Extreme Book Nerd –
January 8 to December 20, 2025 —
Extreme Book Nerd is a popular, year-long reading challenge hosted by the Idaho Falls Public Library. Participants read 50 books in 50 weeks (25 books for kids and teens) to earn prizes and the title of Extreme Book Nerd.
There are separate challenges for kids, teens, and adults:
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens
In its 11th year, Extreme Book Nerd for Teens is a variation of the classic challenge adapted specifically for busy teens (grades 7-12). Read books from 25 of the 26 categories on the reading log. Extreme Book Nerd for Teens starts on January 8 and ends December 20, 2025.
Note that teens can also participate in the Book Nerd Your Way challenge. This option would require teens to read 50 books in order to earn the prize.
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Reading Log
Teens, as you read books for the challenge, record the titles/authors under the appropriate categories in your Beanstack reading log.
Prefer to use paper? During the challenge you are welcome to track your reading with our printable reading log. You may also use a journal, a spreadsheet, or a list. Just remember that your books must be entered into Beanstack before reporting completion at the end.
Printable reading log (8.5 x 11″)
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Reading Categories
Here are the 2025 categories for the teen challenge. Participants must complete 25 of the 26 categories to earn the prize. Titles that are linked have a downloadable bookmark to help you find books on the topic:
- A book published this year
- A book written by two or more authors
- A title with an adjective
- A book that has someone you admire
- A book with an adventure
- A book suggested by another Book Nerd
- A book set in a capital city
- A book picked because of the cover
- A book from a library display
- A book that increases empathy
- A book with a hero
- A cover that’s the same color as the outside of your home
- A book that features an immigrant or refugee
- A book you’ve been meaning to read
- A book with a monster
- An author that is new to you
- A book about any war EXCEPT WWII
- A book from the nonfiction section
- A book from NPR Books We Love 2024
- A book you own but have never read
- A book set in the present
- A book you love, read it again!
- A book that begins with I, F, P, or L
- Wild Card
- Your choice!
- A book nominated for the Young Reader’s Choice Award (YRCA)
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Prize
Participants who finish the TEEN challenge on/before December 20, 2025 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd hoodie.
Note that to receive this prize you must show your completed reading log to a library staff member before the end of the challenge.
Details and Restrictions
Only 1 category per book. You cannot use the same book for multiple categories. Books you read for other challenges (e.g., summer and winter reading), book clubs, assignments, etc. can be counted for Extreme Book Nerd as long as they fit into one of the reading categories and are completed by December 20, 2025.
Books at the junior fiction level or higher are acceptable for teen participants. Books that will not be accepted include junior nonfiction, intermediate fiction, easy readers, and picture/board books. Magazines are also not accepted.
Official participation in Extreme Book Nerd is open to Idaho Falls Public Library patrons only. Prizes must be picked up in person by the participant or a designee.
You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.
Extreme Book Nerd for Adults
Adults may choose between 2 reading challenges:
#1 Extreme Book Nerd
This is the original program.
Read 50 books in 50 weeks.
Read from predefined categories.
The prize is a an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Hoodie.
#2 Book Nerd Your Way
This is the alternative program.
Read 50 books in 50 weeks.
Read on any topic you want*.
The prize is a an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Hoodie.
* Some format and reading-level restrictions apply
Extreme Book Nerd Reading Log
As you read books for the challenge, record the titles/authors under the appropriate categories in your Beanstack reading log.
Prefer to use paper? During the challenge you are welcome to track your reading with our printable reading log. You may also use a journal, a spreadsheet, or a list. Just remember that your books must be entered into Beanstack before reporting completion at the end.
Printable reading log (8 1/2 x 11″)
Printable category checklist (8 1/2 x 11″)
Category checklist bookmark (8 1/2 x 11″)
Journal tabs (Avery 5163)
Extreme Book Nerd Reading Categories
Following are the 2025 categories for the adult Extreme Book Nerd challenge. Participants must complete all 50 categories to earn the prize. Titles that are linked have a downloadable bookmark to help you find books on the topic:
- A book published this year
- A book written by two or more authors
- A title with an adjective
- A book that has someone you admire
- A book with an adventure
- A book that has art or an artist
- A book from the NYT Best Books of the 21st Century
- A book suggested by another Book Nerd
- A book set in a capital city
- A classic you’ve never read
- A book picked because of the cover
- A book from a library display
- A book that increases empathy
- A book that has an event that happened in your lifetime
- A book or title that features food
- A book set in the future
- A book or title that contains a game
- A book with a hero
- A historical mystery
- A cover that’s the same color as the outside of your home
- How-to in the title
- A book suggested by an IFPL staff member
- A book that features an immigrant or refugee
- A cover with jewelry on it
- A job title in the book title
- A book that takes place in a locked room or location
- A book you’ve been meaning to read
- A book that sold more than 1 million copies
- A book with a monster
- An author with the same name as an IFPL staff member
- An author that is new to you
- A book without modern technology
- A book about any war EXCEPT WWII
- A book from the nonfiction section
- A book from NPR Books We Love 2024
- A book you own but have never read
- Pairings in the title (____ and ____)
- A book set in the past
- A title with peace or piece
- A book set in the present
- A book you love, read it again!
- A title with sea, see, or C
- A short story, novella, or anthology collection
- A book that begins with I, F, P, or L
- A title that has under, over, or through
- A cover with water on it (in any form)
- A book or title that involves an element of weather
- Wild Card
- Your choice!
- A book nominated for the Young Reader’s Choice Award (YRCA)
Extreme Book Nerd Prize
Participants who finish the ADULT challenge on/before December 20, 2025 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Hoodie.
Note that to receive this prize you must show your completed reading log to a library staff member before the end of the challenge.
Details and Restrictions
Only 1 category per book. You cannot use the same book for multiple categories. Books you read for other challenges (e.g., summer and winter reading) or for book clubs can be counted for Extreme Book Nerd as long as they fit into one of the reading categories and are completed by December 20, 2025.
Books at the junior fiction level or higher are acceptable for adult participants. Books that will not be accepted include junior nonfiction, intermediate fiction, easy readers, and picture/board books. Magazines are also not accepted.
Official participation in Extreme Book Nerd is open to Idaho Falls Public Library patrons only. Prizes must be picked up in person by the participant or a designee.
You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.
Book Nerd Your Way
Now in its 6th year, Book Nerd Your Way is an alternative to the traditional Extreme Book Nerd challenge. It is well suited to those who love to read, but may not have the flexibility or desire to read from the library’s categories. To earn the prize, read 50 books in 50 weeks, selecting almost any title you wish (see details below). This challenge starts January 8 and ends December 20, 2025.
Book Nerd Your Way Reading Log
As you read books for this challenge, record the titles/authors in your Beanstack reading log.
Prefer to use paper? During the challenge you are welcome to track your reading with our printable reading log. You may also use a journal, a spreadsheet, or a list. Just remember that your books must be entered into Beanstack before reporting completion at the end.
Printable reading log (8 1/2 x 11″)
Book Nerd Your Way Prize
Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 20, 2025 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Hoodie.
Note that to receive this prize you must show your completed reading log to a library staff member before the end of the challenge.
Details and Restrictions
In Book Nerd Your Way, you may read almost anything you want. While books at the junior fiction reading level are acceptable, no other books from our children’s department will be accepted. This includes junior nonfiction, intermediate fiction, easy readers, and picture/board books. Magazines of any kind are also not accepted for this challenge.
Only 1 category per book. You cannot use the same book for multiple categories. Books you read for other challenges (e.g., summer and winter reading) or for book clubs can be counted for Extreme Book Nerd Your Way as long as they meet the requirements above and are completed by December 20, 2025.
Official participation in Extreme Book Nerd Your Way is open to Idaho Falls Public Library patrons only. Prizes must be picked up in person by the participant or a designee.
You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.
Facebook Group
If you enjoy sharing what you’re reading and want to ask other book nerds for recommendations, join our Extreme Book Nerd Facebook Group.
While official participation in the Extreme Book Nerd challenge is restricted to Idaho Falls Public Library patrons only, everyone is welcome to follow along with the challenge in their home communities and discuss the books they are reading in this Facebook group.
To maintain the focus of the group, we encourage members to focus their discussions on the reading challenge and not use the group for marketing or other spammy purposes.
For more information about any of these programs, call the library at 208-612-8460 or send us an online message.