2026 Library Reading Challenge (IFPL Extreme Book Nerd)

Stuck in a reading rut? Join a reading challenge with me. I love challenges for the same reason I love book clubs: they push me to read things I wouldn’t normally pick up. I’ve been participating in my local library’s annual challenge for several years now, and it stretches my reading in the best way every time.

Below are the books I’ve chosen to meet the IFPL Extreme Book Nerd Reading Challenge, 50 books in 50 weeks. It is an embedded spreadsheet (be patient, it can take a bit to load). I’ll keep this updated with what I’ve finished with with ideas for the categories too for anyone that wants to follow along.

Completed Challenges: What I Read for past years

2025 Library Challenge Worksheet

2024 Library Challenge Worksheet

2026 IFPL Extreme Book Nerd Reading Challenge Categories

Here are the prompts for the 2026 challenge:

• A book published in 2026
• A book about an amateur sleuth
• A book that fits the America250 theme
• A book that was nominated for the Asian/Pacific American Award
• A book that has been banned or challenged
• A book set in a state or province that borders Idaho
• A book that was published at least 20 years before you were born
• A title that has a day of the week
• A book from a library display
• A book that is EGOT source material
• A title that contains Extreme, Book, or Nerd
• A book about a fire or has fire on the cover
• A title that has First, Second, Third, or Home
• A cover that has flora or fauna
• A book by an author whose name matches one of your friends
• A title that has Hope, Empire, or Return
• A book suggested by an IFPL staff member
• A cover that intrigues you
• A book that brings you joy
• A book from Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)
• A book that is humorous or makes you laugh
• A book about something you want to learn about
• A book whose author has 10 or more letters in their whole name
• A book you haven’t read by an author you love
• A book you’ve been meaning to read for at least a year
• A title that has a person’s name
• A book that is narrative nonfiction
• A book set in a place you’ve never been
• An author who is new to you
• A cover that doesn’t have humans on it
• A book from the nonfiction section
• A book from NPR Books We Love 2025
• A book with a one-star review
• A book you own but have never read
• A book with a pirate
• A title with a possessive
• A title that is a question
• A book you love — read it again!
• A cover that is red, white, or blue (at least 50%)
• A book about second chances
• A cover that has a skull or bones on it
• A cover with stars or stripes on it
• A book suggested by a fellow Book Nerd
• A book about survival
• A title that has twelve, 12, or dozen
• A title that starts with a vowel
• A book from What Dan Read
• Wild Card (Russian author)
• A book that is young adult or middle grade
• Your choice!