Summer Reading Challenge 2025 @ Messy Middle

Been waiting for this one to arrive. It's a favorite summer challenge. As always, I will get as many books as possible during the time indicated.

The Summer Reading Challenge will start on June 1 and run for ten weeks through August 8, 2025. To enter, read seven books from 30 plus categories and leave a comment at the end of the challenge with the books you read. That’s all. No entrance fee, no hassle, just fun. Also, if you’re trying to find this on the website, surprise, you’re going to struggle because the website was migrated to a new server and we’re still working out some bumps  :). Why not add that into the mix, right :)?!

But here in the messy middle, we sally forth!

What’s different?

The categories were all submitted by you! (except for three)

Special reading on Fridays to support 10 nonprofits. (read more here)

Two categories related to the 10 year anniversary and the 10 nonprofits (fun, fun!)

What’s the same?

Many categories will be similar because reading is reading. As mentioned above, you will notice a few new gems

Choosing a penalty book within the first week of the challenge. A penalty book or category is one you declare to yourself "I will read or be penalized." Like previous years, if you do not read your “penalty” book, you will subtract two books from your total.

The joy of reading!

What’s in it for you?

All who comment on a summary blog post that I’ll publish on August 8th will be entered to win one of ten $10 Amazon gift cards. You will have between August 12-16th to comment with the names of the books you read.

Drumroll . . . here are the categories!

1. A book relating to gardens: Dig In!--Kari Cornell
2. A book featuring forests in some way
3. A Book set in the Middle Ages (5th to the 15th century, Amy had to look up when the Middle Ages were 😊)
4. A book set in a time period you wished you lived in
5. A book set in your home state (or province or territory, whatever it’s called where you live)
6. A book with main character with your name
7. A book set in a cold location
8. A book not in your “normal” genre
9. A book set where you live
10. A book set over many years (maybe different generations or just the span of a few years): On Agate Hill--Lee Smith
11. A historical book (either fiction or non-fiction): The Fountains of Silence--Ruta Sepetys
12. A book that became a movie: Cloud Atlas--David Mitchell
13. A book you recommend to others: Fingersmith--Sarah Waters
14. A book written from a point of view you don’t understand or like: Whiteout--Dhonielle Clayton
15. A book dealing with and healing from your past/generational curses and trauma in order to be a better
16. A book hanging over you that you want to make time to read/finish
17. A poetry book
18. Re-read a childhood favorite
19. A memoir: The Devil's Highway--Luis Alberto Urrea
20. A book that has won an award
21. A book that was self-published or not published by a traditional publisher: The Beach House--Rachel Hanna
22. A book for professional development (loosely defined): Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind--Shunryu Suzuki
23. A book about books: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books--Kirsten Miller
24. A book about a disaster 
25. A book recommended to you by a close friend
26. A book recommended to you by a librarian or bookseller
27. A book recommended to you by a child in your life
28. A graphic novel: The Arrival--Shaun Tan
29. A play
30. An audiobook: Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems--Francisco X. Alarcon

A few categories special to Summer 2025

1. A book published when the reader was 10 years old or a book from 2015
2. A book related to one of the missions or focus of the 10 nonprofits we’re reading for on Fridays

Bonus: choose a Penalty Book in the first week of the challenge as a way to kick yourself in the pants. If you don’t read your penalty book you will subtract two (2) books from your grand total.