Challenges

Challenges for 2018

ALA YA Award Books Challenge isn't hosted by anyone this year, but I am doing it for myself. Winners announced Monday, February 12, 2018.

• Michael L. Printz Award (Best YA literature of the year) 

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

• Schneider Family Book Award (Teen living with a disability) 

You're Welcome Universe by Whitney Gardner

• Alex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences) (Pick one of ten) 

“All Systems Red,” by Martha Wells; “The Clockwork Dynasty,” by Daniel H. Wilson; “Down Among the Sticks and Bones,” by Seanan McGuire; “Electric Arches,” by Eve L. Ewing; “A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea,” by Melissa Fleming; “Malagash,” by Joey Comeau; “Roughneck,” by Jeff Lemire; “She Rides Shotgun,” by Jordan Harper; “Things We Have in Common,” by Tasha Kavanagh; and “An Unkindness of Magicians,” by Kat Howard

• Margaret A. Edwards Award (Author who has made a significant contribution to YA or Children's Lit) (Pick one book by that author)

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson (I read this years ago)

• Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature (LGBT) 

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

• William C. Morris Award (First YA novel by author) 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

• YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults 

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

• Coretta Scott King Author Award (African American Author) 

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

• Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award (African American New Talent) 

“The Stars Beneath Our Feet,” written by David Barclay Moore

• Pura Belpre (Latino Author) 

“Lucky Broken Girl,” written by Ruth Behar

Big Book Summer Challenge is hosted by Sue at Book by Book.

• The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
• Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
• The Outsider by Stephen King
• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Non-Fiction Reading Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Katie at Doing Dewey.

1. Motor Girls: How Women Took the Wheel and Drove Boldly into the Twentieth Century by Sue Macy 
2. Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal'd by Mary Losure
3. The Whydah: A Priate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found by Martin W. Sandler
4. Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survivor Story by Sandra Neil Wallace
5. Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
6. How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoir of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
7. A Dog in the Cave: the Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg
8. Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
9. The March Against Fear: the Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum
10. Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II by Albert Marrin
11. Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protesters at the Leesburg Stockade by Heather E. Schwartz
12. Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines by Sarah Albee
13. Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights by Deborah Kops
14. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
15. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
16. Tears of Salt by Pietro Bartolo
17. Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden
18. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
19. Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi
20. The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar
21. Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
22. Ditch that Textbook by Matt Miller
23. Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
24. Blended Learning by Catlin Tucker
25. All 4s and 5s by Andrew Sharos
26. EduProtocol by Marlena Hebern and Jon Corippo
27. Spinning by Tillie Walden
28. The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
29. Ditch that Homework by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler
30. Empower by John Spencer and AJ Juliani
31. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
32. Inquiry Mindset by Trevor MacKenzie and Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt
33. Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom by Amy Burvall and Dan Ryder
34. Calypso by David Sedaris

Literary Escapes Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Lori at Escape with Dollycas.

1. Alabama--Until Friday Night (Field Party #1) by Abbi Glines
2. Alaska--Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
3. Arizona--Code of Honor by Alan Gratz
4. California--Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II by Albert Marrin
5. Delaware--Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden
6. Florida--Blackout by Alex Segura
7. Georgia--Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protestors at the Leesburg Stockade by Heather E. Schwartz
8. Illinois--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
9. Indiana--Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
10. Massachusetts--The Whydah: A Priate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found by Martin W. Sandler
11. Michigan--American Street by Ibi Zoboi
12. Minnesota--Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone
13. Mississippi--The March Against Fear: the Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum
14. Missouri--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
15. New Jersey--You Bring the Distant Near by Mitlali Perkins
16. New York--Patina (Track #2) by Jason Reynolds
17. North Carolina--Calypso by David Sedaris
18. Ohio--Not that I could Tell by Jessice Strawer
19. Oklahoma--Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
20. Oregon--Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
21. Pennsylvania--Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
22. South Carolina--Geekerella by Ashley Poston
23. Tennessee--The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
24. Texas--Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
25. Washington--After Nightfall by AJ Banner
26. Washington, DC--Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights by Deborah Kops

Literary Voyage Around the World. This challenge is hosted by Myra at Gathering Books

1. Bosnia--Testimony by Scot Turow
2. Brussels--How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
3. Burundi--How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyamana
4. China--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
5. Cuba--Refugee by Alan Gratz
6. Democratic Republic of Congo--How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
7. Egypt--In a Perfect World by Trish Dollar
8. Ethiopia--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
9. France--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
10. Germany--Refugee by Alan Gratz
11. Ghana--Solo by Kwame Alexander
12. Greece--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
13. India--You Bring the Distant Near by Mitlali Perkins
14. Ireland--Girl Unknown by Karen Perry
15. Italy--Tears of Salt by Pietro Bartolo
16. Lebanon--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
17. Libya--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
18. Malawi--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
19. Mexico--Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
20. Mozambique--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
21. Netherlands--Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
22. North Pole/Russia--Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survivor Story by Sandra Neil Wallace
23. Poland--The War Within These Walls by Aline Sax and Caryl Strzelecki
24. Rwanda--Small Country by Gail Faye
25. Saudi Arabia--A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
26. Somalia--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
27. South Africa--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
28. Spain--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
29. Syria--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
30. Tanzania--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
31. United Kingdom--Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal'd by Mary Losure
32. United Sates of America--Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
33. Viet Nam--The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

Monthly Motif Reading Challenge is hosted by Kimberly Lynn at Girlxoxo

JANUARY – Diversify Your Reading

• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

FEBRUARY – One Word

• Patina by Jason Reynolds

MARCH – Travel the World

• Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

APRIL – Read Locally

• Before I Let Go by Marike Nijkamp

MAY- Book to Screen

JUNE- Crack the Case

• Blackout by Alex Segura

JULY – Vacation Reads

• Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

AUGUST- Award Winners

• The Outsider by Stephen King (he's the award winner)

SEPTEMBER- Don’t Turn Out The Light

OCTOBER- New or Old

NOVEMBER- Family

DECEMBER- Wrapping It Up

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Challenges for 2017 (wow it's been 5 years since I've done an official challenge!)

ALA YA Award Books Challenge hosted by Anne at My Head is Full of Books.

1. Michael L. Printz Award (Best YA literature of the year) March: Book Three by John Lewis

2. Schneider Family Book Award (Teen living with a disability) When We Collided by Emery Lord

3. Alex Awards -10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences (Pick one of ten) In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero 

4. Margaret A. Edwards Award (Read one book by the winning author who has made a significant contribution to YA or Children's Lit) Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

5. Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature (LGBT) If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

6. William C. Morris Award (First YA novel by author) The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

7. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults March: Book Three by John Lewis

8. Coretta Scott King Author Award (African American Author) March: Book Three by John Lewis

9. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award (Afrian American New Talent) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.

9. Pura Belpre (Latino Author) No YA winner this year

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The Read My Own Damn Books Challenge hosted by Estella at Estella's Revenge. I hope to read 25 books off of my TBR shelf this year. Estella isn't letting herself purchase any books until she's read a bunch of the ones already in her house. I don't know if I can commit to that :-)

1. Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
2. Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama
3. Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
4. March: Book One by John Lewis
5. March: Book Two by John Lewis
6. March: Book Three by John Lewis
7. Still Life by Louise Penny
8. The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
9. Diamond Boy by Michael Williams
10. Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
11. My Sister Rosa by Jusine Larbalestier
12. The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan
13. Rules of the Lake by Irene Ziegler
14. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
15. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
16. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
17. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
18. Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
19. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
20. How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
21. Bang by Barry Lyga
22. Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq by Sarah Glidden
23. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
24. The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
25. The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
26. Cracker: the Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
27. Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
28. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
29. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
30. The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
31. President's Day by Seth Margolis
32. Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
33. Bone Box by Faye Kellerman
34. The Lines we Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah
35. Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
36. Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution by Bernie Sanders
37. I am not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
38. The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Williams
39. Rooster Bar by John Grisham
40. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
41. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
42. Far From the Tree by Robin Belway
43. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
44. The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben

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The Travel the World in Books Challenge hosted by Tanya at Mom's Small Victories. My goal isn't specific, but I will read as many books set outside the United States as I can. I will post my reading on my 2017 Google Map.

1. Afghanistan--A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
2. Armenia--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
3. Australia--Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung
4. Austria--The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
5. Boliva--An Uninterrupted View of the Sky by Melanie Crowder
6. Bosnia--The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan
7. Canada--Still Life by Louise Penny
8. China (Hong Kong)--Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama
9. Columbia--In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero
10. Czech Republic--The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
11. Democratic Republic of Congo--City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
12. Denmark--The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
13. France--The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan
14. Germany--The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
15. India--The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
16. Iraq--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
17. Israel--How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
18. Japan--The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsuykiyama
19. Jordan--Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
20. Kenya--City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
21. Mexico--Take the Bai Road by Erika Mitchell
22. North Korea--Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell
23. Palestine--Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
24. Poland--The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
25. Russia--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
26. South Africa--Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
27. South Korea--Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
28. Spain--In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero
29. Switzerland--Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
30. Syria--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
31. Turkey--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
32. Uganda--The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Willams
33. United Kingdom--In this Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
34. Vietnam--Cracker: the Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
35. Zimbabwe--Diamond Boy by Michael Williams
36. Unnamed African country--President's Day by Seth Margolis

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The goal is to read at least one book set in each of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The Literary Escapes Challenge is hosted by Escape with Dollycas. I'll post my reading on my 2017 Google Map.

1. Alabama--March: Book One by John Lewis
2. California--When We Collided by Emery Lord
3. Connecticut--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
4. Florida--Rules of the Lake by Irene Ziegler
5. Georgia--If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
6. Hawai'i--Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
7. Illinois--Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner
8. Indiana--Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Nevin
9. Maine--The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
10. Maryland--Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman
11. Massachusetts--Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
12. Mississippi--March: Book Three by John Lewis
13. Missouri--Another Man's Ground by Claire Booth
14. New York--Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
15. North Carolina--Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
16. Ohio--Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
17. Tennessee--March: Book Two by John Lewis
18. Utah--Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
19. Washington--The Right Side by Spencer Quinn
20. Washington, DC--Take the Bai Road by Erika Mitchell
21. Wisconsin--Amin'a Voice by Heta Khan

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Challenges for 2012:

ALA YA Award Books Challenge hosted by Anne at My Head is Full of Books. I am going to read one book in each category.
1. Michael L. Printz Award Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
2. Schneider Family Book Award Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
3. Alex Awards The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
4. Margaret A. Edwards Award honors an author for significant and lasting contribution to YA Lit 
(Pick one book by this author)
5. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding YA book translated from a language other than English and subsequently published in the United States.
6. Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright
7. William C. Morris Award Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
8. YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults 
9. Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults (pick one)

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The Alex Award Challenge is hosted by Bonnie at The Story Girl and I am going to read 1 to 3 books.

1. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

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The Chris Crutcher Challenge is hosted by Anne at My Head is Full of Books and has no time limit and the goal is to read all of the books by Chris Crutcher.

• Angry Management (2009)
• Deadline (2007)
• The Sledding Hill (2005)
• King of the Mild Frontier: an ill-advised autobiography (2003)
• Whale Talk (2001)
• Ironman (1995)
• Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes (1993)
• The Deep End (1992)
• Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (1991)
• Chinese Handcuffs (1989)
• The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987)
• Stotan! (1986)
• Running Loose (1983)

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The Dystopia 2012 Challenge is hosted by Bonnie at Bookish Ardour. I am going to read 5 books.

1. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth
3. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
4. Eden's Root by Rachel Fisher
5. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
6. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
7. Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

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I am hosting the Middle East Reading Challenge. I am going to read at least 5 books.

1. Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera (not for location, but for the subject matter)
2. A Short History of Africa by Gordon Kerr (not the whole book, but much of it is northern Africa)
3. Olives by Alexander McNabb
4. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
5. Bras, Boys and Blunders: Juliet and Romeo in Bahrain by Vidya Samson (Bahrain)
6. The Woman Who Fell from the Sky by Jennifer Steil (Yemen)
7. Shake Off by Mischa Hiller (Syria)

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The Non-fiction/Non-Memoir Challenge is hosted by Julie of My Book Retreat. I am going to read 5 books.

1. Dewey by Vicki Myron
2. A Short History of Africa by Gordon Kerr
3. Between a Rock and a Hot Place: Why Fifty is not the new Thirty by Tracey Jackson
4. The Good News Club by Katherine Stewart
5. Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Vankatesh
6. Wheelchair Warrior by Melvin Juette and Ronald J Berger
7. Talking Back to Facebook by James P. Steyer
8. Visit Sunny Chernobyl by Andrew Blackwell
9. Whatever it Takes by Paul Tough

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The War Through the Generations: 1914-1918 Challenge is hosted by Anna (Diary of an Eccentric) and Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit). I am going to read 3 books.

1. My Brother's Shadow by Monika Schroder
2. An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
3. The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein

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The What's in a Name 5 Challenge is hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads.

1. A topographical feature: Desert Angel by Charlie Price
2. Something you'd see in the sky: The Fault in our Stars by John Green
3. Creepy crawly: Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
4. Type of house: Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera (prison)
5. Something you'd carry in your pocket, purse or backpack: Gun Games by Faye Kellerman (gun)
6. Something you'd find on a calendar: Deadline by Chris Crutcher

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Winter Olympics 2014 is hosted by Tanya of GirlXOXO and runs until 2014. I have taken on a huge challenge and will read a book from every country that won a medal in the 2000 Olympics

1. Germany--My Brother's Shadow by Monika Schroder (author and setting)
2. Russia--Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (author)
3. USA--Dewey by Vicki Myron (author and setting)
4. Poland--The Baggage Handler by Colin Browne (one of the main characters is Polish)
5. Australia--Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (author and setting)
6. France and Great Britain--An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
7. China--Cinder by Marissa Meyer
8. Japan--Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
9. Canada--Visit Sunny Chernobyl by Andrew Blackwell

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Challenges for 2011:

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Challenges for 2010