It’s time for one last Hub Reading Challenge Check-In!
Hub readers! We’re coming to the end of the road for this year’s challenge!
How are you doing so far? Have you met the goals you set way back in March? Or maybe you had a kid in a candy store moment and ended up with a much larger to read pile than you had time to conquer?
I am 100% in the second camp.
But I have a confession.
I sorta knew from the beginning I probably wouldn’t finish.
And I think that’s okay.
*needle screeches off the record* *gasps from shocked onlookers* *crying babies*
Hang on for a minute, though, before you come after me with pitchforks and torches. I can explain.
The whole point of this challenge is to a) help participants learn more about YALSA book lists and awards and b) to encourage folks to read outside their comfort zone. And whether you read 2, 25, or 250 books, I think you can accomplish those goals. For me, even browsing through the list of books (can you say sortable spreadsheet!?!?!?!) inspired me to investigate new titles and authors. And the titles I did read have already found their way into my readers advisory exchanges. So that’s all a win, right? Anything you can do to keep your reading habit fun and sustainable and not let it become a high-pressure chore is great in my opinion.
So if you didn’t read all 25 books, then fear not. You still won!
But if you did/are on track to finish, then CONGRATULATIONS! Be sure to let us know here so you can be entered into our grand prize drawing for a bag of books!
So what’s been your favorite book you’ve read as part of this year’s challenge? Did you gain any insights into your own reading habits? Learn anything new about YALSA lists and awards? Share in the comments! And be sure to tag any social media posts about the Hub Reading Challenge with #hubchallenge!
Here’s a quick reminder of the challenge guidelines:
- The goal of the Hub Reading Challenge is to read 25 books over the next four months from a list of the most recent award winner and honor books and YALSA selected lists.
- Format matters: a title that has been recognized for both the print version and the audiobook version can be both read and listened to and count as two books, but a book that has won multiple awards or appears on multiple lists in the same format only counts as one title.
- Books must be read/listened to (both begun and finished) between the date the award winners and selected lists have been released and June 30, 2018 at 11:59pm EST. If you’ve already read/listened to a title (before the winners/selected lists were announced), you must re-read/listen to it for it to count. The challenge ends on June 30, 2018 at at 11:59pm EST.
- Just about everyone who doesn’t work for ALA is eligible to participate. Non-ALA/YALSA members are eligible. Teens are eligible. Non-US residents/citizens are eligible. (More eligibility questions? Leave a comment or email us.)
- If you’ve already finished, let us know here! The grand prize winner will be selected by 11:59pm EST on July 1, 2018. The winner will be notified via email.
–Stephen Ashley, Hub Member Manager