2024 Extreme Reader Challenge Category Archive

2023 Extreme Reader Categories 

1. A book promoted or reviewed by another author
2. A book that changed or impacted your life
3. A classic by a Black, Indigenous, or person of color (BIPOC) author
4. A living author who you would like to have dinner with
5. A secret in it, opens a new window
6. About current events
7. Agatha Award winner or nominee (2015-2020), opens a new window
8. Audiobook narrated by the author, opens a new window
9. Author who identifies as trans or nonbinary, opens a new window
10. Author's first book and their most recent book (first book)
11. Author's first book and their most recent book (most recent book)
12. Book by an author that has published in more than one genre, opens a new window
13. Book of your own choosing
14. Book you picked based on the title
15. Breaks the fourth wall, opens a new window
16. Character on the run, opens a new window
17. Choose a book by flipping a coin
18. Comedy, opens a new window
19. Cover that made you look twice
20. Cover you'd hang on your wall as art
21. Explores environmental awareness, opens a new window
22. Explores neurodiversity, opens a new window
23. Features an uprising or rebellion, opens a new window
24. Features ancestral or intergenerational trauma, opens a new window
25. Fruit or vegetable on the cover, opens a new window
26. Good or Bad in the title, opens a new window
27. Great for a book club discussion
28. Has a character you relate to
29. Includes a mythological creature, opens a new window
30. Includes an assassin, opens a new window
31. Includes the legal profession, opens a new window
32. Inspires you to create or find a playlist
33. Literary fiction, opens a new window
34. Memoir about the service or labor industry, opens a new window
35. Name of a bird in the title, opens a new window
36. National Book Award Young People's Literature finalist, opens a new window
37. Non-English word in the title, opens a new window
38. Non-superhero graphic novel, opens a new window
39. Queer love story, opens a new window
40. Question mark in the title, opens a new window
41. Recommended to you
42. Set in a castle, opens a new window
43. Set in multiple countries, opens a new window
44. Set on the West Coast of the United States, opens a new window
45. Shelved in the 900s (900-999) non-fiction section, opens a new window
46. Strong female character, opens a new window
47. Takes place during a storm, opens a new window
48. Takes place in a time period you know little about
49. The 2023 Tacoma Reads adult or teen title
50. Themes of feminism, opens a new window
51. Told by an unreliable narrator, opens a new window
52. Under 150 pages, opens a new window
53. Unlikely hero, opens a new window
54. Would make a great movie or TV show
55. Yellow cover (must be 50%), opens a new window

2022 Extreme Reader Categories 

1. A book about an historical figure, opens a new window
2. A book about or including a wedding, opens a new window
3. A book about starting over, opens a new window
4. A book cover that has your favorite color on it
5. A book cover that shows a person from behind, opens a new window
6. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
7. A book from ALA’s Challenged Books lists, opens a new window
8. A book from one of these two celebrity book clubs: Oprah’s Book Club or the Read with Jenna Book Club, opens a new window
9. A book of your own choosing
10. A book published in 2022 (Fiction) (Volume 1, opens a new window) (Volume 2, opens a new window) (Volume 3, opens a new window)
11. A book published in 2022 (Non-fiction) (booklists released quarterly for this category duo!)
12. A book published more than ten years ago, opens a new window
13. A book set in a restaurant, opens a new window
14. A book set in a school, opens a new window
15. A book set in the Caribbean, opens a new window
16. A book set on the East Coast of the United States, opens a new window
17. A book set outdoors, opens a new window
18. A book set somewhere you want to visit
19. A book that begins with a disappearance, opens a new window
20. A book that centers a refugee’s experience, opens a new window
21. A book that discusses body positivity, opens a new window
22. A book that focuses on mental health, opens a new window
23. A book that fulfills a category from a previous Extreme Reader challenge year, opens a new window
24. A book that involves time travel, opens a new window
25. A book that makes you think, “Just one more chapter!”
26. A book that takes place in a country that starts with the letter A, opens a new window
27. A book that takes place in a magical world, opens a new window
28. A book with a beverage in the title, opens a new window
29. A book with a cardinal direction (north, south, east, west) in the title, opens a new window
30. A book with a character who works in a library, opens a new window
31. A book with a day of the week in the title, opens a new window
32. A book with a five-star rating in the TPL catalog, opens a new window (access link for directions!)
33. A book with a heart, club, diamond, or spade shape on the cover, opens a new window
34. A book with a number from one through twelve in the title, opens a new window
35. A book with a protagonist who has a pet cat, opens a new window
36. A book with a protagonist who has your dream job
37. A book with a robot, cyborg, or artificial intelligence, opens a new window
38. A book with a snake on the cover, opens a new window
39. A book with a star on the cover, opens a new window
40. A book with a title structure of “The _____’s _____”, opens a new window
41. A book with best friends, opens a new window
42. A book with the name of a color in the title, opens a new window
43. A book written by an Asian American author, opens a new window
44. A book written by an author whose first or last names begins with T, P, or L, opens a new window
45. A book written by an author whose last name is six letters or more, opens a new window
46. A book written by one of your favorite authors
47. A book written by multiple authors, opens a new window
48. A book written by someone who is no longer living, opens a new window
49. A fantasy book inspired by the Middle East, Southeast, or South Asia, opens a new window
50. A horror or paranormal story, opens a new window
51. A Jane Austen novel, or a retelling or adaptation of one, opens a new window
52. A locked-room mystery, opens a new window
53. A philosophical literature or philosophy book, opens a new window
54. A southern gothic novel, opens a new window
55. A space opera, opens a new window

2021 Extreme Reader Categories

  1. A book about climate change, opens a new window 
  2. A book about music or musicians, opens a new window 
  3. A book about or involving social media use, opens a new window 
  4. A book about or with art or museums, opens a new window 
  5. A book about or written by a journalist, opens a new window 
  6. A book about or written by a woman in STEM, opens a new window 
  7. A book about social justice, opens a new window
  8. A book about the American Civil War, opens a new window 
  9. A book in which a natural disaster takes place, opens a new window 
  10. A book of your own choosing 
  11. A book published in the year you were born 
  12. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics, opens a new window 
  13. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent, opens a new window 
  14. A book set in Ireland, opens a new window  
  15. A book set on a mode of transportation, opens a new window 
  16. A book that passes the Bechdel Test, opens a new window 
  17. A book that takes place during the 1920s, opens a new window 
  18. A book that takes place during the Middle Ages, opens a new window  
  19. A book that takes place during winter, opens a new window  
  20. A book where the characters save (or attempt to save) the world, opens a new window 
  21. A book with a book on the cover, opens a new window 
  22. A book with a character who is older than you 
  23. A book with a glyph in the title, opens a new window 
  24. A book with a heist in it, opens a new window 
  25. A book with a map, opens a new window 
  26. A book with a medical professional, opens a new window  
  27. A book with a metallic cover, opens a new window 
  28. A book with a person’s name in the title, opens a new window 
  29. A book with a royal moniker in the title, opens a new window  
  30. A book with a skull on the cover, opens a new window 
  31. A book with a title featuring repeating words, opens a new window 
  32. A book with an unlikely pair, opens a new window 
  33. A book with crafting or related to the Do-It-Yourself “DIY” movement, opens a new window 
  34. A book with military personnel, opens a new window  
  35. A book with one of the four elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Air) in the title, opens a new window 
  36. A book with only words on the cover, opens a new window 
  37. A book with parents or parental figures in it, opens a new window 
  38. A book written by a South American author, opens a new window 
  39. A book written by an author that uses an initial(s) in their name , opens a new window 
  40. A book written by an author you’ve never read before 
  41. A book written in the first person, opens a new window 
  42. A book you finished in one day  
  43. A Goodreads Choice Awards winner (Adult Fiction list, opens a new window | Teen & Adult Non-fiction list, opens a new window)
  44. A legal thriller, opens a new window  
  45. A magical realism book, opens a new window 
  46. A play, opens a new window  
  47. A prequel or a sequel to another book or series, opens a new window 
  48. A Pulitzer Prize winning or finalist book from the non-fiction category, opens a new window 
  49. An Afro Futurism book, opens a new window 
  50. An alternate history book, opens a new window 
  51. An anthology book, opens a new window  
  52. An antiracist book, opens a new window 
  53. Reread a favorite book 
  54. Two books that share the same title, opens a new window (Title A) 
  55. Two books that share the same title, opens a new window (Title B) 

2020 Extreme Reader Categories

  1. A book about or set during World War II (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  2. A book about politics or politicians (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  3. A book based on a real person (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  4. A book commonly assigned to read in high school (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  5. A book from a LibraryReads list (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  6. A book of your own choosing
  7. A book over 500 pages (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  8. A book published when the author was under 35 years old (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  9. A book recommended by library staff or an independent bookseller (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  10. A book revolving around a puzzle or a game (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  11. A book set in outer space (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  12. A book set in the state or country where you were born
  13. A book suggested by a person younger than you
  14. A book that inspired a common phrase or idiom (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  15. A book that takes place during a single day (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  16. A book that takes place in a country outside of the United States (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  17. A book that takes place in multiple time periods (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  18. A book translated from its original language (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  19. A book under 200 pages (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  20. A book with a bookstore in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  21. A book with a brewery or winery in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  22. A book with a character who has a superpower (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  23. A book with a circus in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  24. A book with a large cast of characters (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  25. A book with a number in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  26. A book with a planet in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  27. A book with a punny title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  28. A book with an amateur detective (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  29. A book with an anti-hero or anti-heroine (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  30. A book with an image of a feather on the cover (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  31. A book with an image of a sword on the cover (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  32. A book with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  33. A book with drawings, diagrams, photos, or pictures in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  34. A book with siblings in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  35. A book with sports in it (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  36. A book with the name of a month in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  37. A book with the word “Book” in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  38. A book with the word “Extreme” or “Reader” in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  39. A book with the word “Salty”, “Sweet”, “Spicy”, or “Bitter” in the title (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  40. A book written by a celebrity (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  41. A book written by a woman of color (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  42. A book written by an author with an alliterative name (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  43. A book written by an Indigenous author (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  44. A book written by an LGBTQIA+ author (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  45. A book you have purposefully avoided reading
  46. A book you meant to read in 2019
  47. A collection of essays (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  48. A Michael L. Printz winner or honor book (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  49. A non-fiction and fiction book about the same topic (non-fiction book) (printable list, opens a new window)
  50. A non-fiction and fiction book about the same topic (fiction book) (printable list, opens a new window)
  51. A true crime or crime fiction novel (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  52. An historical fiction novel (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  53. An “own voices” book (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)
  54. Read a book in a format you don’t normally read 
  55. The first book in a series (printable list, opens a new window I catalog, opens a new window)

2019 Extreme Reader Categories

  1. A book suggested by another Extreme Reader
  2. A book with a female protagonist, opens a new window
  3. A Hugo Award winner or nominee, opens a new window
  4. A beach read, opens a new window
  5. A book set in the South, opens a new window
  6. A western, opens a new window
  7. A collection of short stories, opens a new window
  8. A book set somewhere you’ve never been, opens a new window
  9. A book you own but have never read
  10. A book with food in it, opens a new window
  11. A book with royalty in it, opens a new window
  12. A graphic novel, opens a new window
  13. A book with a birthday in it, opens a new window
  14. A love story, opens a new window
  15. A dystopian novel, opens a new window
  16. A book about books, opens a new window
  17. A sad book, opens a new window
  18. A book set in Washington, opens a new window
  19. A book inspired by another literary work, opens a new window
  20. A book with X, Y, or Z in the title, opens a new window
  21. A book from a library display
  22. A book with a lifestyle different from your own
  23. A book with a character you intensely dislike
  24. A nonfiction book, opens a new window
  25. A book with garden in the title, opens a new window
  26. A book with a red cover, opens a new window
  27. A book with a mental illness, opens a new window
  28. A book by a Washington author, opens a new window
  29. An autobiography, opens a new window
  30. A book with a season in the title, opens a new window
  31. A book with a floral cover, opens a new window
  32. A book published posthumously, opens a new window
  33. A book with a one-word title, opens a new window
  34. A book you choose based entirely on its cover, opens a new window
  35. An epistolary book, opens a new window
  36. A book you love … read it again!
  37. A wildcard book
  38. A book on the Great American Read list, opens a new window
  39. A retelling or reimagining of a story, opens a new window
  40. A paperback book
  41. A book with an animal in the title, opens a new window
  42. A book with a city in the title, opens a new window
  43. A mystery or thriller, opens a new window
  44. Listen to an audiobook, opens a new window
  45. A book published this year
  46. A book made into a movie or TV show, opens a new window
  47. A book with a witch in it, opens a new window
  48. A book with multiple narrators, opens a new window
  49. A book of poetry, opens a new window
  50. A book that is a modern classic, opens a new window
  51. An author’s first book, opens a new window
  52. A literary novel, opens a new window
  53. A popular book you never got around to reading
  54. A book written by two authors, opens a new window
  55. A book you never finished
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