Hello,

Welcome to the Birth and Beyond Reading Challenge (#BBRC).

This reading challenge runs from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.

This reading challenge is designed to get the reader out of their habits,  to revisit lit from their childhood, and discover new gems in every age category.  This year we are also looking at BANNED and CHALLENGED books. So there are some fun prompts and more serious prompts and some that may need explaining, but as always, the prompts are up to your interpretation.

The rules are simple: Register, Read, Report.

All prompts are up to the readers interpretation.  For example, your host used the book The Bride Test for a prompt about Addiction in Booked2019.  The main character keeps saying they are not in love, they are addicted.

The intent of some prompts are explained, but once again, its up to YOUR interpretation which can be different than intent.

If at any time you need suggestions on what to read, feel free to ask

The Challenge is divided up into 6 age sections:

Section 1: Picture Books from A to Z
This section is simple, read a picture book for every letter of the alphabet.  Choose by Title, or by Author and get reading.  (A, An, and The (articles) do not count in the title.  So a book like The Wonky Donkey, would fall under W.

Please make at least 75% of the books you choose this year, have been banned or challenged at any time in history.

Section 2: Beyond Dick and Jane - Easy Readers NOW
This section are all about the books that help children learn to read.  Libraries are great places to find a wide variety of these, and and any librarian will be able to help you pick out some great reads.

ER = Easy Reader

Section 3: Middle Grade Made Easy
Middle Grade (MG) novels cover a wide range of ages.  Generally this is thought to be 4th - 8th grade.  For this challenge, early chapter books are also accepted.

Examples:

Early Chapters Books: Magic Treehouse, Clementine, Secrets of Droon, Goosebumps, etc

Middle Grade Novels: Wonder, Harry Potter, To Night Owl From Dog Fish, 39 Clues, Artemis Fowl, etc

Section 4: Teen Angst
This section is all about the books that can be found in the YA section at any bookstore or library.  For this section it does not matter if the book is YA, Young Teen, or New Adult.  If it can be found in the YA section, it works.

YA = Young Adult - general term for all teen lit, some times used to describe books for older teens
      Example: Twilight,  Pretty Little Liars,

YT= Young Teen - books for teens that are geared to the 16 and under crowed, or have less a focus on mature situations like sex, drug use, etc.  To some these are called "clean teen" but that may not be the case with all YT books.
     Example: Doon series, Cinder, Everland, P.S.. I Like You, Magyk, Miss Peregrine, etc

NA= New Adult - books marketed to teens and considered YA (as NA is still catching on) where the main character is barely a teen or includes more adult like situations.  Usually 16+
     Example: Court of Thrones and Roses, Six of Crows, Colleen Hoover books, etc

Section 5: Grow Up
These are for adult books.  There are a lot of adults who read YA almost exclusively, but this prompt should be solid adult books, that are found in the adult section of the library or bookstore.

Section 6: Yeah Baby
These prompts are all the rest, and  can come from any age category you choose.

I hope you enjoy this challenge, and  look forward to seeing and conversing about what everyone is reading.

@LibrarianRyan