2016 Summer Reading Challenge

[Debbie]

Jackie wrote: "I finished my second and third book for the challenge. I read "Following Atticus", and I listened to "Dairy Queen". Both were good."

What were the sports?

[Becky]

Finished my third book for the challenge, Boy21, which had basketball featured, but really was a unique story of friendship. A very fast read!

[Jenny]

I finished my fourth book for the challenge.

Hiking: Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship

[Jackie]

Debbie wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I finished my second and third book for the challenge. I read "Following Atticus", and I listened to "Dairy Queen". Both were good."

What were the sports?"
Following Atticus is all about hiking, and Dairy Queen is about high school football. :)

[Jackie]

I finished "Boy21", which is a story about two high school boys who play basketball, but is a good story about friendship, and moving forward after trials and disappointments.
One left!

[Elizabeth]

Becky wrote: "Finished my third book for the challenge, Boy21, which had basketball featured, but really was a unique story of friendship. A very fast read!"

Awesome Becky!

[Elizabeth]

Jenny wrote: "I finished my fourth book for the challenge.

Hiking: Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship"

This one is super popular. I really will have to read it.

[Elizabeth]

Jackie wrote: "I finished "Boy21", which is a story about two high school boys who play basketball, but is a good story about friendship, and moving forward after trials and disappointments.
One left!"

Yay Jackie!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Fourth book-- The Gigantic Giant Goof-Up featuring archery. This is the 2nd Buckle and Squash book and if you haven't tried them, you should. Oh my gosh they're funny.

Books completed:
Soccer: Two For Joy
Various: Fox Trot En Masse
Hiking: Endangered Edens
Archery: The Gigantic Giant Goof-Up

[Becky]

I finished my fourth book Running the Rift, which is a fiction account of the Rwandan genocide. The main character is a runner training for the Olympics. An important read.

[Elizabeth]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Fourth book-- The Gigantic Giant Goof-Up featuring archery. This is the 2nd Buckle and Squash book and if you haven't tried them, you should. Oh my gosh they're funny."

Ooh, thanks for the suggestion. I'm a fan of funny books.

[Elizabeth]

Becky wrote: "I finished my fourth book Running the Rift, which is a fiction account of the Rwandan genocide. The main character is a runner training for the Olympics. An important read."

Wow, sounds intense.

[Greg]

Elizabeth wrote: "Greg wrote: "My 5 books are/will be:

Soul Surfer: a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board by Bethany Hamilton (complete 6-30)
The Keeper: the unguarded story of Tim Ho..."

Yes, I really did enjoy Soul Surfer. It was less about the attack and surfing than I thought it would be, less about her recovery. Much more was dedicated to her religious faith and random teen girl topics.

[Elizabeth]

Greg wrote: "Much more was dedicated to her religious faith and random teen girl topics. "

I still haven't read it, so I'm surprised. I thought it would mostly be about surfing. Good to know!

[Becky]

I finished my fifth book for the challenge, Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier. It was a bit more romance-y than I usually choose but was good fun and a light read. It is about a bored 18th century woman in London who escapes to her Cornish country house and meets a French pirate, there. This book might be a stretch on sports, but I am going to count it for sailing.

I am finished with the challenge but if I read additional books involving sports, I will continue to post them!

[Elizabeth]

Becky wrote: "I finished my fifth book for the challenge, Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier. It was a bit more romance-y than I usually choose but was good fun and a light read. It is about a b..."

That sounds fun. I looked it up in our catalog to put it on hold, since I've only read one Daphne Du Maurier, and it was turned into a movie! AND we have it in the library system. I'll have to read it and then watch it.

[Debbie]

OK, I'm adding another one to my list in the category of "Long Distance Biking/Running". The book? The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Challenge books:
Boating:
White Water by Jonathan and Aaron London.
There's Always Room for One More by Ingrid Schubert.
Trampoline, Free-style:
Tumble Bunnies by Kathryn Lasky
Family play time:
Charlie Plays Ball by Ree Drummond
Jogging:
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
Olympic sports:
Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester
Basketball:
Dream Big: The Journey of the Jazz Bear by Aron Simkins
Rescue swimming:
The Highwayman by Craig Johnson
Rodeo:
Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
Ballet:
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen
Baseball:
Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds by Robert Burleigh
Running:
Shortcut by Donald Crews
Long Distance Biking/Running:
The Giver by Lois Lowry.

[Becky]

Elizabeth wrote: "Becky wrote: "I finished my fifth book for the challenge, Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier. It was a bit more romance-y than I usually choose but was good fun and a light read. I..."

Yes, I did see that Frenchman's Creek is a movie. I'll have to watch it! Plus, it looks like it was on Masterpiece Theater--might have to find that too.

[Alyson]

I finished my second book for the challenge last night--Joan Bauer's "Soar." The plot centers on baseball. I love her books, and this one didn't disappoint!

[Greg]

Carolyn wrote: "I am reading a book on Tai Chi, because I am interested in learning it. And a book called Balancing on Blue because hiking the AT is on my bucket list. Okay I have the rest: 127 hours (rock climbin..."

I've got Born to Run on hold. I'm fascinated by the topic. Another book I'm reading Running with the Kenyans references it. You might be interested in that title as well. Author is Adharanand Finn.

[Greg]

Carolyn wrote: "I am reading a book on Tai Chi, because I am interested in learning it. And a book called Balancing on Blue because hiking the AT is on my bucket list. Okay I have the rest: 127 hours (rock climbin..."

Also, you might be interested to know that there is a series of videos on youtube called "Tai Chi for Beginners" with Dr. Paul Lam, which is very good for getting started with the practice of Tai Chi.

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I am reading a book on Tai Chi, because I am interested in learning it. And a book called Balancing on Blue because hiking the AT is on my bucket list. Okay I have the rest: 127 hou..."

There are also a goodly number of Tai Chi videos on Amazon which are free if you are a Prime subscriber.

[Linda]

Elizabeth wrote: "Linda wrote: "Historical fiction and children's books..."

Try In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson or Honus & Me. For a historical picture book try [book:Baseba..."

Thid challenge was difficut for me because this is not my genre. i read a couple of cildren's books to get through and a couple of others.
the 5 books I read were
1. Yosemite National Park Harrowing Ascent of Half Dome by Mike Graf Rock climbing
2. Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki Baseball
3. Magic Tree House Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborn Olympics
4. An Echo Through the Snow by Andrea Thalasinos Dog sled racing
5. One Season of Hope by Jim Stowall Football (This one was my favorite. very touching)

[Linda]

Elizabeth wrote: "Linda wrote: "Historical fiction and children's books..."

Try In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson or Honus & Me. For a historical picture book try [book:Baseba..."


I read two of the books you suggested Basball Saved Us and One Season of Hope. Both of them were very good

[Carolyn]

Greg wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I am reading a book on Tai Chi, because I am interested in learning it. And a book called Balancing on Blue because hiking the AT is on my bucket list. Okay I have the rest: 127 hou..."

Thanks for the ideas Greg!

[Carolyn]

Debbie wrote: "Greg wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I am reading a book on Tai Chi, because I am interested in learning it. And a book called Balancing on Blue because hiking the AT is on my bucket list. Okay I have the ..."

thanks Debbie, I am a prime member.

[Alyson]

Thanks to whomever read "Tillie the Terrible Swede"--that was my third book for the challenge, and I thought it was fascinating!

[Elizabeth]

I love, love, LOVE how people are recommending books to others in this challenge and how people are reading outside of their comfort zone! Good job EVERYONE!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

I also read "Tillie the Terrible Swede"-- very interesting!

Books completed:
Soccer: Two For Joy
Various: Fox Trot En Masse
Hiking: Endangered Edens
Archery: The Gigantic Giant Goof-Up
Cycling: Tillie the Terrible Swede

That's 5!

[Elizabeth]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "That's 5!"

CONGRATULATIONS!

[Debbie]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "That's 5! "

Hooray!

[Alyson]

I read "Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, And Swimsuit History" with my kiddos last week, and it's now my almost-7-year-old's current favorite book. It's my fourth for the challenge--one more to go!

[Carolyn]

finished Balancing on Blue and 9 week walking cure.

[Elizabeth]

Alyson wrote: "...one more to go!"

Yay! And a whole month to do it in. Great job!

[Elizabeth]

Carolyn wrote: "finished Balancing on Blue and 9 week walking cure."

Excellent! I'm glad you tried a how-to book. :D

[Elizabeth]

One more month to finish the challenge!

[Jackie]

I have finished the challenge by reading "The Lucky Baseball: My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp". A good introduction on the subject for upper grade school students.

[Elizabeth]

Jackie wrote: "I have finished the challenge..."

Go Jackie!

[Alyson]

I finished today with "Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds." It was an awkward format, honestly--maybe I'll find another one about him for my kiddos--but it finished the challenge for me!

[Jenny]

I am finished.

Soccer: Booked
Basketball: Planet Middle School
Hiking: Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
Skeleton: Focused: Keeping Your Life on Track, One Choice at a Time
Sumo wrestling, baseball, dancing: Colors of Confinement: Rare Kodachrome Photographs of Japanese American Incarceration in World War II. This last one is maybe a bit of a stretch but it is essays and photographs in Heart Mountain Internment Camp during WWII and it shows dancing and sumo wrestling and talks about the role that sports and cultural celebrations played in life in the camps. So I am counting it. And it was a fascinating book...I've been reading a lot of books about the internment camps (and several talked about baseball and its importance) but this one challenged my thinking in several ways.

[Jenny]

Alyson wrote: "I finished today with "Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds." It was an awkward format, honestly--maybe I'll find another one about him for my kiddos--but it finished the challenge for me!"

I really liked the picture book Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson.

[Melanie]

I've read Following Atticus previously and like Wild, which I completed for the summer challenge, I had an urge to take up hiking. I mean neither of those authors were particularly athletic or in shape when they started. Alas, hiking is still just a pretty thought. Running the Rift, on the other hand, did not make me want to start training for the 800 meter but I did find it very moving and educational.

[Elizabeth]

Alyson wrote: "...it finished the challenge for me!"

Congratulations!

[Elizabeth]

Jenny wrote: "I am finished..."

Congratulations! That last books sounds fascinating. I'll have to add it to my TBR pile!

[Elizabeth]

Melanie wrote: "Running the Rift, on the other hand, did not make me want to start training for the 800 meter but I did find it very moving and educational. ..."

:D Man, that's great that you found it moving and educational. I also, don't want to train for the 800 meter. I have a friend who posted on FB today. "Come on self, don't just sit here while you watch the olympics, get on the elliptical!" I just sat there and watched beach volleyball. lol.

[Melanie]

Finished books three and four for the Summer Challenge. Third was Breathe by Kate Bishop which focused on yoga as a way for the protagonist to get over the breakup of her year old marriage. The fourth was Breathe Annie Breathe by Miranda Kenneally which told the story of a young woman who is inspired to train for a marathon by the death of her boyfriend.

[Debbie]

Melanie wrote: "Finished books three and four for the Summer Challenge. Third was Breathe by Kate Bishop which focused on yoga as a way for the protagonist to get over the breakup of her year old marriage. The fou..."

It's interesting that both deal with a form of loss and both have the word "breathe" in the title.

[Jackie]

Elizabeth wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Running the Rift, on the other hand, did not make me want to start training for the 800 meter but I did find it very moving and educational. ..."

:D Man, that's great that you foun..."

HAHAHAHA! I am with you sista'!!!!

[Elizabeth]

Melanie wrote: "Finished books three and four for the Summer Challenge...."

Yay! Only one more to go!!!

[Carolyn]

finished Balancing on Blue, 9 week walking cure, Tai Chi basic 24 (not the real title, can't remember it), Born to Run and Quidditch Through the ages! Five and done!