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SUMMER CHALLENGE 2026
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Summer Challenge Tasks
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Our biome this season is deserts.
Read a book by a single author whose first and last initials are in the word DESERT.
10.2 - June Brides
Help Thread
June is famous for weddings.
Read a book with any wedding essential on the cover.
For this task, these will include: bride, groom, wedding dress, ring (that you would wear on a finger), and bouquet of flowers.
Required: Post the cover
10.3 - Independence Day
Help Thread
July 4th is the 250th celebration of American independence. France, Poland, Spain, and The Netherlands all helped us to achieve independence.
Read a book set at least 50% in one of these countries.
Required: Provide a reference, if not stated on the book's main page.
10.4 - Man's Best Weather?
Help Thread
The "dog days of summer" refer to the hot, sultry, and humid weather period typically between July 3 and August 11.
Read a book that has a word of 4 or more letters in the title that comes from the phrase DOG DAYS OF SUMMER. Letters may be as many times as they appear.
Required: State the word
10.5 - Christmas in July
Help Thread
While the northern hemisphere is sweating it out, the southern hemisphere is in the winter season.
Read a book which features a Winter Holiday.
These are holidays that are typically celebrated during cold and snowy weather, either in the northern ( December - February or southern (June -August) hemisphere.
Required: State the holiday and provide a reference if it is not evident from the book description.
10.6 - Board Game Delight
Help Thread
The game Monopoly was copyrighted on July 30, 1933 to Charles Darrow.
Read a book by a single author whose first or last name is Charles or from this list of related names: https://www.behindthename.com/name/ch...
10.7 - Construction Season
Help Thread
Richard Buckminster Fuller Jr. was born and died in July (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983). He was an American architect, systems theorist, writer, designer, inventor, philosopher, and futurist.
Read a nonfiction book with MPGs Architecture, Business, Science, Technology or Design. MPGS may be stand alone or embedded.
10.8 - The Long and Short of It
Help Thread
Depending on where you live, you will either celebrate the Summer or Winter Solstice this season - the longest or shortest day of the year.
Read a book that is either less than 201 pages or more than 400 pages.
10.9 - School's Out
Help Thread
Read a book with SUMMER intact in the title.
10.10 - Vacations Are Not Always Relaxing
Help Thread
Many people like to travel during the summer.
Read a book with MPG Road Trip, stand alone or embedded.
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Help Thread
Only one letter keeps a famine from becoming a feast. Turn the desert into a dessert by reading 2 books.
Book 1: Read any book.
and
Book 2: Read a book whose title contains one of the same title words from book 1 with an "s" added to that word.
The S can be added to to make the world plural or to make it a completely different word.
Example
Hot Girl Murder Club and Dead Girls First word is Girl/Girls
or
Camp Scare and Under Her Care care/scare
Required: State the word/words.
15.2 - This or That
Help Thread
Desert and Dessert are often found on a list of commonly misspelled words.
Choose a pair of commonly misspelled or misused from this list
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/...
Book 1: Read a book with one of the words from the pair in the title/subtitle
and
Book 2: Read a book with the other word from the pair in the
title/subtitle.
Word must be an exact match.
Required: State the word pair
15.3 - Third and Ten
Help Thread
Deserts are arid regions covering over one-third of Earth's land, defined by receiving less than 10 inches (25 cm) of precipitation annually.
Option 1:
Read a book that is 1-3 of a series.
Required: Series name and number must be listed on the main book page.
and
Read a book published on the 10th day or the 10th month (Oct.) or a year that ends in a 10th. (1910 1920 1930 1940 ect )
OR
Option 2:
Read one book that satisfies both option
15.4 - Wet and Dry
Help Thread
The Sonoran Desert, located in the southwestern United States (Arizona/California) and northwestern Mexico, is recognized as the world's wettest desert. It receives an annual rainfall of approximately 76–500 millimeters (2.9–19.6 inches), featuring a unique bi-seasonal rain pattern with wet summers and winters.
The driest place on earth is the Atacama Desert in Chile which has parts that have gone for decades without a single drop of rain.
Required: State the option
Option 1: Two book Option
Read a book set at least 50% in Chile, Mexico, Arizona, or California
Required; If the setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
and
Read a book with rainfall or desert lands on the cover.
For rainfall, raindrops must be visibly falling and for desert lands- must include either sand dunes, bedrocks, or dry cacti fields.
Required: Post the cover.
Examples
OR
Option 2:
Read one book that satisfies both options.
15.5 - Plants and Animals
Help Thread
The Saguaro Cactus can store up to 200 gallons of water in its spongy trunk to survive years of drought.
Some desert plants, like the mesquite tree, have taproots that can reach over 100 feet deep to find underground water.
Contrary to popular belief, camels do not store water in their humps; they store fat, which provides energy and metabolic water when food is scarce
Read a book with a title word of at least 4 letters that can be made from "I carry a river, it is who I am."'
Letters can be used as many times as they appear.
Required: State the word
15.6 - Summer of Freedom
Help Thread
A total of 64 countries around the world celebrate their independence or national liberation days across June, July, and August. This three-month period is historically the most popular time for nations to declare their sovereignty
Read a book with the all the letters of freedom in the title.
15.7 - The Hungry Ghost
Help Thread
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a unique tradition held in China during the seventh lunar month. This generally falls between July and August on the western calendar. It is believed that at the beginning of the month, the gates of hell are opened and spirits are allowed to roam free. However, this summer holiday is not just about fending off malicious ghosts. It’s also a time of reflection and remembrance of ancestors who have passed away.
Read a book where ghosts are essential to the story or MPG Ghosts
Required: If ghosts is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
15.8 - Hold My Beer
Help Thread
The Darwin Beer Can Regatta is an annual festival in which participants create floating vessels from beer cans and cartons. he Regatta was begun in 1974 by Darwin businessmen, Lutz Frankenfeld and Paul Rice-Chapman as a way to clean up beer cans littering Darwin's streets.
Read a book by an author whose first and last initials can be found in BEER CAN
Letters may be used as often as they appear. Middle initials can be ignored.
15.9 - It's A Float
Help Thread
The Gion Matsuri is Japan's most spectacular summer festival. Spanning the entire month of July in central Kyoto, it features towering, elaborately decorated wooden floats (Yamaboko). The festivities peak with two grand parades on July 17 and 24, surrounded by lively evening street parties known as Yoiyama.
Read a book set at least 50 percent in Japan or is written by an author born in Japan, resides in Japan, or identifies as a Japanese American.
Required: if the setting or author information is not evident from Goodreads, provide a reference.
15.10 Summer Loves U
Help Thread
June, July, August as well as Summer all have a “U” as its second letter. Read a book with a word in the title or an author with a first or last name that has a “U” as its second letter
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Help Thread
One of my favorite treats is boba! Whether it's milk tea, fruit tea, or something completely over the top, I love trying new flavors and toppings. For this challenge, let's stop by the boba shop and pick a book from one of the options below!
Required: State the option
Option 1 - Tea Time!
Read a book with one of these words in the title:
Tea, Chai, Milk, Honey, Sugar, Pearl
Word must match exactly as written and may be found in either the title or subtitle.
Option 2 - Pick Your Toppings!
Read a book with circles on the cover.
The circles should be part of the cover design or artwork (such as patterns, illustrations, bubbles, dots, or other round elements) and there should be at least two. Letters, punctuation, award stickers, and publisher logos do not count. Circles do not need to be complete if they are clearly intended to be circular elements.
Required: Post the cover
Examples:
Option 3 - Custom Order!
Read a book by an author whose initials can be found in BOBA TEA.
If a book has multiple authors, only one author's initials need to qualify, but both initials must come from the same author. Mixing initials from different authors is not allowed.
Option 4 - Sweet Treat!
Read a book with a sweet treat or sweet drink on the cover.
The item must be clearly identifiable as a sweet food or beverage. Examples include cakes, cookies, donuts, candy, ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, boba tea, hot chocolate, and similar sweet treats. Savory foods, spices, ingredients by themselves, empty cups, and empty containers do not qualify.
Required: Post the cover
Examples:
20.4 - Golden Oldies: Kathy KS's Task - Those Were the Days
Help Thread
I've been reading everyday since I was taught in First Grade, so that's over 65 years. I even made a career of helping library patrons find books they want. Since this task is assigned to Golden Oldies readers, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites from the past with younger readers.
This is a one book task. Choose one option. Both children's books and graphic novels, etc. may be used, as long as they fit SRC rules. Required: State your option.
Option 1
I was always bothered when people claimed that science fiction was for young boys. I'm a senior woman who has been reading and watching the genre, especially space fiction, since grade school (The Mushroom Planet books and A Wrinkle in Time were the earlier ones I remember).
Read a science fiction golden oldie award WINNER published in or before 1970. For this task, we will use only the Hugo Awards OR Nebula Awards for novel, novella, or novelette. Retro Hugos are also included. Books must fit SRC rules for length.
Hugos: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi...
Nebulas: https://nebulas.sfwa.org/awards-by-year/
Required: State the Award and year.
Option 2
My second grade teacher read to us each day. This was my introduction to mysteries as she read many of the Happy Hollister books (and others) to us. The Golden Age of Detective Fiction is usually dated from 1920-1939.
Read a book first published during those years, with one of these Main Page Genres: Mystery, Suspense, or Detective. MPGs may be standalone or embedded.
Option 3
We didn't have a real "young adult" section in libraries when I was that age. We read from the children's section until we moved into the adult books. I made some of this transition in grade school with the Perry Mason books.
Some of my favorite adult authors as I passed from my teens to adult included (but definitely not limited to) these authors: Erle Stanley Gardner, Philippa Carr (and her other books by Victoria Holt or Jean Plaidy), Mary Stewart, Leon Uris, James Michener, and Robert Heinlein.
Choose one of these authors and read any of their books.
20.5 Bigger is Better: Elizabeth B - International Wine Days!
Help Thread
International Wine Days are the perfect excuse to celebrate one of the world's oldest and most fascinating beverages. Whether you enjoy learning about wine or reading stories set in vineyards, choose one of the options below and toast to your next great read!
Required: State the option
Option 1
Read a non-fiction book about wine, viticulture, winemaking, wine history, wine tourism, wine tasting, or food and wine pairing.
Option 2
Read a fiction book where wine, vineyards, wineries, winemakers, sommeliers, or wine regions is essential to the story.
Required: Provide a reference if it is not obvious from the book description
Option 3
Read a book with a wine glass, wine bottle, vineyard, grapevine, grapes, barrel, or wine cellar on the cover.
Required: Post the cover
Examples:
Mod
Help Thread
Summer is here and that means time at the lake. Read a book from one of these lake life options. Your book must be nonfiction.
Option 1:
I live in Michigan so I am surrounded by the Great Lakes.
Read a book by an author whose first and last initial can be found in one of the Great Lakes: Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior. If multiple authors, only one needs to fit the task.
Required: State the name of the lake used
Option 2:
In addition to the Great Lakes, there are hundreds of smaller inland lakes. We spend lots of time on one of them on our pontoon boat.
Read a book with a ship/boat on the cover. It must clearly be a boat (ex: sailboat, steamer, canoe, kayak, rowboat, cruise ship, galleon, houseboat, dingy, keel boat, barge, pontoon, speedboat), not a raft, paddleboard, jet ski, etc.
Required: Post the cover
Examples:
Option 3:
Time near and on the water is so peaceful. I love this "blue space" as much as "green space".
Read a book with MPG Nature. (May be embedded)
20.8 Nickels and Dimes: MEGSCL - A Puzzle
Help Thread
This is both a puzzle and a task. You can try to solve it, or just click on the spoilers to see the answer.
I was looking at the books on my TBR shelf and saw that the top 4 all had two different things in common. Work out what the two common themes are and read a book that matches one of the answers.
Required: State the option
The books:
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Nest by Inga Simpson
If You Go by Alice Robinson
The answers:
Option 1
(view spoiler)
Option 2
(view spoiler)
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Help Thread
Here we are halfway through the year, my TBR is out of control, but I am listening and reading more than ever before. I am unclear how one list is getting exponentially larger than the other. I will blame it on TikTok, FOMO, and the all-mighty reading challenges. I am not complaining, at least not really. I have found some new favorite authors and a ton of discussion topics. I also have pages of new books I want to read.
This is a 2 book task. You may choose two different options or use the same option twice. ONE author must be new to you, and ONE author must be someone you have read before the start of the Summer Challenge.
Any book in the series will be accepted for the lists.
Required: State the options and which author is new to you.
Option 1: BookTok
I am oldish, and I didn’t know BookTok was a thing until I found it. Now I’m on the silly app all the time and adding more and more books to my TBR. I have found some really great books and some not-so-great books.
For this task, you don’t need to actually go down the rabbit hole, but dip your toes into it.
Read a book from one of these lists.
Required: State the list and the page.
BookTok Recommendations
Best Books from Book Tok
YA Booktok Books
Option 2: FOMO - or the fear of missing out.
Who knew books could cause me FOMO, I didn’t until I joined a couple of book clubs and started having book discussions with the most random of people. I realized that I want to read what they are reading, too.
For this task, read a book with the MPG Book Club.
Here is a list to help:
Book Club Books
Option 3: GR Challenges
Who doesn’t want to get all of their fancy bookmarks from Goodreads? Well, I do, and right now I currently have 8 out of 12, and have until the end of June to get the rest of them. I still need my AAPI, Summer Reading, Escapist, and whatever the mystery one is. Then, come July 1st, there will be a whole bunch of new ones.
For this task, read a book from one of the lists I have left.
Required: State the list.
Get Ready for a Blockbuster Summer with Adaptation Reading
112 (Very Literal) Escapist Reads to Sweep You Away This Summer
New Fiction and Nonfiction to Read This AAPI Heritage Month
25.2 - Robin P's Task: Tropes I Have Known
Help Thread
After you've been reading a while, you will notice similar recurring patterns in books. These are "tropes". One definition of a trope is - A recurring plot device, incident, or character type that we see over and over again in storytelling mediums. These are not necessarily a bad thing. Publishers even advertise books by trope, such as "a grumpy/sunshine romcom" or "a portal fantasy".
Choose a genre from the options below. Read 2 books that have MPGs from 2 different tropes in that genre. For instance, under Literary Fiction, 1 book with MPG Coming of Age, 1 book with MPG Book Club.
NOTE: The book does not have to match the overall genre. For example, under Science Fiction 2D - Aliens -you could read the nonfiction Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter. It just has to have the right MPG.
Each MPG (trope) needs to be stand alone.
Required: State the genre and trope for each book.
1. Romance
A. Friends to Lovers
B. Enemies to Lovers
C. Second-Chance Romance
D. Small Town/Small Town Romance
2. Sci-Fi
A. Time Travel
B. Space
C. Dystopia/Dystopian
D. Aliens
3. Adventure
A. Survival
B. Nautical
C. Military/Military Fiction
D. Espionage
4.Mystery
A. Detective
B .Cozy
C. Noir
D. True Crime
5.Literary Fiction
A. Coming of Age
B. Found Family
C. Book Club
D. Magical Realism
25.3 - Bookwrm526's Task: Westward Expansion
Help Thread
We are planning a fourteen day road trip through parts of the Western US this summer, so I'm using that as the inspiration for this task.
This is a 2 book task. Choose two options and read one book for each option.
Required: State the options.
Option 1:
The states we will be visiting (or at least driving through) are Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Read a book set a least 50% in one of these states.
Required: If the setting is not evident from the GR main book page, provide a reference.
Option 2:
The precipitating event that led me to plan this trip was attending a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver.
In honor of this, read a nonfiction book about music - this could be a memoir or biography, a book about a musical genre or movement, a book about how music affects the brain, the origins of music, social impacts of music, etc.
For example:
Decoding Despacito: An Oral History of Latin Music
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
How Music Works
Just Kids
Option 3:
We are going to visit three US National Parks on this trip: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, and BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK.
Choose ONE of these parks and read a book with a word of at least four letters in the title that can be made from the letters in the name of that park. Letters may only be used as many times as they appear in the park name.
Required: State the word and the park name.
Option 4:
The reason we are going to Kansas is because we love Geocaching, and the oldest active geocache in the world, called MINGO, is in Kansas.
Read a book by a single author whose first and last initials (middle initials can be ignored) can be found in MINGO.
Option 5:
While we are there, we will be going to a Colorado Rockies game, which will be the furthest to the west we have ever been for a baseball game.
For this option, read a book from one of these baseball/softball book lists:
Baseball Romance Books
Best M/M Baseball Romances
2025 New Releases: Baseball & Softball Fiction
Required: State the list and the page.
25.4 - Nick KY’s Task: 43 years of the Hot 100
Help Thread
Read 2 books from 2 different options below. The Options are based on the Billboard Hot 100 songs for past years that have ended in the digit 3. Kinda random – but fun.
Required: State the options.
Option 1: 2023
The end of the year Hot 100 in 2023 had the following one-word title songs in the top 30. Read a book with one of these words in the title. Singulars, Plurals, Possessives are the only exceptions except where noted: Flowers, Creepin [“Creep” or “Creeping” accepted], Snooze, Karma, Vampire.
Option 2: 2013
Miley Cyrus had back to back hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts at 17 and 18, “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball.” Read a book with a title that begins with “W.” (You can ignore the articles “A” and “The” so “Wuthering Heights,” A Walk in the Woods,” or “The Witching Hour,” are acceptable.)
Option 3: 2003 (and 1973)
“Drift Away” by the artist Dobie Gray was # 1 on the Adult Contemporary Billboard chart in 1973, then resurfaced as # 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for 28 weeks is 2003! The 2003 version was by turntablist Uncle Kracker featuring the original artist, Dobie Gray.
Read a book with the MPG ”Time Travel” or “Environment”
Option 4: 1993
The # 1 Song on the Billboard Top 100 in 1993 was Whitney Houston’s version of the Dolly Parton song “I Will Always Love You.” Crossing genres and decades with this song reminds us how important Music is to all human cultures.
Read a book from the first 25 pages of one of the following lists:
Music Genres
Best Non Fiction About Music
Ivories & Ebonies
Required: State the list and the page.
Option 5: 1983
The top 5 songs of 1983 on the Billboard Hot 100 were:
“Every Breath You Take” by Sting, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “Flashdance….What a Feeling” by Irene Cara, “Down Under” by Men at Work, and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson.
I usually listen to Classical, Jazz, or what has come to be called “Americana.” But I recall enjoying all five of those songs back in 1983. And I still enjoy them repeatedly, so…
This is a repeat opportunity that requires you to use Option 4 for your first book.
Read a book from one of the Music lists in Option 4 that you did not choose for that option.
Required: State the list and the page.
Mod
Help Thread
I finished the Spring challenge on Lilac Towel Day, so will riff on that for this task.
Pick two different options and read a book for each option.
Required: State the options
Option 1:
Towel Day is linked to Douglas Adams
Read a book with a single author, who uses at least 2 names, where ALL initials are found in DOUGLAS ADAMS. Letters may be used as many times as they appear.
Option 2:
Wear the Lilac Day, the Glorious 25th of May is from Terry Pratchett's Night Watch.
Read a book with a city-based police officer (detective or beat) as main character.
Rural town sheriffs, private investigators or other supporting justice roles (forensics / lawyers) don't count
Required If the main character info is not evident from the GR Book's main page, provide a reference.
Option 3:
Read a book that is first published in May (any year) AND has 2 and 5 in the page count
Option 4:
Adams and Pratchett are beloved British satirists working in Fantasy and Science Fiction
Read a book with MPG Humor AND at least one of these other MPGs : Science Fiction, Fantasy, British Literature
25.6 - Lois's Task: Death Valley—Hottest and Driest
Help Thread
Located in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley National Park is known as the hottest and driest location in North America. The headquarters of Death Valley National Park are at Furnace Creek, which holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the world, 134° F. Hot enough for you?
This is a two-book task. You may select two different option or use the same option twice.
Required: State the options.
Option 1
The Mojave Desert, home of Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park, is mostly in California, but it extends into Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
Read a book that is at least 50% set in California, Nevada, Arizona, and/or Utah. Any combination of these states work as long as the total is at least 50%.
Required: If the setting is not evident for the GR books main page, provide a reference.
Option 2:
Scotty's Castle, a popular stop for visitors to Death Valley, ironically was so damaged by flash floods in 2015 that it has been closed for over ten years now as repairs are in progress. Scotty's Castle has some classic elements of a castle, such as towers and turrets and a gated entry, but it was built by a wealthy Chicago couple in the 1920s as a very posh winter vacation home.
Read a book with a castle, a palace, or other stately home on the cover. This should be not an ordinary large house, but a real mansion. The structure may be intact or in ruins. Enough must be visible to identify it as a castle/mansion, more than just a doorway, wall, or window. Some examples:
Required: Post the cover.
Option 3
My brother still lives in our hometown in the Central Valley of California, where the summers are very hot and dry. I have our hometown on my weather app, so when it's occasionally uncomfortably hot and dry where I live in the Pacific Northwest, I know that, in comparison, it could be a lot worse. My brother does the same, but he has Furnace Creek on his weather app, which is always even hotter and drier.
Read a book with one of these words in the title or subtitle: Hot, Hotter, Hottest, Dry, Drier, or Driest. Exact matches only.
Mod
Help Thread
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, I find myself thinking back to the last tournament I truly followed. In 2014, Germany, my favorite team, finally won the World Cup. After that victory I gradually stopped following the tournament as closely, usually watching only the occasional match. This task is a chance to revisit that memorable German team and relive their 2014 triumph.
This is a two book task. Choose 2 options and read one book for each option. You may use one book with a MPG Sequential Art, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga.
Required: State the options
Option 1:
Read a book first published in 2014.
Option 2:
Read a book written by an author born in Germany.
Required: If the author's birthplace is not evident from GR 's book main page, provide a reference.
Option 3:
Joachim "Jogi" Löw was the team's manager, leading Germany to victory. His surname is closely related to the German word Löwe ("lion") and lion-themed puns were common throughout his 15 years in charge of the national team.
Read a book from this list: Big Cats
Required:State the page.
Option 4:Germany's 7–1 semi-final victory over Brazil was one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history and set several tournament records.
Read a book whose page count contains both a 7 and a 1, in that order. The digits do not need to be consecutive: e.g. 721 pages or 271 pages qualify, but 178 pages does not.
Option 5:
The final against Argentina went to extra time, when Mario Götze finally scored the winning goal to secure a 1–0 victory for Germany.
Read a book by a single author who shares an initial with him: either a first name beginning with M or a last name beginning with G.
25.9 - SHEMAC's Task: Will this be an El Niño year?
Help Thread
El Niño refers to a sustained period of warmer‑than‑average sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It forms part of a natural cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which alternates between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) phases.
This is a two book task. Choose 2 options and read one book for each option. Books can be fiction or non-fiction.
Required: State the options
Option 1:
Because El Niño acts as a giant heat source in the tropics, it disrupts global atmospheric circulation and fundamentally changes weather patterns worldwide: global temperatures rise; droughts and heatwaves become more extreme; tropical storm activity increases in the Pacific Ocean.
Read a book with MPG Climate Change (standalone or embedded) OR with the words Weather or Climate in the title/subtitle.
Option 2:
During El Niño, the equatorial trade winds weaken or reverse. Warm surface water that typically gathers near Indonesia is pushed back east toward the west coast of the Americas. This prevents cold water from rising, significantly raising sea surface temperatures.
Read a book set at least 50% in one country bordering the Pacific Ocean, using either of these two lists
(Asia-Pacific) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific...
(Americas) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific...
Required: If the setting is not clear from the GR books main page, provide a reference.
Option 3:
"el niño" is Spanish and translates to "the little boy" or simply "the boy". When capitalized, El Niño refers to the Christ Child (the infant Jesus) and was named centuries ago by Peruvian and Ecuadorian fishermen who noticed the unusually warm ocean currents that peaked around Christmastime.
Read a book that is available in Spanish as well as English.
Required: Post both the English version and the Spanish version.
Option 4:
The El Niño phenomenon appears in a number of novels and other fiction works, especially climate fiction, adventure stories, and literary fiction.
Read a book from a single author whose first and last initials can be found in either ELNINO or CLIMATE.
Letters may be used as many times as they appear.
Required: State the word used.
25.10 - Jager's Task - Is This Task an Oasis or a Mirage?
Help Thread
As we journey through this desert-themed season, I know I will be searching for an oasis in the midst of all of these challenging tasks! I know I often think that a bit of a break is in sight when I see a “one-book task” for a 25 or 30 point task, or a “free pick” for one of the two book options. However, many times the oasis has proved to be a mirage as finding books to fit the one-book options can be tricky, and a free pick in a two-book option usually means you have to be careful what you pick for your “free” book.
So, I’ll let you be the judge, is this task an oasis or a mirage?
Oasis (metaphorical meaning): “represents a place of safety, peace, or refreshment in the midst of a chaotic, stressful, or difficult situation.”
Mirage (metaphorical meaning): ”an illusion or something that appears real, promising, or attainable, but is actually completely out of reach or non-existent.”
Option 1: Two Book Option
Each book must be at least 250 pages.
Book 1
Read any book of your choice that meets the SRC requirements
Book 2:
Choose 1 option from below. Required: State the optiion.
Option A: Author Initials
Read a book by an author that shares the same initials as the author from Book 1. All initials count but may be in any order. The book cannot be by the same author.
For Example:
Book 1: author is Diane Chamberlain
Book 2: author Charlie Donlea or Darcy Coates would work but not
P. Djèlí Clark.
Option B: Part of a Series
Read a book that is the next consecutive number in a different series than book 1. The series may be by the same author as book 1. Whole numbers only. The series name and number must appear above the books title on the GR book's main page.
Option C: Title Letters
Read a book where the first word of the title starts with the last letter of the last word in the title/subtitle of book 1. All words count as first words including articles.
Option D: Title Word
Read a book that includes a plural or possessive of a word in the title/subtitle of Book 1.
Required: State the word.
OR
Option 2: One Book Option
Read a book of 500 pages or more where all the author's initials can be found in the book's title. (excluding subtitles)
Multiple authors may be used, but all authors' initials must be found in the title.
AND
Since all vowels are included in the word OASIS and MIRAGE except the letter “U”, the book must contain at least one "U" in the title (excluding subtitles) or the author’s name.
Example:
The Sweet Blue Distance
The Pearl Sister
The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story
The Clockmaker's Daughter
Mod
Help Thread
Just like authors, there are some plotlines that are a automatic read for me, Especially in thrillers.
This task will highlight these thriller plotlines and buddy read with another MPG I enjoy. All MPGs may be stand alone or embedded.
This is a two book task. Pick one option and two books to satisfy that option.
Required: State the option.
Option 1. True Crime Narrator
I love a good thriller with a true crime podcaster as the main character. Many time they are investigating an unsolved cold case or finding the true guilty one of a solved crime.
Book 1- Read a MPG Thriller with a true crime content creator and is essential to the plot. Content Creator is defined by
someone who produces entertaining, educational, or promotional material for digital platforms.
Required: If it is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
Book 2- Read a book with the MPG True Crime
Option 2. Historical Thrilling Times
I really enjoy reading a thriller set in the past. Sometimes they are written inspired by a real murder case. I like to read the fiction, then find a true crime book about the same murder case.
Book 1: Read a MPG Thriller book that is set 20 years prior to the time the book was originally published. The book must be set presently in the past, not as a flashback or retelling of the crime.
Required: If it is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
Book 2: Read a book with MPG Historical Fiction
Option 3. Summer Scream Vacation
I love to read books with murders that take place on summer vacation. My favorite are those in summer cabins, on summer lakes, or summer camps. But... any summer vacation blood bath I enjoy.
Book 1: Read a MPG Thriller book that takes place at least 75% during a summer vacation. For the purpose of this task a summer vacation is defined as leaving home to enjoy the summer season recreationally. This could be for a weekend, a month, or the entire season.
Required: If it is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference.
Book 2: Read a book with the MPG Summer
30.2 - Susan A's Task: Fact and Fiction
Help Thread
This is a two book task. The combined total pages must be 500 or more pages. One book with MPG Graphic Novels and related genres is allowed.
Choose one of the following MPGs:
1. History/Historical
2. Medical/Medicine
3. Mystery
4. Space
5. Sports
6. Survival
Note: Embedded MPGs will be accepted
Required:State the MPG
Book 1: FACT - Read a non-fiction book with the selected MPG.
Book 2:FICTION - Read a fiction book with the same selected MPG.
Example 1:
Selected MPG: History/Historical
Book 1: 1776 by David McCullough
MPG nonfiction, history
Book 2: Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase
MPG Historical Romance
Example 2:
Selected MPG Space
Book 1: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
MPG nonfiction, Space
Book 2: The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed
MPG Space Opera
30.3 - XBM’s task : Libraries I have loved: Art Circle Public Library
Help Thread
This is a two book task. Choose 2 different options.
Required State the options
Libraries have been such an important part of my life, that when we moved to Tennessee, my main criteria for picking a town was the proximity and quality of its library. This is a tribute to my new hometown library, Art Circle Public Library.
Option 1: Read a book by an author/authors whose first or last name can be made using the letters in Art Circle Public Library. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the phrase. If multiple authors, all authors must meet the requirements.
Option 2: Art Circle Public Library is a member of the Falling Water River Regional Library. Read a book whose title is at least 3 words, and the first letter of each word can be found in Falling Water River Regional Library.
Option 3: The library was founded in 1898, and moved to its current location in 2010. Read a book published between 1898 and 2010.
Option 4: Programs
a. Every spring the library holds a seed/plant swap. Read a nonfiction book whose MPG includes Gardening, Nature or Food.
b. My other favorite program is Blind Date with a Book.
Read a book where a blind date is an important part of the plot.
It could come from this list: Going in Blind: Blind Date Romance Novels or be included in the main page description.
Required: If using the list, state the page.
Option 5: Houston, we have a problem. Although Art Circle Public Library is in Tennessee, three of its staff have a first or last name of Houston. Read a book in either Tennessee or Texas. As long as the state is listed on the main page, it counts.
30. 4 - Katrisa's Task: My Sarah
Help Thread
I lost my best friend to cancer in 2021 and even though I miss her every day, summer is when I miss her the most because every year as soon as I was done with my school year, I would pack my bags and head home to San Diego to visit my bestie. Also her birthday comes in July. So this task is dedicated to my Sarah. For this task please choose 2 options and read a book for each. If you choose an option that has multiple sub-options (A,B,C) you may count those as separate options and do any 1 or 2 of them.
This is a two book task. Choose 2 different options. You may choose two different options for option 3.
Required State the options
Option 1: Lemons - Lemons always remind me of my best friend because she would drink those plastic lemons with salt in them. When she grew up and bought a home, she even ended up in a city called Lemon Grove and lived a couple blocks from the giant lemon statue the city has on their main street.
For this task read a book with a lemon on the cover (can be the whole fruit or a slice as long as it is clearly a lemon slice and not another citrus fruit - i.e. it needs to be yellow).
These would all work:
Required: Post the Cover
Option 2: F Cancer - Seriously - cancer sucks!
For this task read a book with a cover at least 50% pink according to Tineye. (for breast cancer awareness) Tineye Instructions and Link
Required: Post the Cover
Option 3: Books - Our friendship in high school began when we started trading books we loved and reading has always been a big part of our relationship. The first book I lent her was Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger.
A. Read a book by J.D. Salinger or a biography of J.D. Salinger.
B. Read a book with a title word of at least 4 letters that can be made from “FRANNY AND ZOOEY”
Letters may be used as many times as they appear.
Required: State the word.
C. Since J.D Salinger shows up on many high school reading lists, for this task read a book from the first 20 pages of this list of Required Reading in High School.
Required: State the page.
Option 4: Birthday - Sarah always had pie instead of cake for her July birthday.
For this task read a book where the author’s name contains all the letters in PIE.
Mod
Help Thread
The history of timekeeping devices dates back to when ancient civilizations first observed astronomical bodies as they moved across the sky. Devices and methods for keeping time have gradually improved through a series of new inventions, starting with measuring time by continuous processes, such as the flow of liquid in water clocks, to mechanical clocks, and eventually repetitive, oscillatory processes, such as the swing of pendulums. Below are a few ways of telling time throughout the years.
This is a two book task. Choose 2 different options.
Required: State the options
You may use one book with a MPG Sequential Art, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comic Book, or Manga.
Option 1: Sundials
Sundials and water clocks were first used in ancient Egypt c. 1200 BC and later by the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Chinese.
Read a book with either the sun ( there must be some of a sun circle visible not just rays or a colored sky) or any large body of water. (natural or man made)
Sun:
Water:
Required: Post the cover.
Option 2: Chinese Incense Clocks
Incense clocks were first used in China around the 6th century, mainly for religious purposes, but also for social gatherings or by scholars. As incense burns evenly and without a flame, the clocks were safe for indoor use. To mark different hours, differently scented incenses (made from different recipes) were used.
Read a book with a 3 or more word title and each word starts with a letter in INCENSE CLOCKS.
Letters may be used as many times as they appear.
Option 3:Hourglasses
The hourglass was one of the few reliable methods of measuring time at sea, and it has been speculated that it was used on board ships as far back as the 11th century, when it would have complemented the compass as an aid to navigation.
Read a book with a single author where all the letters in the author’s first or last name can be found in HOURGLASS and/or COMPASS.
Letters can only be used as often as they appear.
Option 4: Watches
The first wristwatches were made in the 16th century. The first battery-driven watches were developed in the 1950s. During the 1970s, digital watches were introduced. Smartwatches, essentially wearable computers in the form of watches, were introduced to the market in the early 21st century.
Read a book with page numbers that can be made from one of these years 1500, 1950, 1970 or 2000.
Numbers may be used as many times as they appear.
30.6 Delicious Dee's Task: Reading In and Through Time: 1850–1914
Help Thread
For this task, you will read two books: one from Option A and one from Option B.
Your books must have a combined total page of 501.
The titles of the the 2 books must contain all the letters of STEAMER (E needs to be present twice)
- Subtitles do not count
- Each title must contribute at least two letters
- No MPG of Children's allowed.
Option A: Read a book first published between 1850 and 1914 (inclusive).
Option B: Read a book primarily set (at least ~60%) between 1850 and 1914, and the setting is at least 15 years prior to the book’s first publication date. (i.e., a book set in 1910 must have been published no earlier than 1925).
Required If the setting is not evident from the books main page, provide a reference.
30.7- Rebekah's Task
help Thread
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, complete 2 of the following tasks and read a book for each task.
Required: State the option
Option 1: The Timeline
The National Park Service has a web page with a timeline for US Independence beginning with events leading to dissatisfaction with the British Government in 1763 to the ratification of the US Constitution in 1787
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/american...
For this task read a book published 1763 - 1787, or is set in the time period from 1763-1787 inclusive
Option 2: The Signers or The Patriots
For this task, spellings must be exact unless an alternate is listed.
A Read a book by an author that shares a last name with a Signer of Declaration of Independence found here....
https://www.ushistory.org/declaration...
OR
B As a member of the Daughters of The American Revolution, I have documentation of direct descent from Revolutionary War Patriots.
Read a book by an author that shares the last name of one of my Patriots;
Alexander, Bishop, Blair, Boyd, Cansler, Glascock/Glasscock, Harris, Hathaway, Hider/Hyder, Johnson/Johnston, McNabb, Rector, Simmons, Snodgrass, Taylor, Walker, Williams, Winans>
Info on DAR https://www.dar.org/
Required: State the option and the name
Option 3 - The Colonies
There were originally 13 colonies that declared independence.
Read a book set in one of these 13 colonies:
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts (at the time included Maine)
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Virginia (at the time included West Virginia)
West Virginia and Maine are accepted)
Required: If the setting is not evident from goodreads main page, provide a reference.
Option 4 - The Allies
A number of allies gave assistance to the Americans against the British. Primarily France, Spain smuggling supplies from Mexico, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico, the Dutch Republic of the Netherlands blockaded British navy, and military officers from Poland/Lithuania came to fight and train American troops.
You can find additional history information here: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journ...
Read a book by an author born in any of these countries; France, The Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti & Dominican Republic (formerly Hispaniola)
Required: If the author birthplace is not evident from goodreads main page, provide a reference.
30.8 - Amy FL's task: Desert Song
Help Thread
When I was thinking about deserts for my task, the song "A Horse With No Name" by the band America came to mind. The song title was originally "Desert Song," so I was on the right track (no pun intended).
I saw America in concert in 1981 and they were excellent, so I'm happy to have a chance to pay tribute to them here.
This is a two-book task. Read one book from two different options.
Required: State the options.
Option 1: Read a book with a title word (ignore subtitles) of at least four letters from the lyrics of the song. Exact matches only.
Lyrics: https://genius.com/America-a-horse-wi...
Required:State the word.
Option 2: Read a book with a horse on the cover. The entire horse does not need be visible but there needs to be enough to be identified as a horse not a zebra or donkey.
IE:
Required: Post the cover.
Option 3: America is a trio with members Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek. Read a book by a single author whose first and last initials match one of the band members. The initials can be reversed, so DB, BD, GB, BG, DP and PD all work.
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder (other topics)Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before (other topics)
Zeitoun (other topics)
Sailing Alone around the World (other topics)
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ian McEwan (other topics)Ashley Audrain (other topics)
Inga Simpson (other topics)
Alice Robinson (other topics)
Help Thread
The defining feature of deserts is a lack of moisture, making them "empty buckets" where evaporation exceeds precipitation.
Read a book with a title word that contains all the letters of DRY - in any order.
5.2 - Movies and Deserts
Help Thread
The story of T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia was made famous for his role in the Arab Revolt and participation in the campaign against the Ottoman Empire during WWI.
Read a book with MPG Middle East or WWI.
MPG may be stand alone or embedded.
5.3 - Music and Deserts
Help Thread
Hotel California" is the classic rock song by the Eagles that takes listeners on a drive through a dark, desert highway. Feel that cool wind in your hair while reading a book that has a title word of 4 or more letters that matches a word in this classic song. Lyrics found here: https://genius.com/Eagles-hotel-calif....
Required: State the word.
5.4 - Books and Deserts
Help Thread
Many books are set in the desert. Some are fictional some are not. Find your fact or fiction and read a book from the first 25 page of this list Desert Books
5.5 - Name is Summer
Help Thread
Read a book whose author's first and last name initials can be found adjacent (either direction) in the word "SUMMER": SU, US, UM, MU, MM, ME, EM, ER, RE
5.6 - Garden to Table
Help Thread
Summer is a great time to eat what you grow.
Read a book that has either fruits and/or vegetables on the cover.
Required: Post the cover
5.7 - Wind and Rain
Help Thread
In parts of the US, summer can mean tornados, hurricanes, and tropical storms. Early detection is key to surviving but the path of destruction is inevitable.
Read a book where a tornado, hurricane, or flooding is essential to the story. The storm could be during the book or in the past as long as it is important to the plot or character development.
Required: If the information about the story is not evident on the main page, provide a reference.
5.8 - Cool and Refreshing
Help Thread
When the heat of summer gets to you, jump on this pool to cool off… or lake…. Ocean? Wherever you swim, its swimming season.
Read a book with a swimming pool, body of water enclosed by land, or a beach on the cover.
Required: Post the cover.
5.9 - The Sweat Limit
Help Thread
Watch for those heat advisories. Wen the heat index is climbing over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, make sure you stay cool and stay hydrated.
Read a book with a first published date containing the numbers 100. (day, month, or year)
5.10 - Chill and Read
When its too hot to go outside, just relax on the couch with a favorite or new book.
Read a book of your choice that follows the SRC rules.