When Amy and Dave Freeman learned of toxic mining proposed along the edge of the Boundary Waters, they decided they needed to take action—by spending an entire year in the Wilderness, sharing their experience through video, photos, and a blog that reached hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens. A Year in the Wilderness is their story.

Dalia Rosenfeld, author of the debut story collection The Worlds We Think We Know, joined Milkweed editor Joey McGarvey in a discussion about place, humor, and literary influences. From the meaning of symbolism to the catalysts for character creation, Rosenfeld recounts how her book came into being. 

Feeling a lack of meaningful connection to their cultural roots—Lurie as the son of a reticent Holocaust survivor, José attempting to access a communal histroy obliterated by centuries of oppression—Canoeing with José is the story of two men who embark on a two-thousand mile paddle from Breckenridge, Minnesota to the Hudson Bay. Faced with mosquitoes, extreme weather, suspicious law enforcement officers, tricky border crossings, and José's preference for Kanye West over the great outdoors,, the trip becomes an oddysey of self-discovery and companionship.

Their friend, Markus Hoeckner, produced a short documentary about their friendship.

Whether you're a reader, writer, donor, or subscriber—or all four!—you made great books happen in 2016. Read on to see how you helped Milkweed accomplish incredible things last year.