Extreme Book Nerd

Extreme Book Nerd –

January 4 to December 21, 2024 —

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


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In its 10th 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 4 and ends December 21, 2024.

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 2024 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:

  1. Title is a sentence
  2. Book with a subtitle
  3. A book with a twist ending
  4. A book set at a school
  5. A wild card (draw at 3rd Floor Desk)
  6. A book recommended by a friend
  7. A book from Reader’s Digest 100 Best Books
  8. A book from a library display
  9. A nonfiction book
  10. A book you own but haven’t read yet
  11. A book with siblings
  12. A book you can curl up with
  13. Your choice!
  14. A retelling
  15. The original source material for the retelling
  16. A book set in a library
  17. A book set in or about Idaho, or written by an Idaho author
  18. A book with a colorful cover
  19. A book you love, read it again!
  20. A book with royalty
  21. A book suggested by an IFPL staff member
  22. A book set in or on the ocean
  23. A book with an explorer
  24. A book with a life event
  25. A book published in 2015
  26. A book published in 2024

Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Prize

Picture of the prize headphones

Participants who finish the TEEN challenge on/before December 21, 2024 will receive exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Headphones.

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 21, 2024.

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.

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Extreme Book Nerd for Adults

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Also in its 10th year, Extreme Book Nerd is the IFPL’s original year-long reading challenge. To earn the prize, read 50 books in 50 weeks, selecting your titles from predefined reading categories. This challenge starts January 4 and ends December 21, 2024.

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 Messenger Bag.

  Learn more …

#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 Messenger Bag.

  Learn more …

* 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″)

  Journal tabs (Avery 5163)

Extreme Book Nerd Reading Categories

Following are the 2024 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:

  1. Title is a sentence
  2. Book with a subtitle
  3. A cozy fantasy
  4. An audiobook read by the author
  5. A love story
  6. A book with a twist ending
  7. A flower on the cover
  8. A book set at a school
  9. A wild card (draw at 3rd Floor Desk)
  10. A book recommended by a friend
  11. A book from Reader’s Digest 100 Best Books
  12. A book from a library display
  13. A book that mentions another book
  14. A book from TIME 100 Best Mystery & Thriller Books of All Time
  15. A book with a cowboy in it
  16. A book with an animal protagonist or narrator
  17. A book with a witch in it
  18. A nonfiction book
  19. An epistolary book
  20. A book you own but haven’t read yet
  21. A book with siblings
  22. A book you can curl up with
  23. A title that has ten, 10, or the letter X in it
  24. An inspirational book
  25. Your choice!
  26. A retelling
  27. The original source material for the retelling
  28. A book from NPR Books We Love 2023
  29. A book set in a library
  30. A book set in or about Idaho, or written by an Idaho author
  31. An illustrated book
  32. A book with a colorful cover
  33. A book you love, read it again!
  34. A book with royalty
  35. A book suggested by an IFPL staff member
  36. A book set in or on the ocean
  37. A book with an explorer
  38. A book that was turned into a movie or TV show
  39. A book with a life event
  40. A book with “life” or “death” in the title
  41. A book published in 2015
  42. A book published in 2016
  43. A book published in 2017
  44. A book published in 2018
  45. A book published in 2019
  46. A book published in 2020
  47. A book published in 2021
  48. A book published in 2022
  49. A book published in 2023
  50. A book published in 2024

  Print the category checklist (8.5 x 11″)

Extreme Book Nerd Prize

Picture of the prize bag

Participants who finish the ADULT challenge on/before December 21, 2023 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Messenger Bag.

Note that to receive this prize you must show your completed reading log to a library staff member before the end of the challenge.

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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 21, 2024.

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

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Now in its 5th 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 4 and ends December 21, 2024.

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

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Picture of the prize bag

Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 21, 2024 will receive an exclusive Book Nerd messenger bag.

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

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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 21, 2024.

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


facebook.com/groups/extreme-book-nerd

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.

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