I love summer reading. When I lived in China I looked forward to summer reading by requesting about 10 books from the library to be ready when I returned to the US. I loved picking up the stack of books and seeing what gems (and duds) I had. Mom would eagerly ask what books I’d gotten. Such fun!
The last few summers I’ve joined the summer reading challenge at my local library. But I have to admit I’ve failed at them because you need to have a user name, password, and then daily (or weekly) log your reading. Turns out it is a few too many steps for me.
Enter Plan B. I googled summer reading challenges I could join it turns out most results were suggestions for libraries to host a reading program. Exit Plan B.
As I was gardening I decided, why not hold the reading challenge I was looking for?! Thus was born the Summer 2016 Reading Challenge!
It will start now, June 1, and run through August 19, 2016. To enter, from the list of 15 categories read at least one book in seven different categories. Along the way I’ll have encouraging posts (for example, you may not know any teenagers to get a recommendation from, so I’ll interview a few and get recommendations for you).
What’s in it for you? All who leave a comment on August 19th telling us the names of the books they read will be entered to win one of five $10 Amazon gift cards.
Sound like fun?!
Here is the challenge and I’ll link to a document where you can print it out and keep track of your reading:
- A book related to professional development (can be loosely interpreted).
- A book that helps you understand part of history better.
- A book placed in a country you’re not familiar with OR about a country you’re not familiar with.
- A YA book. Here are 37 YA Books You Need To Add To Your Reading List.
- A book recommended by a friend.
- A graphic novel.
- A book you’ve been meaning to read.
- A book published more than 100 years ago.
- A book recommended by a teenager. Several years ago my teenage teammate Gabe handed me Ender’s Game and said, “Amy, read this.” I never would have chosen it, but I love Gabe so I read it and LOVED it.
- A biography.
- A play (Do it! 12 Angry Men or Our Town are good places to start if this scares you).
- A memoir.
- A book by someone you might not spiritually agree with.
- A book that won an award.
- A book you read years ago and have meant to reread.
Download the challenge as a document here or as a PDF here.
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In short: Seven books from June 1 to August 19.
Are you in? Pick a couple of categories and share a recommendation or a book you plan to read for that category.
Feel free to share this reading challenge with fellow readers.Feel free to share this reading challenge with fellow readers. Why should the kids have all the fun!
Sounds like fun!! I am in. But, what is a YA book?
Young Adult
As Jonnie said, Young Adult … I added this link to the post: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/best-ya-books-of-all-time?utm_term=.bwAYLZevZ#.hhKZNr1Yr
I plan to read “Wonder” for my choice :)
I loved that book! good choice!
So if I read a book that’s more than a hundred years old that I’ve been meaning to read that’s about the history of a country I’m not familiar with, can that count for four categories? :-)
Seriously, that’s one of the books that I plan to read this summer.
Sure! Why not :). Let’s seem how many categories one book can fit into!!!
15 books is far too many for me….I like Mike’s question! I have 3 on my list so far:
The Once and Future King TH White
Stillmeadow Seasons by Gladys Taber
The History of the King James Bible
p.s. Define ‘Summer’–does it start now? or ???
Great idea!
15 is a lot . . . that’s why it is 7 :). I just like to have choices and for people to find books they want to read, but maybe also be stretched a bit :). Your books recommendations sound interesting!! Starting now, June 1 to August 19th :). And let’s see who can fit one book into the most categories! I love a challenge!! This is fun!!
This sounds like fun, and congrats to you for designing your own reading program!
Finally finalized my final summer reading list (couldn’t resist):
History: The Gael Fares Forth (about a group of Scottish immigrants who immigrate from Scotland to Nova Scotia to New Zealand in the 1850’s)
Placed in an unfamiliar country: The Gael Fares Forth
YA book: The Earth Dwellers
Book recommended by friend: The Outliers
Book I’ve been meaning to read: The Celtic Way of Evangelism
Book published more than 100 years ago: I thought it was The Gael Fares Forth, but I mixed up the date of the setting with the publishing date. Bummer!
Biography: Pope Francis (Pastor of Mercy)
Play: Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors
Book that won an award: The One and Only Ivan (2013 Newbery award)
I decided to go ahead and select a different book for the “book I’ve been meaning to read” category, since I really have been intending to read this other book for quite a few years now. We’ll see how far I get with this list this summer. :-)
Hi Amy,
hope you are doing well. I have finished the Summer reading Challenge. How do I send you the list of books I read? Had fun doing this.
Sorry, for taking so long to post this. It was a fun and an enjoyable challenge.
1. Related to professional development (can be loosely interpreted). My book: _God’s Precious Children: Labouring for his Kingdom by David A. Darlington M.Div____
2. History. My book: _Night by Elie Wiesel
3. Placed in a country you’re not familiar with OR about a country you’re not familiar with. My book: Sarah’s Key by Tattiana de Rosnay
4. A YA book. My book: _A long, long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
5. A book recommended by a friend. My book: _A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay
6. A graphic novel. My book: _Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
7. A book you’ve been meaning to read. My book: Girl With a Pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier
8. A book published more than 100 years ago. My book: Human Nature by Bishop Butler (1887)
9. A book recommended by a teenager. My book: _Paladin by sally Slater
10. A biography. My book: _Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
11. A play. My book: _The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
12. A memoir. My book: _Hunger in Holland by Cornelia Fuykschot
13. A book by someone you might not spiritually agree with. My book: __Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey_
14. A book that won an award. My book: _Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
15. A book you read years ago and have meant to reread. My book: Emma by Jane Austin
Rhonda!!! You read a book in each category!! You go girl :). You’ll get a gift card too :)!
Thank you! Figured I would challenge myself on that. This was a summer of relaxing and getting caught up on some much needed reading. Your list helped. :)