2026 Extreme Reader Challenge
Looking for a new challenge or way to add variety to your reading life? Sign up for Tacoma
Public Library’s Extreme Reader challenge! During this year-long adventure, you’ll explore new
titles and authors, read more diversely, and connect with fellow book lovers in your community!
Sign up today for the 2026 Extreme Reader challenge!
The Basics
The challenge begins on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. The final day to register and report is Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026.
- Read 50 books (teens can read 25) in 50 weeks from 55 categories to complete the challenge and become an Extreme Reader
- Adults and teens (age 13 and over at time of sign up) are eligible for the challenge
- Books read must apply to current category list
- Participants must have a valid Tacoma Public Library card to register
Categories & Recommendations
At a loss for what to read? Staff-curated booklists are available for many of the categories and are linked below. These booklists will take you directly to the Tacoma Public Library catalog, where you can place holds and add titles of interest to your library account.
2026 Extreme Reader Categories
1. 4-word title, opens a new window
2. (Dual Category Book) cover you hate
3. (Dual Category Book) cover you love
4. An author who published a title within the last five years, opens a new window
5. Audie Award Winner
6. Author who’s new to you
7. Author shares a name with a family member
8. Author shares a name with an Animal Crossing character, opens a new window
9. Author who has written a banned or challenged book, opens a new window
10. BIPOC horror writer, opens a new window
11. Book of poetry written by a LGBTQ+ author, opens a new window
12. Canadian author, opens a new window
13. Category from another reading challenge
14. Character has a pet dog, opens a new window
15. Character wears a cape or cloak, opens a new window
16. Characters encounter a cave, opens a new window
17. Characters go on a Road Trip, opens a new window
18. Choose a book based on the spine
19. Cliffhanger ending, opens a new window
20. Contains a plot twist
21. Cover is your least favorite color
22. Cover that is at least 50% blue, opens a new window
23. Do or don’t in title, opens a new window
24. Evergreen Book Award Winners
25. Features soccer, opens a new window
26. Found on a library staff booklist
27. Gender or culture swapped retelling, opens a new window
28. Ghost Story, opens a new window
29. In translation, opens a new window
30. Includes a female athlete, opens a new window
31. Includes an element of drag culture, opens a new window
32. Includes merfolk, opens a new window
33. Magic in the title, opens a new window
34. Makes you feel cozy
35. Memoir/autobiography by a person you’re not familiar with
36. Name of an item from your kitchen in the title, opens a new window
37. Narrative Non-fiction, opens a new window
38. Of your Choosing
39. Pen or pencil on the cover, opens a new window
40. Realistic Fiction
41. Reese’s book club pick
42. Selected from the Lisa Simpson Reading Challenge
43. Set during the 1960s, opens a new window
44. Set in the New England region of the US, opens a new window
45. Set in West Africa, opens a new window
46. Silhouette on the cover, opens a new window
47. Spans multiple generations, opens a new window
48. Survival Story, opens a new window
49. Takes place in Victorian England, opens a new window
50. Title starts with the first letter of your name
51. Title written in cursive, opens a new window
52. Upside down image on cover, opens a new window
53. Use the fortune teller to discover what to read
54. Washington State Book Award finalist or winner
55. Without the word the in the title, opens a new window
Completion & Rewards
Extreme Reader registration and reporting will take place on Beanstack, a virtual reading tracking system. Through Beanstack you can log categories you’ve completed on a computer or mobile device by visiting the Beanstack website, opens a new window or downloading the Beanstack app, opens a new window. For more information on using Beanstack, visit our Beanstack FAQs, opens a new window.
Once you sign up for Beanstack, the Extreme Reader challenge matching your age range (adult or teen) will be presented under the Reading Challenges. If you’re already signed up for Beanstack with Tacoma Public Library, you can find the Extreme Reader challenge under the ‘Challenges’ section of your account.
Through the Beanstack tracking system, registration, reporting, and completion can now take place at any time during the challenge year. Registration is available throughout the entire challenge!
Several engaging features are available through Beanstack. You can add friends and ‘compete’ with your progress, plus users can leave reviews for books!
Extreme Readers who are unable to register and complete through Beanstack may contact extremereader@tacomalibrary.org or JoLyn Reisdorf at 253-280-2979 for more information.
Rewards
Rewards for each year will be awarded after the challenge year has concluded. The last day to complete the challenge is Saturday, December 19, 2026.
Updates & Challenge FAQs
Check back here for corrections, updates, and frequently asked questions!
Challenge FAQs:
- Can both fiction and non-fiction titles count towards the challenge?
Absolutely! Either fiction or non-fiction titles can be read for any category unless the category itself states otherwise.
- Does the subtitle of a book apply to category parameters?
Unfortunately, it does not. If a category requires a specific word or parameter, that content needs to be included in the main title.
For example, for the category 'A book with a royal moniker in the title,' the book "A Princess in Theory" by Alyssa Cole would count whereas "Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens" by Jane Dunn would not fulfill the requirements.
- Do audiobooks and graphic novels count in this challenge?
Absolutely! Both audiobooks and graphic novels are just another way to tell a story. As long as they are at the appropriate reading level for the participant, they are acceptable formats.
- Do juvenile books count towards reading challenge?
As Extreme Reader is based on the honor system, we hope that participants will honor the nature of the challenge with their reading selections. Teen and higher level Juvenile books count, but other lower level books (easy readers, picture books, and board books) will not be accepted.
- I love podcasts; both fictional and non-fiction storytelling varieties. Can they count towards the Extreme Reader challenge?
Unfortunately, podcasts cannot be counted towards the Extreme Reader challenge.
- If I sign up for the challenge later in the year, can books I’ve already read be applied to the challenge or can I only count books that are read after I’ve officially registered?
Any books read between the program start and end date can be counted towards the challenge, regardless of when you register.
- Can I read one book and apply it to multiple categories?
Each title you read can only fulfill a single category.
- If I read a book for the challenge that I’ve already read before, does it still count?
Absolutely! If you read through a book during the challenge, it can be used, regardless of how many times you’ve read it in the past.
- I’m not old enough to register, can I still participate?
To officially sign up for the challenge through Beanstack, participants must be 13 or older by the time the challenge ends. However, anyone can use the category list to steer their reading for fun!
- What if I’m too young to sign up, but will turn 13 during the challenge?
You can still participate in the challenge and register once you’ve met the age requirements, as long as that happens before the challenge and registration ends. Any books you’ve read since the start of the challenge in January will count, even if you weren’t registered at that time.
- How do I pick which challenge level to join if I’m 18, or will be turning 18 during the challenge year?
Currently, the only difference between the challenge levels is the book requirement to complete. Beanstack will automatically show you which challenge you are eligible to participate in when you register.
Connect & Contact
Connect with fellow Extreme Readers in the TPL Extreme Reader Facebook group! Share what you’re reading, support fellow participants, exchange tips and reading recommendations, interact with the ER staff team, and make book loving friends! This group is for registered participants only, registration is required prior to joining the Facebook group.
Overbooked Book Group
Overbooked is our low key, no pressure book group for Extreme Reader participants. We meet up throughout the year for fun socializing – where members can talk about what they are reading, share recommendations, and discuss the challenge. Dates and locations for Overbooked meetups are announced via the Facebook group.
Questions?
Please reach out to the Extreme Reader staff team at extremereader@tacomalibrary.org , opens a new windowwith any questions, comments, feedback, or concerns!