Extreme Book Challenge
Are You Up to the Extreme Book Challenge?
Which Level Will You Tackle in 2025?
This year, there are 60 categories on our list. PML challenges you to choose your level and complete 25 or 50 categories!
Check out category recommendations on our brand new EBC blog!
Follow along with my reading challenge by adding PMLIB Extreme Book Challenge as a friend on Goodreads.
Submit reviews of the books you read for a chance to be featured around the Library! PLUS each review will earn you a chance to win! Great local gift certificates will be raffled off quarterly!
Register:
You can register for the 2025 Challenge by clicking here to register online or see us in person at the Reference Desk.
Select Your Challenge Level:
Intermediate Challenge:
Intermediate Challenge Readers must read 25 different books from 25 of the 60 Extreme Book Challenge Categories within the set dates. Those who complete the intermediate challenge will receive the intermediate prize at the end of 2025.
Master Challenge:
Master Challenge readers must read 50 different books from 50 of the 60 Extreme Book Challenge Categories within the set dates. Those who complete the master challenge will receive both the intermediate prize and the master prize at the end of 2025.
Challenge Rules:
Click here for the list of categories. There are 60 categories to choose from and two tier levels to receive your prize.
Books read for any other reading program or book club can be counted toward this challenge as long as they fit into one of the categories and are done by December 19, 2025. Audiobooks can be counted toward the challenge. Only one category per book is allowed. You cannot use the same book for multiple categories.
Reading Log:
Reading logs for the Challenge can be recorded in any form; you just need to be able to turn it in when you are finished. Examples include a spreadsheet, notebook entries, etc.
Click here for a printable reading log.
Important Dates:
The Extreme Book Challenge runs from January 6, 2025, through December 19, 2025. You can return a complete reading log any time before December 19, 2025.
Completing the Challenge:
To be rewarded for finishing the Extreme Book Challenge, you will have to return to the Library and have a Library staff member sign off on your completed categories in your Extreme Book Challenge reading log by December 19, 2025.
Participants who finish the challenge by December 19, 2025, will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Challenge prize.
Bookish Vocabulary Words
Here is a list of words commonly used in the reading community, along with their definitions:
A “TBR” list or a “to-read” list is a list of books you plan on reading but haven’t gotten to yet. This is whatever you use to keep track of books you want to read. TBR stands for To Be Read.
There are many book-related communities located across social media platforms. Bookstagram refers to the community on Instagram, Booktok is for Tiktok, and Booktube is for Youtube!
A buddy-read is when two people read a book together at the same time, forming a mini book club. Grab a friend and share a book!
A DNF book refers to a book you started but “did not finish.” These books do not count towards the Extreme Book Challenge. All logged books must be finished in their entirety.
Extreme Book Challenge FAQ
Yes! While everyone is encouraged to experience as many new stories as possible, sometimes rereading a familiar book can unlock new meaning within the pages. Use this challenge as an opportunity to get out of your box, but feel free to fall back on an old favorite when necessary.
Twenty-five books is quite the achievement! This year, we’ve created a lower “intermediate” challenge. To complete the “intermediate” challenge, we challenge you to read 25 different books from 25 different categories before December 22, 2023. For completing the intermediate level, you will receive the intermediate level prize.
Fifty books is a lot of books! To complete the “master” challenge, we challenge you to read 50 different books from 50 different categories before December 22, 2023. For completing the master level. you will receive both the intermediate level prize as well as an additional reward.
We’ve put together a list of books for each category. This list is accessible by clicking on the desired category on this page.
Additionally, you can see our weekly EBC book display directly across from the Reference Desk.
If you’re still struggling to find a book, you can always ask a librarian, another EBC member in our Facebook group, or get a book recommendation here.
No worries! If your circumstances change between now and December 23rd, you can change your level! When you submit your reading log we will compare it with your original registration and make sure your books count for the correct level.
Send us your question by submitting this form so we can make sure it gets to the right person.