Extreme Book Nerd 2026 runs from February 1st through December 12th
Looking for a reading challenge in 2026? Join our Extreme Book Nerd Year-long Reading Challenge. Read 32 books in 45 weeks and get a prize. Sign up starts February 1st. The Extreme Book Nerd is open to adults and teens.
Rules:
- One book per category for a total of 32 books in 45 weeks.
- For patrons of the Poplar Creek Public Library. Each participant must have his/her own library card. The completion prize is only available to Poplar Creek Public Library patrons. Sign up at the library or online.
- Once Extreme Book Nerd ends on December 12th, 2026, library staff will tally completion records and prepare the prize order. When the prizes are available to hand out, each recipient will be contacted to pick up their prize.
- Keep track of your own reading on our website, or our paper reading log available at the library. You may also use your own reading log.
Register here and log titles for ADULT Extreme Book Nerd 2026 starting February 1st.
Register here and log titles for TEEN Extreme Book Nerd 2026 starting February 1st.
Adult & Teen Reading Categories
Adult Extreme Book Nerd Categories
- Audiobook
- Any award-winning book
- A Teen book
- Nonfiction
- Graphic Novel
- A book of your choice
- A genre you don't normally read
- A book with time travel
- A book from a library book discussion
- A book with a hotel, inn, or B&B
- A book set in a library or bookstore
- An author whose first name is a set of initials
- A book with an animal on the cover
- A book about a culture you are unfamiliar with
- A book from the bottom shelf at the library
- A book about a historic figure (fact or fiction)
- A book with multiple narrators
- An author from Illinois
- A book with one of the four seasons in the title
- A book title that doesn't contain the letter "A"
- A book with an LGBTQ theme or character
- Debut novel
- Holiday book
- Psychological thriller
- Retelling of a story
- A book with Book, Nerd, or Challenge in the title
- A book with a person's name in the title
- A book from a library display or bibliography
- A book recommended by a friend
- A book with a beautiful cover
- A book written by a male author
- A book with a beach scene on the cover
- A book recommendation from Novelist
- A book set in the future
- A book with a main character over 50
- A book with a cover that is your favorite color
- A book with a dragon or fairy
- A book where the main character works in healthcare (ex. doctor, nurse, midwife, etc)
- A book you chose with your eyes closed
Teen Extreme Book Nerd Categories
- An audiobook
- Any award-winning book
- An Adult book
- A Nonfiction book
- A Graphic Novel
- A book of your choice
- Genre you do not normally read
- A book published in 2025
- A New York Times Best Seller
- A book found on the Libby App
- A book set in the past
- A book with the name of an animal in the title
- A book with an intriguing title or cover
- A book set in the summer
- The first book in a series
- A book with a chef or baker
- A book with witches
- An own voices book
- A book with less than 200 pages
- An enemies-to-lovers romance
- A book with dual perspectives
- A book with a title that matches song lyrics or song title
- A book that is issue-oriented
- A book with illustrations in it
- A short story collection
- A book by an author you have read before
- A book set on or around Halloween
- A book with an Indigenous character
- A murder mystery book
- A classic you have not read yet
- A book with a one-word title
- A book written in third person
- A book with time travel
- A Dystopian book
- A book that is a retelling of another story
- A book with a strong female protagonist
- A book recommended to you
- A book with more than one character on the cover