Challenges for 2021
A to Z Reading Challenge (titles) with Crystal and Megan at Bookstacks and Golden Moms
- A--Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- B--The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui
- C--Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- D--The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
- E--The Edge of Anything by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
- F--The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
- G--The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
- H--Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
- I--If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais (February mini challenge: plutonic love)
- J
- K
- L--Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (January mini challenge: purchased in 2020)
- M--Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
- N--Not That Rich by Belinda Lei
- O--The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
- P--Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, graphic novel adaptation by Damian Duffy and John Jennings
- Q
- R--Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
- S--Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beautiful Beginning by Raquel Vasquez Gillibrand
- T--This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
- U--Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer
- V
- W--The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
- X
- Y--You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- Z
Alphabet Soup: Author Edition Reading Challenge with Lori at Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
- A--Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer
- B--Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, graphic novel adaptation by Damian Duffy and John Jennings
- C--The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- D--Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
- E
- F--The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- G
- H--Beach Read by Emily Henry
- I
- J--You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- K--The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
- L--Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- M--The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui
- N--Even if We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
- O--Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
- P--The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration, and Resistence in World War II America by Bradford Pearson
- Q
- R--The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice
- S--The Edge of Anything by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
- T--Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- U
- V--Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beautiful Beginning by Raquel Vasquez Gillibrand
- W--The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
- X
- Y
- Z
Children's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge (mini challenges in parenthese)with Susan at Bloggin' 'Bout Books
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (1--features time travel; 2--written by a BIPOC author; 3--written by someone whose ethnicity is different from my own; 4--ghost story)
- The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White (6--set in a region where I have lived; 7--proper noun in the title; 8--features a castle)
- Burn by Patrick Ness (12--animal on the cover)
- Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee (9--takes place in a war other than WWII; 10--main character rides a train; 11--and based on a true story)
- A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel (5--set in a country in which I do not live)
- Displacement by Kiku Hughes (13--set in a decade my parents were born in)
- The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda (14--person in period clothing on the cover)
- The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra (15--historical event in my lifetime, 16--a real female hero from the past)
Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge with Carol at Carol's Notebook
- Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer
- Even if We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
- The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
- The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice
- The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
- The Poet by Lisa Renee Jones
- The Stills by Jess Montgomery
Diversity Reading Challenge with Carla and Lenorea at Celebrity Readers
- The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beautiful Beginning by Raquel Vasquez Gillibrand
- Even if We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (January mini challenge: mythology)
- Burn by Patrick Ness
- Not That Rich by Belinda Lei
- The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, graphic novel adaptation by Damian Duffy and John Jennings
- Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee
- The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration, and Resistence in World War II America by Bradford Pearson
- The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
- If You Want to Make God Laugh by Biacna Marais
- Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West (February mini challenge: Black characters)
- Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
- We Want to Do More than Survive by Bettina Love (March mini challenge: women in nonfiction)
- A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel
- The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
- Displacement by Kiku Hughes
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
- The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
- Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
- Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
- The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra
- Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Squalls
- Young Native Activist by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- Young Water Protector by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- First Comes Like by Alisha Rai (April mini challenge: South Asian)
Historical Reading Challenge with Marg at The Adventures at an Intrepid Reader
- The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
- Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee
- If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
- A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel
- Displacement by Kiku Hughes
- The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra
- The Stills by Jess Montgomery
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge, both with Lori at Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
US States I visited through books
- Alabama--The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
- Arizona--Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beautiful Beginning by Raquel Vasquez Gillibrand
- California--Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- Connecticut--The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- Florida--The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- Georgia--We Want to Do More than Survive by Bettina Love
- Illinois--Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West
- Indiana--You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- Maryland--The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
- Michigan--Beach Read by Emily Henry
- Mississippi--Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
- Missouri--The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
- Montana--Young Water Protector by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- New Mexico--The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
- New York--Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer
- Nebraska--Young Water Protector by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- North Carolina--The Edge of Anything by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
- North Dakota--Young Native Activist by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- Ohio--The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
- Oregon--Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
- Pennsylvania--If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
- South Dakota--Young Water Protector by Aslan and Kelly Tudor
- Tennessee--Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West
- Texas--Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- Utah--Displacement by Kiku Hughes
- Washington--Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
- Washington, DC--The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra
- Wyoming--The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration, and Resistence in World War II America by Bradford Pearson
Countries I visited through books
- Australia--A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel
- Canada--Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
- Democratic Republic of Congo--If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
- France/New Caledonia--Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
- Germany--The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- Ghana--Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Squalls
- Italy--The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- Japan--The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration, and Resistence in World War II America by Bradford Pearson
- Kenya--When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
- North Korea--Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee
- Poland--The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- South Africa--If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
- South Korea--Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee
- Sudan--Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
- Sweden--Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- Syria--The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui
- Turkey--The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui
- United Kingdom--The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

Popsugar Reading Challenge with Tara at Popsugar
- Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer (do-overs and fresh starts)
- The Book Collectors by Delphine Minoui (covers a subject about which I am passionate)
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (body positivity)
- Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beautiful Beginning by Raquel Vasquez Gillibrand (set mostly outside)
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Native American author)
- The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White (magical realism)
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (about forgetting)
- Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold (Free book on my TBR shelf)
- The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (social justice issue)
- The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (published in 2021)
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, graphic novel adaptation by Damian Duffy and John Jennings (Afrofuturist)
- Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee (set in multiple countries)
- The Eagles of Heart Mountain: A True Story of Football, Incarceration, and Resistence in World War II America by Bradford Pearson (book from my TBR list that I chose at random)
- The Dating Plan by Sara Desai (somewhere I'd like to visit in 2021)
- If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais (on my TBR that I meant to read last year)
- Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West (has a family tree)
- Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas (has a rock in the title)
- The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice (a prompt from a previous Popsugar challenge: 2020--an author with more than 20 books)
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (a book everyone seems to have read but me)
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (a book my best friend would like)
- We Want to Do More than Survive by Bettina Love (Black and white cover)
- We Want to Do More than Survive by Bettina Love (on Black LIves Matter lists)
- A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel (fewer than 1,000 ratings on Goodreads)
- Displacement by Kiku Hughes (different format from what I usually read graphic novel)
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson (shortest book on my TBR shelf in terms of pages)
- When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Muslim American author)
- Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce (prettiest cover on my TBR list)
- Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (associate book with a favorite person)
- Geese are Never Swans by Eva Clark and Kobe Bryant (ugliest cover on my TBR list)
- The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda (artist)
- The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra (heart on the cover)
Youth Media Awards, which is my own made up challenge where I try to read all the American Library Association Young Adult Award Winners of 2020.
Michael L. Printz Award (Best YA literature of the year)- Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri
- This Is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio
- Honor book: When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Margaret A. Edwards Award (Author who has made a significant contribution to YA or Children's Lit)
- Kekla Magoon (I read X)
- We Are Little Feminists: Families written by Archaa Shrivastav
- If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
- The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh written by Candace Fleming
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
- Furia by Yamile Saed Mendéz
- The Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda
- Honor book: Displacement by Kiku Hughes
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Challenges for 2020
ALA YA Award Books Challenge isn't hosted by anyone this year, but I am doing it for myself.
- Michael L. Printz Award (Best YA literature of the year)--“Dig,” written by A.S. King
- Schneider Family Book Award (Teen living with a disability)--“Cursed," written by Karol Ruth Silverstein
- Alex Awards (10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences)--“A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World,” By C.A. Fletcher; “Do You Dream of Terra-Two?” By Temi Oh; “Dominicana,” By Angie Cruz; “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” By Maia Kobabe; “High School,” By Sara Quin and Tegan Quin; “In Waves,” By AJ Dungo; “Middlegame,” By Seanan McGuire; The Nickel Boys, By Colson Whitehead; Red, White & Royal Blue By Casey McQuiston; “The Swallows,” By Lisa Lutz
- Margaret A. Edwards Award (Author who has made a significant contribution to YA or Children's Lit)--Steve Sheinkin Most Dangerous
- Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature (LGBT)--The Black Flamingo written by Dean Atta
- William C. Morris Award (First YA novel by author)--The Field Guide to the North American Teenager written by Ben Philippe
- YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults--Free Lunch by Rex Ogle
- Coretta Scott King Author Award (African American Author)--New Kid written by Jerry Craft
- Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award (African American New Talent)--Genesis Begins Again written by Alicia D. Williams
- Pura Belpre (Latino Author)--““Sal and Gabi Break the Universe,” written by Carlos Hernandez
- Asian / Pacific American Award--They Called Us Enemy written by George Takei
- American Indian Youth Literature Award (given in even years)--“Hearts Unbroken,” written by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee)
This challenge is hosted by Tara at Popsugar.celebrity
- The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (world leader)
- I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal (upside down cover image)
- All the Walls of Belfast by Sara J. Carlson (20 letters in the title)
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Great first line)
- The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (written by a woman of color)
- Heroine by Mindy McGinnis (more than 4 stars rating on Goodreads)
- Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno (set in a country starting with C--Cuba)
- Know My Name by Chanel Miller (recommended by an online book club)
- The Burning by Jane Casey (set in a city that has held the Olympics--London)
- Birthday by Meredith Russo
- The Second Midnight by Andrew Taylor (Three word title)
- Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein (on a subject I know nothing about)
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (a book I meant to read in 2019)
- Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley (by an author in his 20s)
- Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar (published in 2020)
- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (passes the Bechdel test)
- The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (a woman in STEM)
- Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk (unrelated movie has the same title)
- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (about a book club)
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley (one of the 7 deadly sins: wrath)
- She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (only words, not image or graphic on cover)
- One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus (involving social media)
- Women Talking by Miriam Toews (main characters in their 20s)
- Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (character with a vision impairment)
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Set in Japan, host of the 2020 [2021] Olympics)
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (published in my birth month--July)
- Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (I read the book because I liked the title)
- Peace by Gary Disher (Author has written more than 20 books)
- The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff (it has maps and was written by a journalist)
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (it has a book on the cover)
- The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland (medical "thriller")
- The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (won an award in 2019)
- This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand (the word 20 is in the title)
- The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler (pun in the title)
- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (pink cover)
- Ghosted by Rosie Walsh (author's name has flora or fauna in it)
- Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam (bildungsroman)
- Come on In by Adi Alsaid (anthology)
This challenge is hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block
- The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
- I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
- All the Walls of Belfast by Sara J. Carlson
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
- Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
- Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
- Know My Name by Chanel Miller
- The Burning by Jane Casey
- Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lại
- Birthday by Meredith Russo
- The Second Midnight by Andrew Taylor
- There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
- How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein
- Home Truths by Susan Lewis
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
- Sorry for Your Loss by Jessie Ann Foley
- Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar
- Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond
- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
- Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon
- One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus
- Women Talking by Miriam Toews
- The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan
- Quiet No More by Nikki Barthelmess
- Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
- The Royal Abduls by Ramiza Shamoun Koya
- Dear America, Notes from an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
- Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
- The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe
- The Ex by Alafair Burke
- Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Peace by Gary Disher
- The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
- Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein
- Prey by L.A. Larkin
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix
- The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
- An Exquisite Corpse by Helen A. Harrison
- Vera Kelly is Not Mystery by Rosalie Knecht
- This is My America by Kim Johnson
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
- The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
- The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
- What You Wish For by Katherine Center
- The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
- The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
- This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand
- Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
- Remedios by Deborah Clearman
- The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware
- Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe
- Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
- The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
- Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
- Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
- Class Act by Jerry Craft
- Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
- One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
- All About Us by Tom Ellen
- To Tell You the Truth by Gilly MacMillan
- Atomic Love by Jennie Fields
- Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
- Hell and High Water by Keenan Powell
- Come on In edited by Adi Alsaid
- Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
- Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
- Don't Ask Me Where I'm From by Jennifer De Leon
- Channel Kindness by the Born This Way Reporters and Lady Gaga
- Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
- Color Me In by Natasha Diaz
- Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
- All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
- The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
- News of the World by Paulette Jiles
- Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
This challenge is hosted by Hibernator's Library
- January--Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- February--How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- March--Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond
- April--Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- May--She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
- May--Dear America, Notes from an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Varga
- June--Transformative Ethnic Studies in Schools: Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Research by Christine E. Sleeter and Miguel Zavala
- August--This is My America by Kim Johnson
- August--The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
- September--This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand (the word 20 is in the title)
- September--Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
- October--Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
- October--Class Act by Jerry Craft
- November--Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
- December--All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
US States
- Alabama--Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- Alaska--The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
- California--Know My Name by Chanel Miller
- Florida--Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
- Georgia--The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
- Illinois--Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Kentucky--The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
- Louisiana--The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
- Maryland--I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
- Massachusetts--Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein
- Minnesota--Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
- Missouri--Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens
- Nebraska--The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
- Nevada--Quiet No More by Nikki Barthelmess
- New York--How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- North Carolina--The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
- Ohio--Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
- Oklahoma--Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
- Oregon--Dear America, Notes from an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
- Pennsylvania--Know My Name by Chanel Miller
- Tennessee--Birthday by Meredith Russo
- Texas--The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
- Utah--Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
- Virginia--Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
- Washington--Dear America, Notes from an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
- Washington, DC--Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
- West Virginia--Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
- Wisconsin--All the Walls of Belfast by Sara J. Carlson
- Wyoming--Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
Countries outside the US
- Argentina--Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar
- Australia--Peace by Gary Disher
- Belgium--The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- Bolivia--Women Talking by Miriam Toews
- Cuba--Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
- Czech Republic--The Second Midnight by Andrew Taylor
- Denmark--The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
- Dominican Republic--Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Fiji--Come on In edited by Adi Alsaid
- France--Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar
- Germany--The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- Ghana--Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
- Guatemala--Remedios by Deborah Clearman
- Ireland--The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- Japan--Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- Korea--Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- Mexico--The Priest Slayer by Stephen Murdoch
- Morocco--One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
- Netherlands--Fast Girls by Elise Hooper
- Nigeria--The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
- South AfricaPrey by L.A. Larkin
- Spain--The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
- Sweden--The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
- Syria--The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
- Tanzania/Zanzibar--Gravel Heart by Abdulrazak Gurnah
- Turkey--The Doctor of Aleppo by Dan Mayland
- United Kingdom--All the Walls of Belfast by Sara J. Carlson
- United States of America--I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
- Việt Nam--Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lại
- Zimbabwe--Prey by L.A. Larkin
This summer challenge is hosted by Sue at Book by Book.
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (512 pages)
- Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (448 pages)
- The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
- This is My America by Kim Johnson
- The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
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Challenges for 2019ALA YA Award Books Challenge isn't hosted by anyone this year, but I am doing it for myself. Winners announced Monday, January 28, 2019.
Michael L. Printz Award (Best YA literature of the year)
Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya & Elizabeth Weil
Feed, M.T. Anderson
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
William C. Morris Award (First YA novel by an author)
Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature (LGBT)
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield
Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe Award (African American New Talent)
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
- Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
- Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
- Immoral Code by Lillian Clark
- Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Swing by Kwame Alexander
- Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson
- The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni
- The Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
- Internment by Samira Ahmed
- Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
- White Rose by Kip Wilson
- Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf
- There There by Tommy Orange
- If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser
- Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
- American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
- Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
- The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
- How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee
This challenge is hosted by Ginger Mom and Company
A--Anne of Green Gables: Graphic Adaptation by Mariah Marsden
B--Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
C--The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
D--Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
E--Escape from Syria by Samya Kullab
F--The Fire Priest by Stephen Murdoch
H--Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
J--Jackpot by Nic Stone
K--Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by Lou Garton Scanlon
L--Learning Supercharged by Lynne Schrum
M--Mr. Wolf's Class by Aron Nels Steinke
N--Not Light, But Fire by Michael R. Kay
N--Not Light, But Fire by Michael R. Kay
O--On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
P--The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Q--Quince by Kit and Emma Steinkellner and Sebastian Kadlecik
R--The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
T--The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill
W--The Widows by Jess Montgomery
X--X O, Ox: a Love Story by Adam Rex
Y--Your Alien by Tammi Sauer
Z--The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg
This challenge is hosted by Kristin at Lukten av Trykksverte
- The Fire Priest by Stephen Murdoch
- Escape from Syria by Samya Kullab
- Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill
- Grand Theft Horse by G. Neri
- Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
- Quince by Kit and Emma Steinkellner and Sebastian Kadlecik
- As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman
- The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
- On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
- American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
- Not Light, But Fire by Michael R. Kay
- The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
- Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
- Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill
- Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
- Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
- Immoral Code by Lillian Clark
- The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Swing by Kwame Alexander
- Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson
- The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni
- The Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
- Internment by Samira Ahmed
- There There by Tommy Orange
- If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser
- Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
- American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
- The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
- How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee
- In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A. Ahmed
- Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
- Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
- The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns
- With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
- I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
- The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
- Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
- Side by Side by Anita Kushwaha
- Pride by Ibi Zoboi
- Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
- Lives Laid Away by Stephen Mack Jones
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
- Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
- Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
- My Sister, the Serial Killer by Okinkan Braithwaite
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield
- Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge
- The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis
- Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
- Grenade by Alan Gratz
- They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
- Jackpot by Nic Stone
- The Toll by Neal Shusterman
- Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
- The Guardians by John Grisham
- Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas
- Odd Child Out by Gilly MacMillan
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
- Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
US States
- Arizona--There There by Tommy Orange
- Arkansas--They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
- Alabama--The Guardians by John Grisham
- California--The Fire Priest by Stephen Murdoch
- Connecticut--American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
- Florida--A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards
- Georgia--Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- Hawai'i--Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
- Idaho--Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson
- Illinois--If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser
- Indiana--If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser
- Iowa--Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf
- Kansas--Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin
- Kentucky--Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas
- Louisiana--Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- Maryland--Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
- Massachusetts--Things You Carry in a Fire by Katherine Center
- Michigan--Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
- Mississippi--On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
- Missouri--Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
- Nebraska--Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
- Nevada--November Road by Lou Berney
- New Jersey--Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- New Mexico--American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
- New York--Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
- North Carolina--We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss
- Ohio--The Widows by Jess Montgomery
- Oklahoma--Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- Oregon--Immoral Code by Lillian Clark
- Pennsylvania--Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton
- South Carolina--Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- Tennessee--Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
- Texas--Grand Theft Horse by G. Neri
- Utah--A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards
- Virginia--Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
- Washington--American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
- Washington, DC--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- West Virginia--Law and Addiction by Mike Papantonio
- US Virgin Islands--Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
Countries outside the US
- Afghanistan--Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
- Australia--The Lost Man by Jane Harper
- Austria--Heist Society by Ally Carter
- Belgium--Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
- Brazil--The Toll by Neal Shusterman
- Bulgaria--Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward
- Burkina Faso--American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
- Cambodia--The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
- Canada--Anne of Green Gables: Graphic Adaptation by Mariah Marsden
- China--Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Congo--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Costa Rica--A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards
- Denmark--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Dominica--American Kingpin by Nick Bilton
- Egypt--Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
- El Salvador--The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
- France--The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
- Germany--The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb
- Greece--The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
- Holland--Anne Frank: The Graphic Adaptation adapted by Ari Folman
- Hong Kong--Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Hungary--Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
- India--Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
- Indonesia--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Iraq--Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward
- Iran--Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
- Ireland--The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan
- Italy--Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Japan--The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns
- Jordan--The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
- Kenya-The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Kuwait--Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
- Lebanon--Escape from Syria by Samya Kullab
- Macedonia--Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward
- Marshall Islands--The Toll by Neal Shusterman
- Martinique (French Caribbean)--The Guardians by John Grisham
- Mexico--Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Morocco--Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Nigeria--My Sister, the Serial Killer by Okinkan Braithwaite
- North Korea--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Okinawa--Grenade by Alan Gratz
- Philippines--Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
- Poland--Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- Russia--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Saudi Arabia--In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A. Ahmed
- Singapore--How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee
- Somalia--Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson
- South Africa--Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
- South Korea--The Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
- Sub-Sahran Africa (non-specific country)--The Toll by Neal Shusterman
- Sweden--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Syria--Escape from Syria by Samya Kullab
- Tanzania--The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson
- Thailand--The Suspect by Fiona Barton
- Turkey--The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
- United Kingdom--The Adults by Caroline Hulse
- USA--The Fire Priest by Stephen Murdoch
- Vietnam--The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
This challenge is hosted by Sue at Book by Book.
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
- A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards
- The Suspect by Fiona Barton
- Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
- Big Little Lies by Lorraine Moriarty
- Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
This challenge is hosted by Doing Dewey
- Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- Very, Very, Very Dreadful by Albert Marrin
- Grand Theft Horse by G. Neri
- The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb
- Anne Frank: The Graphic Adaptation adapted by Ari Folman
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
- Learning Supercharged by Lynne Schrum
- Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchhart
- Not Light, But Fire by Michael R. Kay
- Summarization in all Subjects by Rick Wormeli
- The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
- Visible Learning for Literacy by Fisher, Frey, and Hattie
- Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Onward: Cultivating Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar
- In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A. Ahmed
- American Prison by Shane Bauer
- Don't Ditch that Tech by Matt Miller, Nate Ridgway, and Angelia Ridgway (for work)
- In Pain: A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids by Travis Rieder
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield
- Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge
- EduProtocols: Book 2 by Marlena Hebern and Jon Corippo
- Lost Child by Torey Hayden
- American Kingpin by Nick Bilton
- They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
- Body Leaping Backwards: Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood by Maureen Stanton
- Lit Up: One Reporter. 3 Schools. 24 Books that Can Change Lives by David Denby
- Say Nothing: a True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Redden Keefe
JANUARY – New to You Author (Read a book by an author whose writing you’ve never read before.)
- The Widows by Jess Montgomery
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (even though the little girl is dirty and sitting in squalor, she is looking up and out)
- Nothing is Forgotten by Peter Golden
- The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni
- Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
JUNE – Diversify Your Reading (Read a book with a character (or written by an author) of a race, religion, or sexual orientation other than your own or read about a culture you want to learn more about.)
- With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
AUGUST – Mode of Transportation (Read a book where the mode of transportation plays a role in the story (ex. Murder on the Orient Express or The Boys in the Boat)
SEPTEMBER – Animal, Number, Color, Name (One of those things needs to be in the title of the book you choose (ex. Water for Elephants, Red Queen, Fahrenheit 451, Rebecca, Harry Potter)
- Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
NOVEMBER – Seasons, Elements, and Weather (Embrace a winter wonderland setting, pick a beach read, or read about a natural disaster. As long as a season, element, or the weather plays a key role in the story or is part of the title, it counts. (ex. Little Fires Everywhere, The Snow Child, On The Island)
- Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
- Odd Child Out by Gilly MacMillan
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Challenges for 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)
- 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 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
- Puddin' by Julie Murphy
Non-Fiction Reading Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Katie at Doing Dewey.
- Motor Girls: How Women Took the Wheel and Drove Boldly into the Twentieth Century by Sue Macy
- Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal'd by Mary Losure
- The Whydah: A Priate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found by Martin W. Sandler
- Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survivor Story by Sandra Neil Wallace
- Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
- How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoir of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
- A Dog in the Cave: the Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg
- Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
- The March Against Fear: the Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum
- Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II by Albert Marrin
- Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protesters at the Leesburg Stockade by Heather E. Schwartz
- Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines by Sarah Albee
- Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights by Deborah Kops
- Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
- The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
- Tears of Salt by Pietro Bartolo
- Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden
- The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
- Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi
- The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar
- Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
- Ditch that Textbook by Matt Miller
- Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess
- Blended Learning by Catlin Tucker
- All 4s and 5s by Andrew Sharos
- EduProtocol by Marlena Hebern and Jon Corippo
- Spinning by Tillie Walden
- The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
- Ditch that Homework by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler
- Empower by John Spencer and AJ Juliani
- Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
- Inquiry Mindset by Trevor MacKenzie and Rebecca Bathurst-Hunt
- Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom by Amy Burvall and Dan Ryder
- Calypso by David Sedaris
- BlackkKlansman by Ron Stallworth
- A Hope More Powerful than the Sea by Melissa Fleming
- Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton with Erin Torneo
- Spectacle by National Geographic
- The Splendor of Birds by National Geographic
- The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll
- On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
- National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer
- Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- Journeys of a Lifetime by National Geographic
- The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
- Educated by Tara Westover
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Feminist Fight Club by Jessica Bennett
Literary Escapes Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Lori at Escape with Dollycas.
- Alabama--Until Friday Night (Field Party #1) by Abbi Glines
- Alaska--Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
- Arizona--Code of Honor by Alan Gratz
- California--Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II by Albert Marrin
- Colorado--BlackkKlansman by Ron Stallworth
- Connecticut--The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger
- Delaware--Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden
- Florida--Blackout by Alex Segura
- Georgia--Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protestors at the Leesburg Stockade by Heather E. Schwartz
- Hawai'i--Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Idaho--Educated by Tara Westover
- Illinois--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
- Indiana--Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
- Louisiana--Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- Massachusetts--The Whydah: A Priate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found by Martin W. Sandler
- Michigan--American Street by Ibi Zoboi
- Minnesota--Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone
- Mississippi--The March Against Fear: the Last Great Walk of the Civil Rights Movement and the Emergence of Black Power by Ann Bausum
- Missouri--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
- Nevada--The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess
- New Jersey--You Bring the Distant Near by Mitlali Perkins
- New York--Patina (Track #2) by Jason Reynolds
- North Carolina--Calypso by David Sedaris
- Ohio--Not that I could Tell by Jessice Strawer
- Oklahoma--Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
- Oregon--Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
- Pennsylvania--Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
- Rhode Island--She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by Ann Hood
- South Carolina--Geekerella by Ashley Poston
- Tennessee--The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
- Texas--Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
- Utah--Educated by Tara Westover
- Washington--After Nightfall by AJ Banner
- Washington, DC--Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights by Deborah Kops
- Wisconsin--This is How it Always is by Laurie Frankel
Literary Voyage Around the World. This challenge is hosted by Myra at Gathering Books
- Algeria--The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzie Lee
- Bosnia--Testimony by Scot Turow
- Brussels--How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
- Burundi--How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyamana
- Canada--The Fashion Committee by Susan Juby
- China--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
- Cuba--Refugee by Alan Gratz
- Democratic Republic of Congo--How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
- Egypt--In a Perfect World by Trish Dollar
- Ethiopia--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
- France--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
- Germany--Refugee by Alan Gratz
- Ghana--Solo by Kwame Alexander
- Greece--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
- Haiti--Hero Dogs by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo
- India--You Bring the Distant Near by Mitlali Perkins
- Ireland--Girl Unknown by Karen Perry
- Italy--Tears of Salt by Pietro Bartolo
- Jordan--A Hope More Powerful than the Sea by Melissa Fleming
- Lebanon--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
- Libya--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
- Malawi--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
- Mexico--Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
- Mozambique--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
- Netherlands--Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
- North Pole/Russia--Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survivor Story by Sandra Neil Wallace
- Norway--Beartown by Fredrik Backman
- Poland--The War Within These Walls by Aline Sax and Caryl Strzelecki
- Rwanda--Small Country by Gail Faye
- Saudi Arabia--A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
- Slovakia--The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- Somalia--Don't Tell Me You Are Afraid by Giuseppe Catozzella
- South Africa--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
- Spain--The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
- Sweden--A Hope More Powerful than the Sea by Melissa Fleming
- Switzerland--The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzie Lee
- Syria--The Moment Before by Jason Makansi
- Tanzania--The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil
- United Kingdom--Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal'd by Mary Losure
- United Sates of America--Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
- 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
JUNE- Crack the Case
- People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins
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.
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
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 year9. Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award (Afrian American New Talent) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon.
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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 :-)
- Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
- Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama
- Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
- March: Book One by John Lewis
- March: Book Two by John Lewis
- March: Book Three by John Lewis
- Still Life by Louise Penny
- The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
- Diamond Boy by Michael Williams
- Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
- My Sister Rosa by Jusine Larbalestier
- The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan
- Rules of the Lake by Irene Ziegler
- If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
- Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
- How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
- Bang by Barry Lyga
- Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq by Sarah Glidden
- Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
- The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
- Cracker: the Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
- Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
- The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
- The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
- President's Day by Seth Margolis
- Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
- Bone Box by Faye Kellerman
- The Lines we Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
- Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution by Bernie Sanders
- I am not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
- The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Williams
- Rooster Bar by John Grisham
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
- The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
- Far From the Tree by Robin Belway
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- 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.
- Afghanistan--A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
- Armenia--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
- Australia--Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung
- Austria--The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
- Boliva--An Uninterrupted View of the Sky by Melanie Crowder
- Bosnia--The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan
- Canada--Still Life by Louise Penny
- China (Hong Kong)--Night of Many Dreams by Gail Tsukiyama
- Columbia--In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero
- Czech Republic--The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
- Democratic Republic of Congo--City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
- Denmark--The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
- France--The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan
- Germany--The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
- India--The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
- Iraq--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
- Israel--How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden
- Japan--The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsuykiyama
- Jordan--Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
- Kenya--City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
- Mexico--Take the Bai Road by Erika Mitchell
- North Korea--Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell
- Palestine--Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat
- Poland--The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
- Russia--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
- South Africa--Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- South Korea--Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
- Spain--In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero
- Switzerland--Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
- Syria--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
- Turkey--Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden
- Uganda--The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Willams
- United Kingdom--In this Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
- Vietnam--Cracker: the Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
- Zimbabwe--Diamond Boy by Michael Williams
- 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.
- Alabama--March: Book One by John Lewis
- California--When We Collided by Emery Lord
- Connecticut--The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
- Florida--Rules of the Lake by Irene Ziegler
- Georgia--If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
- Hawai'i--Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
- Illinois--Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner
- Indiana--Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Nevin
- Maine--The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
- Maryland--Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman
- Massachusetts--Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
- Mississippi--March: Book Three by John Lewis
- Missouri--Another Man's Ground by Claire Booth
- New York--Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
- North Carolina--Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
- Ohio--Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
- Tennessee--March: Book Two by John Lewis
- Utah--Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Washington--The Right Side by Spencer Quinn
- Washington, DC--Take the Bai Road by Erika Mitchell
- 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 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.
- When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
- Eden's Root by Rachel Fisher
- Insurgent by Veronica Roth
- Unwind by Neal Shusterman
- 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.
- Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera (not for location, but for the subject matter)
- A Short History of Africa by Gordon Kerr (not the whole book, but much of it is northern Africa)
- Olives by Alexander McNabb
- Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
- Bras, Boys and Blunders: Juliet and Romeo in Bahrain by Vidya Samson (Bahrain)
- The Woman Who Fell from the Sky by Jennifer Steil (Yemen)
- Shake Off by Mischa Hiller (Syria)
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- Dewey by Vicki Myron
- A Short History of Africa by Gordon Kerr
- Between a Rock and a Hot Place: Why Fifty is not the new Thirty by Tracey Jackson
- The Good News Club by Katherine Stewart
- Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Vankatesh
- Wheelchair Warrior by Melvin Juette and Ronald J Berger
- Talking Back to Facebook by James P. Steyer
- Visit Sunny Chernobyl by Andrew Blackwell
- 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.
- My Brother's Shadow by Monika Schroder
- An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
- The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein
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- A topographical feature: Desert Angel by Charlie Price
- Something you'd see in the sky: The Fault in our Stars by John Green
- Creepy crawly: Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
- Type of house: Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera (prison)
- Something you'd carry in your pocket, purse or backpack: Gun Games by Faye Kellerman (gun)
- 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
- Germany--My Brother's Shadow by Monika Schroder (author and setting)
- Russia--Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (author)
- USA--Dewey by Vicki Myron (author and setting)
- Poland--The Baggage Handler by Colin Browne (one of the main characters is Polish)
- Australia--Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (author and setting)
- France and Great Britain--An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
- China--Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Japan--Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
- Canada--Visit Sunny Chernobyl by Andrew Blackwell
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Challenges for 2011: