My Own Personal Reading Challenges: Judy Blume & Poetry

I know I have just cluttered my blog up with many reading challenges today but this is the last of them! These are challenges that I haven't seen on other blogs and so I just created my own. Feel free to join in!

I LOVE Judy Blume. I plan on rereading all of Judy Blume's Fudge books (5), MG books (9), and YA books (4) before 2011 is up. There are only one or two of her books in these categories that I haven't  read.

Goal: 18 books


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I've always loved poetry and now that I' have really been inspired to write my novel, poems and short stories and I have an even greater appreciation for them. I can't get enough!

How the challenge works: Read any kind of collection of poetry book. Or a book by a poet that might not necessarily be a collection of poems.

Charles Bukowski
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg
Love Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare
Ariel by Sylvia Plath

Goal: 10 Books

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POC Reading Challenge 2011

I am definitely doing the the Persons of Color reading challenge again! You can sign up HERE.




Goal: Level 5 - Read 16-25 POC books 

Possibilities:
Angela Johnson
Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

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BA Reading Challenges 2011

Bookish Adour's Reading Challenges look awesome! She has five different challenges on her blog and I'm going to be participating in three of them. Hey! Don't look at me like that. I have no control over myself when it comes to challenges.

DYSTOPIA CHALLENGE 

Goal: Contagion Level (15 books)
Possibilities:
1984 by George Orwell
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Feed by MT Anderson
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Giver by Lois Lowry
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Specials by Scott Westerfeld
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
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THE COMIC CHALLENGE

Goal: Zoink! Level (15 comics)
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OFF THE SHELF!
Goal: Trying Level (15 books)
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The TwentyEleven Challenge

I couldn't resist! This challenge looks like so much fun! The challenge is hosted by Bart's Bookshelf and pretty much there are 11 categories that you need to read at least 1 book from each category (and a max of 2) with a total of 20 books altogether. Meaning you can pick two categories where you only need to read one book and in the nine others, you'll read two. 

I have listed the categories with possibilities of the books I want to read for them italicized. Bold is what I read for it. 

1. To YA or not YA (since I read mainly YA, I have to read an adult fiction title or two)

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult 

2. …With a Twist (sub-genres)

Dystopian (that is a romance) -- Delirium by Lauren Oliver 

3. Hot off the Presses (book published in 2011)

4. It Wasn't Me! aka Bad Bloggers (picked up solely on the recommendation of another blogger)

5. Show it Who is Boss! (book has to be already on your bookshelf as of 1/12/10)

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Inside The Mind of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller 

6. Bablefish (book has to be translated from a language that is not your own)

7. Will-Power? What Will-Power? (book that is bought new during 2011)

8. Mind the Gap (last book you need to complete to duology/trilogy/series)

9. Back in the Day (reread an old favorite)

10. Way Back When (read a book that was published before you were born...for me that is 1994)

11. Slim-Pickings (any book between 90-150 pages)

YA of the 80s & 90s Challenge 2011

I just found out about this cool challenge that The Book Vixen is hosting and would love to participate! It's pretty simple, all you have to do is read YA books that orginally came out in the 80s or 90s. I feel really confident about this challenge since a lot of the books that I've been planning on rereading or reading for the first time are in these decades! 

Goal: 15 books 

Some books that I'll probably (re)read:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

Just As Long as We're Together by Judy Blume

Letters to Judy by Judy Blume

GLBT Challenge 2011

Signing up for the GLBT Challenge once again! This year there are no levels which is fine by me, since I think I'll do better like this, just at my own pace.

I don't have specific books that I'd like to read but here are some possibilities:
(reread) The Perks of Being a Wallflowers by Stephen Chbosky
Alex Sanchez
My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
Ash by Malinda Lo
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, David Levithan
other David Levithan books
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Torn by Amber Lehman
Julie Anne Peters
Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger


Goal: Read 10 books

Books Read In 2011

Bianca is ashamed at how many books she read for 2010. With winter break she believes she'll be able to read at least 10 more books (hopefully) but that's still only, like, 50 books all together. However, Bianca is going to get her life together and will stay on top of things because she has learned that, "Procrastination is the thief of time. " (Edward Young) 

She will do all the things that she needs to do: homework, keeping room clean once she cleans it in the next couple of days, sports practices, preparing for SATs/ACTs/AP Tests, etc. Bianca is not sure why the hell she is typing in 3rd person or why she just wrote all of this but she is stopping now.
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Books Read in 2010

GOAL: Read 75 books.

Books Started in 2010 but finished in 2011 (not officially counting toward 2011 challenge):
1. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
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January:
1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
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2011 Debut Author Challenge

Kristi over at The Story Siren is once again hosting the fabulous Debut Author Challenge for 2011! Now, I am unbelievably terrible at these (don't even ask me how 2010 challenges are going...) but I'm going to stick to 12 for now and I WILL read/review them...

1. XVI/Julia Karr/Speak
2. Other Words for Love/Lorraine Zago Rosenthal/Delacorte
3. Where I Belong/Gwendolyn Heasley/HarperTeen
4. Ten Miles Past Normal/Frances O'Roark Dowell/Atheneum
5. I Am J/Cris Beam/Little, Brown
6. Saving June/Hannah Harrington/Harlequin Teen
7. Stupid Fast/Geoff Herbach/Sourcebooks Fire
8. The Pull of Gravity/Gae Polisner/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
9. Bumped/Megan McCafferty/HarperCollins
10. But I Love Him/Amanda Grace/Flux
11. The Liar Society/Lisa and Laura Roecker/Sourcebooks Fire
12. Bad Taste in Boys/Carrie Harris/Delacorte Press

Wish me luck!

Summer Break Reading Challenge Activity #2

For Activity #2, we had to choose a book and copy & paste our review or the synopsis into wordle to create a picture.

I chose to use my review of My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger. I read it earlier this year and loved it!

Graphic Novels Challenge 2010

I wasn't going to join anymore challenges at least until I've got halfway through the ones I'm already doing...but I have never, ever read a graphic novel before. One of my closest friends loves graphic novels (and is currently writing/drawing one) and I have to see why they're so popular! To sign up GO HERE!

Rules/Guidelines:

• The challenge starts on January 1st 2010 and ends on December 31st (but we don't mind you starting early.)
• You don't have to make a list beforehand (but you can, of course! Lists are great because they give ideas to people who aren't sure what to read. And if you do make one, don't feel forced to stick to it!)
• We simplified the levels of participation: you can be a Beginner (3 Comics or Graphic Novels), Intermediate(3-10) or an Expert (10+). You're more than free to adjust your level of participation after the challenge has begun.
• There will be mini-challenges! Look for a post with more info on that soon.
• Overlaps with other challenges are totally fine.

I'm actually going for the Expert level! I actually want to try for at least 15. Below are the books I plan on reading for this challenge. I will link back as soon as I review them!

Graphic Novels:

1. Steady Beat, Volume 1 by Rivkah

2. Steady Beat, Volume 2 by Rivkah

3. A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Allison Bechdel

Impostor's Daughter, The by Laurie Sandell

Plain Janes, The by Cecil Castellucci

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 by Stephenie Meyer, Young Kim

Hogwarts Reading Challenge

The moment I saw about this challenge (a couple minutes ago) I could not resist doing it! Anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with Harry Potter and this is a wicked cool challenge! CLICK HERE to sign up.

The challenge started on March 8 and will be going on until December 13, 2010. First and foremost you must take the Sorting Hat quiz to determine which house you'll be in. The Hat has spoken and I have been put into.......

Ravenclaw! (I'm actually a bit surprised. I thought for sure I would've been put into Slytherin...you know because of my wicked and cunning ways!) :)

"Each book you read must fit in to the subject of one the classes. You do not have to read books that fit all the subjects. Each book equals one point (toward the house cup)." If you read a Harry Potter book that is worth 25 pts.

Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deal with numbers or math

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Ancient Runes - read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better why to understand Muggle than to read what they read

I plan on reading a book for each category! I will be adding titles to this post as time goes on. Any suggestions for the categories I don't already have would be awesome! Especially for the potions and herbology one. I don't know any titles with herb or potion in it and I don't want to use a cookbook...

POC Reading Challenge

I love reading books that feature POC! So, I definitely was already going to be doing this challenge, but I decided to go ahead and make it official! You can click the button at the top of this post or just click HERE to sign up!

*I will be participating in Level 5. Which is reading 16-25 POC books!

1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

2. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

3. My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

4. Rules of Attractions by Simone Elkeles

5. Riot by Walter Dean Myers

6. Push by Sapphire

Here are some books I hope to read:

8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich

Ash by Malinda Lo

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon

The First Part last by Angela Johnson

The God Box by Alex Sanchez

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Out of my Mind by Sharon M. Draper

She's So Money by Cherry Cheva

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

GLBT Mini Challenge for January

The January mini-challenge at the Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name is to write a paragraph or so about why the GLBT challenge/or issue is important to you.

WHY the GLBT challenge is important to me: I have always been a very open minded person. I do not care one bit if you are gay, straight, bi, transgendered or whatever. The world is filled with so many problems and I hate that people think that being gay is one of them; it definitely isn't.

Last year, my freshmen year of HS, I joined the GSA club, which is Gay Straight Alliance. It was such a different experience from what I'm used to. There weren't many regular members only around 10. Sometime in February we hosted an event where other high school students that were members of GSA or whatever came. Although, I'm sure I was one of the few straight people there, it was a pretty awesome experience. There were workshops like Gays in history, a senator of Missouri (Kansas City) who is openly gay came, and lots of other cool things. This year, I'm not in GSA. Mainly because I have sports and theatre and stuff. I have absolutely no time for it. Also, ever since the woman who sponsored us last year went to another school and someone else took over, I don't think anyone really goes to it anymore.

I think it is wicked important that GLBT in literature. There aren't that many books out there that include GLBT characters. You love who you love and you are who you are. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

*If you want to check out what books I'll be reading for the GLBT Challenge.

The 10 in '10 Chick Lit Challenge

The 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge! Co-hosted by teen book blogger Jessica (www.chicklitteens.com) and YA author Kay Cassidy (www.kaycassidy.com), the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge is your chance to read some fabulous teen chick lit books with other chick lit fans. The challenge runs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

To check out the challenge CLICK HERE!

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

Gossip Girl #1 by Cecily Von Ziegesar

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Rules of Attractions by Simone Elkeles

Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

Scones and Sensibility by Lindsey Eland

The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

2010 Challenges

• Summer Break Reading Challenge

• GLBT Challenge

• Debut Author Challenge

• POC Challenge

• Gilmore Girls Challenge

• 3 4 5 Reading Challenge

• Hogwarts Reading Challenge

• Graphic Novels Challenge

• 100+ Challenge

• 10 in '10 Chick Lit Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

If school, sports, and all the other things in my life will let me, I am going to try and read 100+ books in 2010!

Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

To sign up and learn more about this challenge go HERE.

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BOOKS READ IN 2010.

1. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

2. Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

3. Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

4. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

6. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

7. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

8. House Rules by Jodi Picoult

9. Gone by Lisa McMann

10. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

11. Steady Beat, Volume 1 by Rivkah

12. Steady Beat, Volume 2 by Rivkah

13. A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

14. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

15. My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

16. Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

17. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

18. Rules of Attractions by Simone Elkeles

19. David Inside Out by Lee Bantle

20. Kiss It by Erin Downing

21. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

22. Riot by Walter Dean Myers

23. Push by Sapphire

24. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

25. Unexpected Development by Marlene Perez
26. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
27. Dramacon, Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova
28. Dramacon, Volume 2 by Svetlana Chmakova
29. Dramacon, Volume 3 by Svetlana Chmakova
30. Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
31. Memoirs of an Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
32. The Crucible by Arthur Miller
33. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
34. Fat Cat by Robin Brande
35. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
36. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
37. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
38. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
39. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
40. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
41. Shug by Jenny Han
42. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

:)

3 4 5 Reading Challenge

Okay. So, I wasn't planning on signing up for anymore challenges, but then I saw this one and couldn't resist!

Chickloveslit is hosting this challenge and here's what she had to say about it:

Rules of this challenge:

1. It will run from August 1, 2009 to August 1, 2010
2. You may sign up at any point in this time period
3. To complete the challenge, you must read THREE books from one series, FOUR books from another series, and FIVE books from another series (For example: Song of Fire and Ice trilogy by George RR Martin, the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, and five of the Chronicles of Narnia books)
4. You do not have to choose your books ahead of time (but are more than welcome to)
5. You do not have to 'complete' a series (i.e. you don't have to read a trilogy for your three book requirement - just 3 books from the same series)
6. Only books that you read between August 1, 2009 and August 1, 2010 count
7. The books you read may count for other challenges

To join go HERE.

3 Books From a Series

(Ruby Oliver Series by E. Lockhart)

1. The Boyfriend List

2. The Boy Book

3. The Treasure Map of Boys

4 Books From a Series

(The Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar)

1. Gossip Girl

2. You Know You Love Me

3. All I Want Is Everything

4. Because I'm Worth It

5 Books From a Series

(The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison)

1. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

2. On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God

3. Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nungas

4. Dancing in my Nuddy-Pants

5. Away Laughing on a Fast Camel

I own none of these books and so hopefully my library we'll have them in! C:

Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

There's this really awesome contest that I just had to join! It's the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge. I watch the show whenever I can, I haven't seen all the episodes or anything, but I definitely enjoy it. Here is some info on this challenge:

There are three levels of participation:

• Emily: Read 5 books from at least two different categories.
• Lorelai: Read 10 books from at least three different categories.
• Rory: Read 20 books from at least four different categories.

Right now, I'm going to stick with the Lorelai level. Here are some of my choices:

Classics

The Sonnets by William Shakespeare

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Children/Young Adult

The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton

Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

Stuart Little E.B. White

Modern Classics

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

1984 by George Orwell

Nonfiction

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Other

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides

High Fidelity by Nick Hornsby

Girl, Interrupted by Susan Kaysen

Letter's to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Sophie's Choice by William Styron

*To sign up go HERE

GLBT Challenge 2010

I just saw this challenge over at GLBT Reading Blog and thought it would be great! I love reading GLBT books, especially those that fall under YA category.

Rules/Guidelines:

The basic idea of this challenge is to read books about GLBT topics and/or by GLBT authors. The challenge runs year-round, and there will be three levels of participation:

• Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
• Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
• Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.

My goal is to read at least 8 for now, but hopefully I'll get to the Rainbow level. Please leave suggestions for (YA) GLBT books that I could read. I don't know very many. If you know of any GLBT books that are coming out this year, that are also debut books let me know!

1. Steady Beat, Volume 1 by Rivkah

2. Steady Beat, Volume 2 by Rivkah

3. My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

4. David Inside Out by Lee Bantle

My list:

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Ash by Malinda Lo

The God Box by Alex Sanchez

Hero by Perry Moore

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle

My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Sprout by Dale Peck

Mini challenges:

January

February

March

April

I found a really awesome list on goodreads that helped me to choose some books: Best YA Fiction with GLBTQQI theams/characters

Another EXCELLENT LIST!

To sign up for this challenge go HERE.

2010 Debut Author Challenge

I am wicked excited to join the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, which is my first book challenge! C:

This challenge is being hosted by Kristi from THE STORY SIREN.

INFO from Kristi:

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

Here are some of the books that I plan on reading. My goal is to read and review at least 20.

1. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich

13 To Life: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Anna and the Boy Masterpiece (Anna and the French Kiss) by Stephanie Perkins

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

The Deathday Letter by Shaun Hutchinson

Explorer X-Alpha by LM. Preston

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner

The Mark by Jen Nadol

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Palace Beautiful by Sarah Dedford Williams

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Wish by Alexandra Bullen

*To sign up go HERE.