Middle Grade Madness! discussion

A month-long, team-based reading challenge involving ONLY middle-grade books.
(Sign up link below)

It's a real honour to host our challenge for the 6th year! I am so so grateful to all my lovely group members who enthusiastically take part. You guys are so fantastic and I wouldn't be able to do this without you all!

The rules are pretty much the same as last year, but this time we have Title Points instead of Golden Tasks…

The Rules:
- Each team has 1 month to try and complete as many tasks as possible.
- 1 book read can fulfil 1 task ONLY.
- 1 task is worth 1 point.
- There are 100 tasks with each 5 tasks grouped into 20 different thematic categories.
- Tasks and categories can be completed in ANY order you as a team decide on.
- There are 5 bonus points for each category completed.
- Page points are also awarded depending on how many pages the book read is. Every 100 pages is equal to 1 page point. (Half points are not awarded so all the page numbers are rounded down to the nearest 100)
- 17 categories will be revealed at the start of the month. Each team chooses 1 category which will be a special category and 1 of those special categories will be revealed at the start of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week. The special category revealed in week 2 will be worth double points, so each task in that special category will be worth 2 points, the special category revealed in week 3 will be worth triple points, so each task in that special category will be worth 3 points, etc.
- The team with the most points at the end of the month wins!

Title Points:
Every category has a title and each category title has one word underlined which is the Title Word.
- If you read a book for any task which contains any Title Word there are 5 Title Points awarded.
- If you read a book which has the same Title Word as the category which has the task the book is assigned to then there are 10 Title Points awarded.
The word in the title must be the exact Title Word, plural forms of the Title Word do not count. The Title Word making up part of another word in a book title also does not count.

An example of tasks from the category “Holiday”
1. Read a book with the word “Summer” in the title.
2. Read a book where the protagonist gets lost.
3. Read a book with the sun on the cover

WHAT COUNTS AS A MIDDLE GRADE BOOK:
- Must be more than 100 pages long.
*For audio books*: The print edition must be more than 100 pages long.
*For graphic novels*: must be more than 150 pages long.
- Must be categorised as MG+ or MG on this website: https://www.arbookfind.com/
If it says LG or UG on the website it DOESN’T COUNT.
OR
Must be categorised as MY+ or MY on this website: https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/
If it says LY or UY on the website it DOESN’T COUNT.
- Only books started on/after 1st September count!

The Teams:
- Each team has 5 or 6 team members (subject to change depending on number of sign ups)
- Each team will have 1 Captain responsible for the tracking of the team.
- Each member must create a GR shelf called “mg challenge 2025” or “middle-grade challenge 2025” or some other variation and place all books they read for the challenge in that shelf. This is to help you and your Captain keep track of what you've read for the challenge.
- Teams are allocated not chosen and depends on the amount of time people have to read.
- Please make sure you all communicate and have fun!
- If you have any questions please ask your Captain who can then put the question to me on the Captain’s Chat.

Captain's responsibilities:
- Captains are in charge of editing and maintaining their team's spreadsheet.
- Captains are in charge of organising which book is applied to which task within their team.
- Captains should make sure that the info their members give them is correct, i.e. checking their members' GR challenge shelves to see when they started and finished the book, and checking the book counts as MG.
- Captains will be in charge of relaying info regarding questions between the moderator (me) and their team members.
- It's not a dictatorship! Remember to have fun with it and discuss with your team members as their ideas on what book should be applied to what task can be helpful.

*A word of advice:*
There are tons of tasks to complete. At first it will be easy to read whatever MG book you like and then apply it to a task that it fulfils.
After a while, when there are less tasks it will be harder, so it may be smarter to pick a book that can specifically fulfil one task.
This is just an idea... it's up to every team and their Captain to decide their strategy.

If you have any questions please ask below!! You should all receive a message by 21st August to announce the team allocations. Please make sure you check in with your team Captain before 27th August otherwise you may be replaced or removed.

SIGN UP!

Sign ups are open!🎉 Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Teams will be announced on 21st August
Sign ups close on 24th August

It's been brought to my attention that it would be helpful to see some tasks beforehand so you can order books from libraries, online, etc.

So here is a link to the spreadsheet with a few tasks revealed:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Feel free to keep checking this task sneak peek because the tasks aren’t finalised so I’m still making some and moving some around. I’ll try my best not to change the ones I’ve shared, but some titles have already changed lol it’s very much a work in progress!

Hey guys the sign ups are officially open for you all!!.🎉
If you have any questions let me know below.😊

Also please come and share some challenge book recommendations here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I signed up! :D

NB: For the number of books "I read per month", I lied and rounded up. ;) Based on previous August/September challenges, I went with how many I think I will have time to read this Sept. So please don't round up further! :) I think I can do 7 to 8 at best this time (working more now).

Capn wrote: "I signed up! :D"

🎉🎉You are the first! Even beat me to filling in my own sign up sheet😂

I'm quite excited. XD Thanks for doing this again, Kadi!

Lol. I'm second.

@Capn that's fine about your books read answer on the sign up sheet, it's just an approximation so each team can have a mix of heavy and lighter readers.

I remember someone last year mentioned that it's a bit unrealistic to have someone in a team who only reads 1 or 2 books the whole month especially because sometimes those people would disappear and then not contribute anything to the team which puts them at an unfair disadvantage. So it got me thinking that that's a fair point and so this year the lowest book read for the month option is 4 to 6 which means you'll read at least 1 book a week for the challenge. BUT this is just an approximation and what you should try and aim for. If you end up reading 3 books it's not the end of the world.

Also guys please remember graphic novels and audiobooks can count as a book read for the Challenge (please read rules above) and I can recommend some if you like!

CraftyChara wrote: "Lol. I'm second."

Thanks for signing up Chara, glad to have you for another year of the Challenge🎉

Glad to be here.

Capn wrote: "I'm quite excited. XD Thanks for doing this again, Kadi!"

It's my pleasure Capn!😊❤ I'm getting a bit hyped too

Omg fav time of the year signed up!

Yay! Although you’re not showing up on the list yet Eden, make sure you got the thank you for signing up page at the end of the form, if you had bad wifi it might not have gone through properly

Kadi! is there anyway to check the previous books that I/we recommended?

@Chara so we never did recommending a book in 2019, but we did do it in 2021 and 2022 and you can find everyone’s recommendations next to their names on their team pages,
2021 here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
2022 here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

We didn’t do recommending a book in 2023, for some reason which I don’t remember I didn’t even ask it on the sign up form.
We did do recommending a book in 2024 but I never used it as part of the tasks (not sure why I asked it on the sign up form then lol) so I didn’t share it on the team pages. I’ve got it on my spreadsheet but I’m not sure how to share it because it’s my template spreadsheet of all the years which I’m using to create this year’s challenge spreadsheet.

I can tell you your 2024 book recommendation was The Unforgettable Logan Foster though if that helps😊

Each member must create a GR shelf called “mg challenge 2024” or “middle-grade challenge 2024” or some other variation and place all books they read for the challenge in that shelf. This is to help you and your Captain keep track of what you've read for the challenge.

You mean 2025 lol~

I am so excited for this, look forward to it every year.
Let the spreadsheet shenanigans begin!

Love that graphic novels are allowed, I don't think I could read 4 actual MG books. So thanks Kadi!

AurorainBookland wrote: "Each member must create a GR shelf called “mg challenge 2024” or “middle-grade challenge 2024” or some other variation and place all books they read for the challenge in that shelf. This is to help..."

Lol the funny thing is I specifically changed that shelf info on the sign up form but not on the rules above.
But you guys know I’m not re-writing that stuff every year😂 if it ain’t broke!

I did change the bits about the points though because we’ve got title points this year. Hopefully that part makes sense but please let me know if it doesn’t!

The sign up link is gone! I looked through all the posts and can't find it had to double check email and accidently closed the tab.

Kadi wrote: "AurorainBookland wrote: "Each member must create a GR shelf called “mg challenge 2024” or “middle-grade challenge 2024” or some other variation and place all books they read for the challenge in th..."

ROFL :D

AurorainBookland wrote: "I am so excited for this, look forward to it every year.
Let the spreadsheet shenanigans begin!

Love that graphic novels are allowed, I don't think I could read 4 actual MG books. So thanks Kadi!"

AurorainBookland wrote: "I am so excited for this, look forward to it every year.
Let the spreadsheet shenanigans begin!

Love that graphic novels are allowed, I don't think I could read 4 actual MG books. So thanks Kadi!"

Yesss I would love to hear what graphic novels you might be liking to read! Feel free to come and discuss on this page: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I also reminded myself about the graphic novels lol so I’ve added a few to my challenge TBR which I’ve been planning on reading for years

AurorainBookland wrote: "The sign up link is gone! I looked through all the posts and can't find it had to double check email and accidently closed the tab."

Yeah sorry I moved it down to the 6th message because someone messaged me to say they couldn’t find it in the 5th message because the picture hides the text on the goodreads app

Refresh and it should hopefully be there!
If not here is the sign up form link again: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Kadi wrote: "AurorainBookland wrote: "The sign up link is gone! I looked through all the posts and can't find it had to double check email and accidently closed the tab."

Yeah sorry I moved it down to the 6th ..."

Found it. Thanks :D

Kadi wrote: "@Chara so we never did recommending a book in 2019, but we did do it in 2021 and 2022 and you can find everyone’s recommendations next to their names on their team pages,
2021 here: https://www.goo..."

It does help. Thanks for confirming.

No problem guys😊

All signed up!

Awesome! Welcome aboard👏🏻

Omg I have signed up every year but I am honestly so sad. I don’t think it will be fair to everyone on a team for me to sign up. I love doing these challenges and prioritizing middle grade but because of work, I have been reading essentially 1-2 books a month. The only month I read more than one book is in June because I was off work on medical leave. I wish I could participate but I would only be able to do 1-2 especially since September is the beginning of the school year (and I work at a school) so it’s going to be hectic. The only way maybe I can participate is if I dedicate reading a graphic novel each weekend because the only time I have to read is the weekends…I’m so sad… I hope everyone has fun though.

Ilsen wrote: "Omg I have signed up every year but I am honestly so sad. I don’t think it will be fair to everyone on a team for me to sign up. I love doing these challenges and prioritizing middle grade but beca..."

Ilsen this makes me so sad because you've always taken part and we love to have you😭 Tbh if you want to participate and have time even for 1-2 books and graphic novels I'm happy to make an exception and have you on my team because I know that you won't disappear and you do participate which is really the main worry. And it won't disadvantage any team because I'm hoping to read extra books this year so it'll be like you and me combined are reading 2 people's amount of books
If you're happy with that I'm ok with it!

fwiw, I'd be happy to team up with you too, Ilsen. :)

Even if you read only one book it's fine.

We all have had a least one team member read nothing.

lol yes true, I don’t think it’s an issue to read less, I’ve always believed it’s the participation that counts. That’s why this year’s lowest reading limit is 4 books because I thought this way only new people who’ve never taken part would know they can commit to taking part would sign up. This is because I invite people from outside the group to join the group and take part as well, so they’re not familiar with how the Challenge works like you guys already are.

But actually and this goes for everyone, there’s no pressure to read the amount that you approximated you would. Life happens and we all get busy, so I understand. Please just have fun and participate as much as you can! Even if you only read 1 or 2 books I prefer that than signing up and disappearing which is what frustrates me.

For most of you I know you will take part anyway as you’ve done so before, it’s really more for newbies who may not realise the challenge really does require you to not disappear on your team lol

And guys if there’s any problems or change in circumstances for you throughout the challenge please just drop me a message I’m here to help you all and make the challenge run smoothly!😊

Kadi, I already have some tasks clarification.

A book with a scene with a character in water who can't swim: does being in the water for the purpose of a swimming lesson count?

A book with a non-mechanical weapon on the cover: would a sword be considered non-mechanical?

A book with a thank you to the reader in the dedication page: is the acknowledgments page ok, or does it have to say "dedication" at the top?

@Chara haha I love it bring on the questions! I’m always impressed with how you guys think outside of the box with a different perspective and it makes the challenge way more fun.

Sadly Task 58 has changed, I’m still rejigging some tasks but for the most part they are all the same, you’ve just happened to pick up on the one that has sorry😬
Task 58 is now: A book with a protagonist who saves a drowning being

Hopefully the book you have in mind still fits. If it does then the swimming lesson does count.

The second question is yes

The third I would say is no. Thank you and dedication is different. Thank you is like “thanks for reading this book” And dedication is like “this book is for all the readers who took the time to read this” or something like that. The dedication can be at the start or end of the book. They can dedicate it to other people as well, as long as readers are specifically included.

Hey guys, for anyone who didn’t see above, here is a link to a sneak peek of 20 tasks (1 from each category):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

These are all set so I promise no more changes for these!

Also if anyone can figure out a better way to word task 73 please let me know😂 I honestly can’t think of another way to write it.

73: "Book recommendation from a teammate you or your 2025 teammate had in 2022"

(Is that this year's recommended book? Then "The 2025 Book Recommendation from a teammate you or your 2025 teammate had in 2022")

Or maybe, "A book previously or currently recommended by a 2022 teammate*." *If you didn't take part in 2022, then a teammate that one of your 2025 teammates had in 2022

--------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm so excited. I just had a physical root through my stacks and I have 9 books that count for at least 2 of the sneak-preview categories each. :) And then there's all the points we DON'T know about yet! :D

Here's some possible rewordings.

"A book recommended by someone who was in a 2022 group with one of your members."

"A book recommended by a teammate from a group one of your members was part of in 2022."

@Capn there are so many good tasks this year. A good mix of specific and vague ones because I remember one year I did too many specific and we were all dying😂

@Chara I like the wording of the first one. Thanks for your help I’m going to take that! It’s such a funny task to get your head around but I love that we have been doing this challenge for long enough now that we can even have a task like this!

What book rating have you guys been most surprised with?

Mine
Sunrise on the Reaping MG

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith UG

CraftyChara wrote: "What book rating have you guys been most surprised with?

Mine
Sunrise on the Reaping MG

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith UG"

Oh good question! I get surprised when the ARBookfind in the USA gives a higher or lower rating than the UK one. The Eagle of the Ninth is UY in the UK but MG+ in the USA (I haven't read it yet). I'm betting it's a violence rating difference (Roman army).

I didn't think Midwinterblood would pass either system, but they agree on MY+/MG+ (also haven't read it, but seems more a YA sort of read to me!)

And The Hobbit, or There and Back Again! UG or UY! :S Would have been MG in my books!

Having read (mostly) Sunrise on the Reaping I’m not surprised to find it as MG. I would say it’s more MG+ because the target audience is clearly hunger games fans, but it doesn’t have any excessive swearing or romance or crazy gore for it to be considered UG.
I think the line between MG and MG+ is much thinner than the line between MG and UG (aka YA)

I meant excessive swearing or excessive romance. There’s definitely romance in the book but nothing I would consider to be YA and it’s tamer than Hunger Games romance as far as I remember

How is The Hunger Games rated lower than The Hobbit?! XD

Capn wrote: "How is The Hunger Games rated higher than The Hobbit?! XD"

Because kids use the internet more than adults. Plus they want others to know what they think.