Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion
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YA Reading Challenge
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YA Reading Challenge - Ideas (closed)
hmm...if we got creative and started suggesting questions...we could probably come up with something cool. Like along the lines of the season challenges in TNBBC.Or once the categories fill up more, we could have to just read a certain amount we haven't read before or something.
oooo, plus we started that "Top YA Books" thread...we could have to read a certain amount of those we haven't before.
Good ideas!I was thinking of copying some aspects of the TNBBC Challenge, maybe without being as restrictive, so that people can find more YA books that fit. I'd also like to encourage the discovery of the next hit book by someone in the challenge - like who can find the next Book Thief, etc.
Someone has to discover them after the publishers do, and get the tide rolling. I would have never even heard of Book Thief if not for TNBBC.
Laura wrote: "Someone has to discover them after the publishers do, and get the tide rolling. I would have never even heard of Book Thief if not for TNBBC."me either!
Another idea that I'm partial to is focusing more on the number of pages read rather than number of books. I've been doing Cynthia's seasonal challenges and, in order to make much progress, I've chosen shorter books (in some cases), while ignoring longer ones, just to finish a task.
Good point Jamie!I'm thinking for the first one, three months seems to be a good length. If you drag it out too long, you tend to put it off, thinking there's plenty of time, etc....
So, what do you think of the genre idea? You must pick X number of books from X different genres here on Wild Things? Sound good as a ground rule?
I was thinking $50 first place, $30 2nd, and $15 third.....for the Amazon gift certificates, that is...
On a more... errr... mature note.... ;) I like the idea of having to read a certain number of PAGES in each category. We could use the categories we have here--scifi/fantasy/comedy/romance/contemporary/historical/etc.We don't want to make it TOOOOO much like the TNBBC challenges or I'll have a nervy b! (Which reminds me that I need to go make a thread about the Georgia Nicolson books... Comedy or Contemporary....)
OK so # of pages, different genres, what else? Do we want to specify specific tasks, similar to Cynthia's Seasonal Challenges on The Next Best Book Club?
well I think certain tasks would be good Laura...like "Walk into the library and pick 3 YA books you've never heard of that look good and read them"
I like the # of pages idea. Also, I think you should specify tasks because part of the fun is finding books that fit the tasks.
The only probably with # of pages is that some of us...okay, me... don't read from actual books. I read from my Kindle and it doesn't do page numbers. I guess I could always pick a number of pages from the book page here on GR but then which book page number since some are like WAY different. That's just my two cents...
OH, I am so excited about the idea of challenges! I love challenges! I just try to encorporate all of the books into both challenges!
Kathryn, I would use the number of pages from the book on GR. I would use the first book result on the page when searching your title (I think if it is the first book on the list, it is the most used). Just a thought...
That's a good idea. I audio a fair amount of books myself, and for others who do, that would also be helpful.
Well, if you always use the first one on the list there can't be a discrepancy. At least then it will be uniform and fair. :) I sometimes read ebooks and will go by the pages on GR...
I actually think that everyone should use the page number from GR. It wouldn't be fair if someone checked out a book from the library with big print in order to get more pages.
In High School, we had to read 1000 pages a quarter of classics and it was like torture to me (this isn't torture) and I remember finding the books with the biggest font to meet the requirements. lol, that was in my reading hietus phase of life!
Ok I think maybe to choose X number of award winning books off Fiona's new awards lists is a good task idea.Can you say Graveyard Book? I knew you could. Been looking for an excuse to read that one!
Wait, i am confused, are we now doing award books page numbers, or genre page numbers? Or are we doing a mix of both? I am with who ever said that challenges help introduce me to books I might not of ordinarily read and so doing a challenge based off of award winning YA books only doesn't really introduce me to new books. But again, maybe that is just me, and whatever you decide, I will definitely participate!
We're thinking of combining several different aspects into one challenge, Kathryn, so I think we'll have you covered.;)
We have 11 genres posted here, including childrens. Read a book from say - I don't know - 4 or 5? different genres, 1 of which you've never read from that genre before.
What about:Read a (YA) book from another member's 'favourites' or 5-stars shelf? (You could restrict it to the member who posted before or after you in a thread, etc. etc. similar to SC)
Read a (YA) book written BEFORE 1955? (Because there's a surprising amount of really good 'old' YA that is overlooked in favour of stuff written in the past month or whatever (*push* Elizabeth Marie Pope *push*)
I really liked the idea of walking into a library and picking 3 YA books you've never read/heard of before! I'm getting excited :)
YAY! We need more exciting ideas like this one Josie. Keep 'em coming - don't be shy. I like the way your mind works.;)
*simpers* thanks, Laura!Unfortunately, that's about it for my mind...except, what about reading a YA book that features a character who shares your name?
OR
...no, that's it, I'm all out of ideas.
I like your ideas, Josie!Here's a few I've come up with:
Read a YA book that's set in your geographical area (or the geographical area in which you'd most like to live)
Read a YA book that your librarian/youth librarian has recommended
Read a YA series that is new to you
Read a YA book with a one-word title
Re-read a YA book that you enjoyed when you were younger (perhaps between the ages of 12-18?)
Terrific, Jamie!Read a YA book that is inspirational in some way, esp. for youth
Read a YA book that would be a terrific graduation gift (college or grade school)
Read a YA book that takes place in a college setting
Read a YA book that was the first book published by the author
Read a YA book published in the year you were born OR in the year any of your children or siblings were born
Thanks, Jamie! I like yours too, espcially the last one - I feel like re-reading some Tamora Pierce!I lied, I've thought of some more:
Read a YA book by an author with a double-barreled surname.
Read a YA book that has been made into a movie, then watch the movie and tell us which one you preferred and why.
Beth wrote: "Me too, Laura. I've been looking forward to reading The Graveyard book for awhile now."I loved that book! So good. Neil Gaiman is the best. Well, one of the best.
You know, I'd like to get it up and running for May 1, if possible, but if we do, we'll need LOTS of ideas fast. I'd hate to do a mid-month start, so if not May 1 then definitely by June 1.But let's shoot for May 1 - keep the momentum going here!
A book set in a place you want to visitA book that takes place in a different culture than your own
A book that DOES take place in your culture (ethnic culture)
A historical fiction novel (you could probably make this more specific)
A graphic novel
(For Fiona) Read a YA book with a pink coverRead a YA book you've tried to read before, but never finished
Read a YA book aloud to someone (kids, siblings, friends, mother, whoever will listen!)
Read a YA book with any of the words 'wild', 'things', 'grown' or 'up' in the title
Ugh for the one I've tried to read but never finished that would have to be Little Women. I've tried to read it TWICE and couldn't get through it.Read a Newbery Award winner/honor book
Read a difficult-to-find book
Hmm..not sure, this is still a work-in-progress...it would be nice to make it "finish-able" even for people who aren't speed-readers!Maybe 20? That would be 1.5 books per week, but YA usually reads pretty quickly, so that should be do-able without being too crazy right?
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For our first Challenge (and maybe for those to follow), there will be Amazon gift certificates for the Top 3 finishers! We really want this to be a lot of fun, and encourage everyone to join in.
My first thought is to incorporate several different YA genres, to encourage everyone to stretch out into something they've never tried before, and maybe find a new favorite in the process!
Anyone else have any thoughts?