Finding Peace in Books
It was June of 2025 when Allana Hudson decided to take a chance on herself to become the book influencer, The Paper Cuddler. With over 6,000 followers on TikTok, Hudson’s content ranges from book reviews to reading recommendations, mainly featuring Black authors.
“When I think about Black literacy, I think about Black freedom,” said Hudson. “As a Black intellectual, we have to stay up on our knowledge.”
She started making content to share her love of reading with like-minded people. For Hudson, reading grounds her and brings her peace in a world that seems to only be full of chaos.
“I feel like it’s important to show the joy, the peace, and the healing reading brings,” said Hudson. “It has done wonders for my well-being.”
At the time, Hudson didn’t have many avid readers in her life, so she chose social media to express how she was feeling inside.
“It was almost felt cathartic to get that out of me,” she said.
Hudson’s content also features a splash of fashion. She uses the term B.O.B. (Books. Outfit. Bag), in which she shows her viewers what she’s reading, what she’s wearing, and what type of purse or tote bag she’s sporting for the day.
“I want everyone to experience the joy of reading,” Hudson said. “It’s been a wonderful journey [and] I don’t know where it will lead.”
A Library Kid
Hudson’s mother is an avid reader, so she and her sister spent their childhood in libraries. One of her first favorite book series was The American Girl Addy series, which follows 9-year-old Addy Walker in 1894, who escapes from slavery in North Carolina to Philadelphia with her mother after her father and brother are sold. The stories highlight her courage, education, and struggle to reunite her family while navigating freedom, poverty, and racial prejudice.
Her love for reading began to dwindle as she started to receive reading assignments in school. She thought she no longer liked reading, but it was really because of the books she was being “forced” to read. It would take her a while after college to get her reading bug back, and now she uses social media to spark the same feeling in others.
Although most of her content focuses on Black authors, she encourages everyone to read about other cultures. Through books, she not only learns new words but also expands her knowledge of history, which helps her grow in empathy towards others. But as a Black woman, she will also promote Black authors.
“People who don’t look like us need to read our books too,” said Hudson.
Steps to Becoming an Avid Reader
Hudson understands that reading is a privilege. Some people don’t have the luxury of time or space to sit down and read a book, but she hopes everyone can eventually find the time to. And for those who are looking to get into my reading, Hudson has a few tips.
“Don’t give up. One book is not the end-all, be-all,” said Hudson.
She encourages people to first start with what they love, whether that’s television shows or gaming. For example, she loves crime shows like NCIS, so tends to grativate to toward thrillers and authors like S.A. Cosby.
Hudson says it’s as simple as asking Google to find you a book genre that matches the type of content you like.
And as a library kid, Hudson said to find your local library and ask a librarian for suggestions.
“Reading is really for everyone, and there’s a book out there for you,” said Hudson.
To follow Hudson’s book-influencer journey, she can be found on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at @thepapercuddler.
This article is a part of the Carvd N Stone 2026 Black Literacy Series. For this year’s Black History Month, we are highlighting businesses, individuals, and initiatives that are impacting and uplifting literacy within the Black community.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
