter advancing in chronologically and told by a different person who played a part in Ever’s life. A blanket dance calls upon the Native community to come together in love and support to heal someone in need, and that is what this book is. Even in Ever’s darkest moments, we see that part of his life through the eyes of someone who cares for him. Although heartbreaking at times, this novel is so full of hope and love.

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln
Penguin Young Readers Group

My daughter and I read The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels together, but this book can be enjoyed even if you don’t have children at home. When we read the history of the English language section at the beginning of our American edition, we knew we were in for a treat. Each member of the Swift family is named after a word in the dictionary, and the mystery of ‘do names make people who they are’ or ‘can people redefine themselves beyond expectations’ becomes just as big of a mystery as finding the hidden inheritance and multiple murders. Shenanigan Swift, her sisters and cousin set out to find the answers to all the mysteries. For a kid who marches to the tune of her own accordion, my daughter very much enjoyed the empowering messages of this novel.

Jesus Merch: A Catalog in Poems by Megan McDermott
Fernwood Press

When I read Jesus Merch, I had to make frequent calls to my mom to read poems to her over the phone. I laughed, I nodded in agreement, I thought deeply, and I re-read poems over and over again before moving on to the next. Each poem is about different religious merchandise for sale now or that had been sold as far back as Victorian times. The poems are both funny and thought-provoking in their examination of making Jesus ‘marketable,’ understanding what faith means, realizing self-identity, overcoming unnecessary guilt, and so much more.

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Lisa Stice is a poet, editor, mom, Marine spouse, and expert dog trainer. Her books include Forces and Permanent Change of Station. She is the poetry editor for Middle West Press.