2026 Extreme Book Nerd Challenge

Click HERE to register!   You must register to be eligible to receive the completion prize.

OFFICIAL RULES

50 books in 50 weeks in 50 categories*

Guidelines:

• Books must be read between January 6th & December 21st of 2026
• Only one book per category for a total of 50 books in 50 weeks, to be completely read by December 21st.
• Must be a Mountain Home Public Library cardholder to be eligible to win the completion prize.
  • Library card cannot be expired or have over $9.99 in fines.
• All books read for the challenge must be recorded with the title, author, and finished date for each book listed with each category.
  • Reading logs are available for print on our website or can be picked up from the front desk at the library.
  • You may use any tracking form you wish as long as it can be printed and includes each book’s title, author, finished date, and the category it falls under.
• Books read for other reading groups and programs can be counted toward this challenge as long as they fit into one of the categories and have been read between January 6th and December 21st of 2026.
• Audiobooks may be used for any category unless otherwise noted.
• Books must be rated at a sixth-grade reading level or higher and 50 pages in length or longer to be counted toward the challenge.
• Tracking forms will NOT be accepted after December 21, 2026.

Competition Prize:

Participants who finish all 50 books from all 50 categories and turn in their printed tracking sheet no later than December 21st will receive a water bottle with the 2026 Extreme Book Nerd logo on it AND a Mountain Home Public Library exclusive “black card” library card. (“black cards” are only issued for the first time a challenge is completed)

2026 Extreme Book Nerd Challenge rules, categories, and tracking form [PDF, 702.88 KB]

2026 Extreme Book Nerd Challenge categories are books…

1. …with a culinary theme.
2. …with a “Carnegie Library” stamp.
3. …that includes climate change or a natural disaster.
4. …whose main character uses an animal/creature for transportation.
5. …with less than 200 pages.
6. …written by a comedian.
7. …that won Goodreads’ Choice Award between 2020 and 2025.
8. …that includes dinosaurs, archaeology, or paleontology.
9. …about or including travel.
10. …written by a local author.
11. …written by more than one author.
12. …set during a war.
13. …with a character that you share the same name with.
14. …you’ve seen being read in a movie or tv series.
15. …with a bathtub on the cover.
16. …with an epigraph.
17. …with a cover that makes you smile.
18. …with a Cardinal/Ordinal Direction in the title.
19. …with a final sentence containing only 6 words or less.
20. …set in the summertime.
21. …with sprayed edges.
22. …to complete a trilogy (Bk #1)
23. …to complete a trilogy (Bk #2)
24. …to complete a trilogy (Bk #3)
25. …with more than a million copies sold.
26. …from the ICfL Let’s Talk About It Program Pages & Palates book list.
27. …you’ve suggested to someone but have not read yourself.
28. …about the Declaration of Independence.
29. …chosen off the shelf by a child too young to read.
30. …you bought in 2025 but have not read yet. (**If you have read everything you bought, reward yourself with a book of your choice.)
31. …that has been challenged/banned.
32. …that’s a spy thriller.
33. …set during a celebration.
34. …with the author’s picture on the back cover.
35. …that includes a robot.
36. …with a Z in the title.
37. …by an author recommended on Literature Map based off your favorite author.
38. …nonfiction, about something you fear.
39. …published in 2026.
40. …that’s a parody.
41. …from the YA/teen section.
42. …you’ve anticipated reading.
43. …that was published the year you were born.
44. …set on a ranch or farm.
45. …that’s Pop Culture Nonfiction.
46. …set in or by an author from Michigan, U.S.’s 26th state.
47. …by an author with Indigenous heritage.
48. …that’s genre-bending.
49. …from the Mountain Home Library Book Club 2026 reading list.
50. …that includes “lesser-known or little-known” history
*Categories can be read in any order.

Join our Mountain Home Public Library Extreme Book Nerds Facebook page to stay connected with fellow Book Nerds and to share book recommendations!

Frequently asked questions:

• Q: Where can i find the Idaho Let’s Talk About It Pages & Palates Book List?

          A: You can find the list on the Let’s Talk About It page under the What’s Happening tab 

• Q: How do I know what the Library Book Club is reading this year?

          A: You can find the list on the Library Book Club page under the What’s Happening tab

• Q: What is considered travel?

           A: Travel is a trip for business or pleasure, staying more than 24 hours but less  than a year.

• Q: Is there a minimum page requirement?

          A: The minimum page requirement is 50 pages (minimum of 2 hours for an audiobook).  A pamphlet or a short story within a book of short stories does not count.

• Q: Can we help pick a category next year?

          A: YES!! Please post your category suggestions on the FB page or email them to jmann@mountain-home.us for consideration.

• Q: How do I tell if a book is rated at a 6th-grade reading level or high?

          A: Accelerated Reader Bookfinder ( https://www.arbookfind.com/ ) is located on our website ( https://mhlibrary.org/ ) under the “Kid Zone” tab.  The first number of the BL is the grade level.  For example, BL: 8.2 is an eighth-grade reading level and 6.7 is a sixth-grade reading level.

 Scholastic’s book wizard tool ( https://bookwizard.scholastic.com/ ) is a great tool for looking up the reading levels of books. It is very easy to use.

Minnesota State University Library Guide ( https://libguides.mnstate.edu/c.php?g=183311&p=1208264 ) is another tool that has been recommended.

Unless the book is a children’s book/book chosen from the children’s section, you may assume that you are safe. ; )

• Q: Can local authors be Idaho authors or do they need to be from Mountain Home/Treasure Valley?

          A: Any Idaho author will work but if the author happens to be from Mountain Home then that is even better.

• Q: How do I know what the Library Book Club is reading in 2026?

          A: You can find a full list of the books being read by the Library Book Club on our website under the What’s Happening tab.

• Q: Do we have to complete one book per week or just fifty books throughout the year?

          A: Fifty books throughout the fifty weeks. You can read three books one week and not read the next week or one book a week. It is completely up to you, as long as they are read between January 6th and December 21st.