It’s official: there are now eight weeks until ALA’s Youth Media Awards, where the winners of the William C. Morris Award, the Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, and all of YALSA’s other book awards will be announced– so it’s time to start our annual Morris/Nonfiction Reading Challenge here on The Hub! We’re hoping the challenge will encourage you to read as many of these outstanding titles as possible.
Challenge objective Read all of the 2015 finalists for the William C. Morris Award for debut YA authors, all of the 2015 finalists for YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, or both between now and the Youth Media Awards on February 2.
Challenge rewards Beyond experiencing the best of the best that new YA authors and YA nonfiction have to offer, everyone who finishes the challenge may use what they read toward our 2015 Hub Reading Challenge. The Hub Reading Challenge includes prizes (!!!), so by participating in the Morris/Nonfiction Reading Challenge, you’re getting a head start on reading some of the best books published this year and you’re giving yourself an advantage in trying to win those prizes.
Challenge guidelines
- The challenge begins at 8:00AM Eastern Time on Monday, December 8 and ends at 7:45AM Central Time on Monday, February 2. (And in case you’re wondering, the challenge ends on Central Time because the awards will be announced live at the 2015 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago– which is on Central Time.)
- Participants may count the reading they have done since the finalists for each award was announced last week (December 3rd for the Morris and December 4th for the Nonfiction Award, to be exact). If you read one of the finalists before the announcement of the shortlist for that award, you must re-read it for it to count.
- Participants may read either all of the finalists for the Morris Award, all of the finalists for the Nonfiction Award, or both. The challenge cannot be completed simply by picking five titles between the two lists; participants must read the entire list of finalists for one or both awards.
- Just about everyone who doesn’t work for ALA is eligible to participate. That means non-ALA/YALSA members are eligible. Teens are eligible! Non-US residents/citizens are eligible! (More eligibility questions? Leave a comment or email us.)
How to participate
- Ready to start reading? Great! Comment here announcing your intention to participate. If you’re going to be tracking what you read on your blog, Goodreads, LibraryThing, YouTube or some other site, include a link to your blog/shelf/channel/profile in your comment. If you’re not tracking your reading online, keep a list some other way.
- Still undecided? It’s okay to take your time. You may register for the challenge by leaving a comment here and starting your reading any time during the challenge period.
- Every Sunday, we’ll publish a check-in post. Leave a comment letting us know what you’ve read since the last check-in post. If you’ve reviewed those titles somewhere online, include links to those reviews! Otherwise, let us know what you thought of the books in the comments. We are eager to hear your thoughts.
- If you’ve finished the challenge since the last check-in post, fill out the embedded form with your name and contact information. Please fill out the form only once.
If you have any questions or problems, let us know in the comments or via email. And if you want to talk about the challenge on Twitter, use the hashtag #hubchallenge. Happy reading!
-Allison Tran, currently listening to The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
I’m in! This is honestly my favorite time of year, even though I always seem to fall short. I’m better prepared this year though and managed to find all of the books.
I’ll be posting reviews and tracking on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1317720-amy?shelf=2015-morris-nonfic-award-challenge
I’m shooting for both sets, starting with the Morris nominations and The Story of Owen by E.K. Johnston.
I am a high school librarian and my 1Book1Marist book club kids plan to participate. They will be commenting via Twitter with the handle @1Book1Marist. How best can I differentiate for you guys which ones of them complete the challenge?
Can’t wait to start reading! I’ll be keeping track on my Goodreads page.
Alright, I’m in for both lists. I have to reread about half the books but that is more than OK because I liked them so well the first time round. I thought both lists were excellent. I will be tracking my progress on my blog booksandbassets.wordpress.com which links to my twitter account @adrienneelva.
I am starting with “Gabi, A Girl in Pieces”.
Yes, please! Tracking my progress on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2637727-karen?shelf=yalsa-morris-nf-2015
I’m definitely in for the Nonfiction and may add the Morris in later. I’ll be reviewing at least some of the titles on my website.
I’ve been looking forward to this! I’m not sure if it’s a good sign or a bad sign that I only need to re-read one title. I’ll be tracking on LibraryThing and Goodreads. If I can get my act together, I’ll be reviewing on my blog as well.
I’m going to try for one or both of the lists. Here is the goodreads shelf to track my progress: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3499822-kristi?shelf=2015-morris-nf-challenge
I’m going to try for both lists. I love the advantage it gives me for the Hub Challenge :)
I’m in for the Morris finalists. I haven’t read any yet, so I’m really excited to get started! I’ll be keeping track on twitter (@jenna_goodall) and goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/659853-jenna-goodall?shelf=morris-challenge
FYI, the links to the award finalist link to the blog with the nominees for last year, which may be a bit confusing for newcomers.
I’ll be reading the Morris finalists, but I need to get through the stack I’ve been working on for the last month and a half first. I’ll be tracking on my library’s blog – search for the Hub 2015 tag to see my posts!
I’m in for both lists! I’ll be tracking on my Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16089080-emily-childress-campbell
Question: do they need to be read in print or do audiobook versions count?
I’m in! I try to read Morris nominees anyways, so that’s the list I’ll be going for. Just gonna jot down my reads myself and keep track of them that way!
Thanks for doing the challenge again this year. I’m definitely doing the Nonfiction award and will probably do the Morris award too. Tracking here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2072864-kim?shelf=hub-challenge-2015
Good luck to everyone!
I’m in!
I’m game. Pillaging my library’s shelves now for copies…
I’m in for the Morris Awards! Don’t think I can tackle both lists at this point. I’ll be tracking on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3344776-jennifer-kelley?shelf=morris-awards
WooHoo! It’s Hub Challenge time again! I’m starting with the nonfiction list, but maybe I can get both lists done. Gonna try!
I’m in…or at least trying to be in! I’m tracking on my Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3591728-jennie?shelf=2015-morris-nf-challenge
I’m going to try to complete both lists this year after two years of doing just the Nonfiction lists.
Tracking on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9321469-margaret?shelf=yalsa-hub-challenge-2015
I am the Media Specialist at Red Lake Middle School in northern Minnesota. I enjoy this challenge, because it forces me to read outside my typical reading zone. Last year was the 1st year I participated and I thoroughly enjoyed the books, so I was looking forward to the new list of non-fiction books.
This is my 2nd response. I will be keeping track of the books I read on my blog. Please follow me on
gloriajc.tumblr.com
I’m going to complete the Morris Reading Challenge. I will try the Nonfiction Reading Challenge if I have extra time.
I’ll be posting and tracking via my Goodreads Account: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1317720-amy?shelf=2015-morris-nonfic-award-challenge
I’m going to complete the Morris Reading Challenge. I will try the Nonfiction Reading Challenge if I have extra time.
I’ll be posting and tracking via my Goodreads Account:
*******This is the correct link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3861024?shelf=morris-challenge-2015
I’m in! Tracking here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1579536?shelf=2015-yalsa-award-reading-challenge
Me, too! I’m tracking my reading at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/887981-librarianh20?shelf=2015-morris-nominees
I love this time of year! I’ll also be keeping (probably better) track of my reading on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2461680?shelf=hub-reading-challenge-2015
Challenge accepted! I will also track on goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4684550-ariel-b?shelf=2015-hub-challenge
I hereby announce my intention to participate!
My intentions are good…
I got a really late start in the Hub Challenge last year and finished just in the nick of time by including a lot of graphic novels. I’m excited to get a head start this year by participating in the Nonfiction Challenge. I usually read a lot more fiction, so this will be a good incentive to get some nonfiction books read!
I can’t wait to start reading!!
rowsingreads.blogspot.com
@rowsingreads (twitter & instagram)
YES! I am so in for this! I plan on doing both.
I’ll be tracking on Goodreads and talking about the books on Twitter.
Excited to participate for the first time! I hope to read the Morris Award books. I’m tracking my reads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7641814-jennifer?shelf=morris-award-challenge
I’m in! I plan to read both lists and will keep track here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/13324287-anna-chappell?shelf=morris-nonfiction
Going to try for the nonfiction–this is my first time participating in a YALSA challenge, so I’m excited. I’ll track on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93100-libby?shelf=yalsa-challenge.
I’m in for both. How fun! I’ll be tracking on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5886923?shelf=yalsa-hub-challenge
I’m in for the Nonfiction Award challenge and if I finish will move on to the Morris Award list. Do the nonfiction books count for the HUB challenge only if you get all 5 on the list read by Feb 2? Or do any of the nonfiction books from the list that I complete between now and Feb 2 count for the HUB challenge? Thanks!
And I will keep track on paper and check in on Sundays or Mondays to comment on where I’m at!
I’m in! Couldn’t wait to start reading once the lists were announced! I’ll be tracking on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5677039-chelsey?shelf=2015-hub-reading-challenge
I plan to join the challenge again this year! I am much busier and haven’t been reading as much but have enjoyed for the past few years! Can’t wait! Hoping my library peeps will join as well #simsburyct
Okay I’m gonna give this a try again. I skipped last year but we’ll see how far I get this year. I only track my reading offline, but sometimes I mention it on Twitter @srhlib
I’ll totally participate! Just saw this!
I’m in for the Morris finalists! Hopefully I’ll make it through all the Nonfiction as well, but I’m jumping into the Morris nominees first!
I always enjoy this challenge. I’m up for another year!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3931928-jennifer?shelf=yalsa-hub-challenge-2015
I’m in!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/19981819-magda?shelf=2014-yalsa-the-hub-non-fiction
Changed the bookshelf name since I plan to do both Morris and Nonfiction
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/19981819-magda?shelf=2014-yalsa-the-hub-morris-non-fic
Really enjoyed this challenge last year, so count me in for 2015! I will be tracking here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1316272-allison?shelf=award-morris-2015-reading-challenge
I’m in! I’ll be tracking here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/13804296-sharon-amastae?shelf=2015-hub-challenge&utf8=%E2%9C%93
I’m in. I look forward to seeing what’s on these lists every year!
I’m in! I’ll be tracking on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7440358-kate?shelf=morris-award-2015-hub-reading-chall
Challenge accepted. :)
Hey so I just realized that in the section under “Challenge Guidelines,” those links are actually for the 2014 finalists, not the 2015 ones! So I put all the wrong books on hold. The links at the top of this post are fine, but not the ones under “Challenge Guidelines.” Oops!
So I’ve participated in the Hub Challenge for the past few years, but so far I’ve yet to finish! This is my first year starting early with the Morris and Nonfiction finalists. I’m going to start with Nonfiction and see how that goes. If an amazing time-warp situation happens, and a portal to extra reading time opens up, I might get to the Morris finalists before February 2nd. Crossing my fingers! I’ll be keeping track on paper, and on Goodreads, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4988215-amy?shelf=2015-nonfic-morris
I’m in! Looking forward to it.
I’m in! I’ve already blogged about one of the titles at my blog (http://mclicious.org) and will have at least one post here about them as well!
Challenge accepted!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2674257-taliah?shelf=2015-morris-nf-challenge
I’m going to try for both lists.
I’m late but in.
I’m in!
Getting a late start, but I’m in for Nonfiction!
I’m in. I’ve finished Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets written by Evan Roskos and will be starting 2 others today.
I’ll be participating again this year and keeping track on my Goodreads account. I’m planning on reading all of the finalists.
Hoping to read all 10, but we’ll see how that goes. Keeping track on the GoodReads shelf listed below. Will have to reread Scar Boys since I listened to that earlier this year, but will be nice to experience it in two formats!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/66673-jennifer?shelf=2015morrisnonfictionchallenge&utf8=%E2%9C%93
OK, I’m in! Goodreads account lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/30329208-pamela-verfaillie?per_page=100&shelf=yalsa-morris-award&utf8=%E2%9C%93
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/30329208-pamela-verfaillie?shelf=yalsa-non-fiction-award
I’m a little late to the party, but I’m in. I’ll shoot for both lists, but I’ll probably start with the Morris list. I’ll be keeping track on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/377085-debbie?shelf=2015-yalsa-hub-challenge
and posting reviews on my blog http://literate-her.blogspot.com. I’m planning to start with The Scar Boys.
I am interested in reading the nonfiction finalists. I enjoy the challenges although I never get as far as I would like. Wish me luck as I am just getting ready to start now. I will be keeping track on goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/17110393?shelf=%23ALL%23
I am going to participate and place all my reviews on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary?shelf=2015-the-hub&utf8=%E2%9C%93
I’m late to the party, but I’m still going to join! I’ll track on my Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/8421031-leah?shelf=2015-morris-nonfic-challenge
I’m late, but I’m in. I can do 5 titles in a month. I’ll be tracking it on my goodreads, but I’ll have to make the shelf at home.
I’m late!!!! Spent the Christmas break reading other stuff. Hope to finish at least one of the lists.
I’m a little late to the party but I’m in
I attempted last year and failed horribly. I’m doing much better so far this year….we’ll see how it goes. ::crossing my fingers::
I’m in for the Morris challenge. I’ve finished The Scar Boys and Gabi, and I’m currently listening to Ava Lavender and reading The Story of Owen.
I would like to join! Better late than never. I’ll try all 10 books this year. :) Happy reading everyone.
I am/actually have read all of the Nonfiction books. I put my completion over there.
Gayle Keresey
I started an MLIS program last week and found out about the challenge through a class.
Last week, I read
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos
and enjoyed each; I eagerly await interlibrary loan delivery of
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
I’m in! (And almost finished, just hadn’t done the sign-up part)
I’ve been reading the Morris books but needed to officially sign-up! Keeping track atGoodreads Morris Award 2015 Favorite so far by far is Carnival at Bray!
I am a bit late, but I’ll do my best! Excited to finally read some of the books that have been on my “to read” list.