Bookish Challenges discussion

As schools reopen, pencils get sharpened and children become pupils, we’re heading back to the classroom — but not in the way you might expect. Instead of the usual lockers, exams, and school stories, this challenge dives into the hidden corners of learning: eccentric teachers, the lessons that don’t fit in textbooks, and the quiet rebellions that shape who we become.

To celebrate, our September Mini invites you to explore the world of school and education through four surprising rounds. Each one offers three prompts that echo a different perspective on the classroom and beyond — from satire and hidden curriculums to strange mentors and unlearning what we thought we knew.

Sign-ups are open until October 29th, 2025
The challenge is open until December 31st, 2025

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📚 The Challenge
1. Please copy the tasks in the below message and post them in this thread. No new thread will be created.
2. This challenge is for 4 books. Pick one task from each round — for each completed task, you will receive 2 points. Additionally, you will receive 10 points for completing the challenge.
3. There are no skips available for this challenge.
4. Put the completion post below each book completed in your message:
Title:
Author:
Date Completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don’t have a personal point account thread yet, please request one.
6. Only books completed from September 29th, 2025, will be accepted.

So pack your bag, sharpen your pencils, and get ready to discover the untold lessons of the classroom. ✏️📚 Happy reading!

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.

Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
1. Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative.
3. Pick a book about someone who resists or redefines traditional learning

The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew.

Participants

Fiona 1/ 4
Jasmine 2/4
KayLynn 3/4
Nistha 3/4
Claire 1/4
Lucy 1/4

1/4

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.

Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative.
Hollow by Karina Halle September 30 - MC goes to a school for witches

The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew.

4/4 books finished

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.
Title: A Different Way to Learn: Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education
Author: Naomi Fisher
Date completed: 06/10/25
Task: 3
How it fits: Has ideas to help SEN children and neurodivergent children learn without needing school.

Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.
Title: The Educator’s Experience of Pathological Demand Avoidance: An Illustrated Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance and Learning
Author: Laura Kerbey
Date completed: 18/11/25
Task: 3
How it fits: During Laura Kerbey's time teaching autistic children, she had a sudden realisation that those with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) are children like no other! None of her tried and tested autism strategies would work to help them focus or learn and most of her time was spent wondering, what am I doing wrong?

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
1. Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative.
3. Pick a book about someone who resists or redefines traditional learning
Title: Unschool Yourself First: A Parent's Gateway to Self-Directed Learning
Author: Mark Beaumont
Date Completed: 16/11/25
Task: 3
How it fits: The 21st century paradigm is changing so rapidly that it will be those who are able to adapt to this change that will be the kingmakers of the coming century and beyond. Unschoolers are educated in the optimum way to take on these new challenges and to thrive in these 21st century conditions. Yesterday's pack mules are today's hunters and gatherers (rote recall vs. free range unschoolers).


The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew.
Title: Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace
Author: Sarah Mackenzie
Date completed: 18/10/25
Task: 1
How it fits: Teaching from rest: We've got to drop the self-inflated view that we are the be-all-end-all of whether the education we are offering our students is going to be as successful as we hope it is. After all, our job is not to be successful—success itself is entirely beside the point. It's faithfulness that He wants.

4/4 completed - FINISHED!!

Unwritten Curriculum
Book: Don't Let the Forest In
Author: C.G. Drews
Date completed: October 3, 2025
Task: Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
How it fits: Andrew Perrault is bullied by Bryce Kane and his group of friends. Bryce never gets in trouble because his family is rich and powerful, so he's the golden boy at the school. Instead Bryce and the school staff blame Andrew, who is a scholarship kid.

Beyond the textbook
Book: The Professor Woos the Witch
Author: Kristen Painter
Date completed: September 29, 2025
Task: Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
How it fits: Pandora Williams is a witch. She was trained by a mentor who passed down stories, spells and secrets. Her entire family are also witches and they share their spells and secrets with each other.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
Book: State of Wonder
Author: Ann Patchett
Date completed: November 6, 2025
Task: Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
How it fits: Marina Singh's former professor and current mentor, Annick Swenson, is unconventional. Annick is teaching Marina in the jungles of Brazil instead of in the classroom.

The student becomes the teacher
Book: Tomb of the Sun King
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Date completed: October 4, 2025
Task: Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew.
How it fits: When Neil Fairfax's sister shows up at his archeological dig site in Luxor, Egypt, he finds himself wrapped up in a mystery that leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew about the world and history.

4/4

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles). The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard - pranks and school rivalry
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.

Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets). The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose - knowledge passed informally from Molly's grandma to her
2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
1. Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative. Priest by Sierra Simone - Tyler has a pretty unconventional way to teaching as a priest
3. Pick a book about someone who resists or redefines traditional learning

The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew. Ward D by Freida McFadden - medical student MC continuously questions all what she learnt that day and the mess that is happening

1/4

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.

✔️Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
Book: Het einde van de oceaan
Author: Maja Lunde
Read: 29 september
Pages: 344 p.
How it fits: No more schools, in this future society knowledge is passed down by parents and other adults in different forms

2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
1. Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative.
3. Pick a book about someone who resists or redefines traditional learning

The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew

Unwritten Curriculum
1. Read a book about the hidden rules of school life (peer pressure, hierarchy, silent struggles).
2. Choose a story where the classroom itself becomes a character or metaphor.
3.Pick a book that critiques or satirizes the education system.

Beyond the textbook
1. Read a novel where knowledge is passed down informally (stories, traditions, or secrets).
2. Choose a book that blurs the line between fiction and learning (part narrative, part essay, experimental).
3. Pick a book that teaches subjects you’d never find on a regular curriculum.

Different teachers, unexpected lessons
1. Read a book with an eccentric or unconventional teacher/mentor figure.
2. Choose a story where learning is magical, dangerous, or transformative.
3. Pick a book about someone who resists or redefines traditional learning

The student becomes the teacher
1. Read a book about mentorship turned upside down (e.g students teaching teachers, children teaching adults).
2. Choose a story of self-education, autodidacts, or learning outside institutions.
3. Pick a book about unlearning — questioning what we thought we knew.