
Extreme Book Nerd –
January 4 to December 18, 2021 —
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 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 zip-up 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 color-changing tumbler.
* Some format and reading-level restrictions apply
Extreme Book Nerd

Now in its 7th 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 18, 2021.
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 (11 x 17″)
Journal tabs (Avery 5160, MS Publisher)
Extreme Book Nerd Reading Categories
Following are the 2021 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:
- Has North, South, East, or West in the title
- Has a black cover
- Has a building on the cover
- A book from your to-be-read list
- Has a celestial body in the title or on the cover
- Published under a pseudonym
- A wild card (pick up at 3rd-floor desk)
- Has a conjunction in the title
- A book you hadn’t planned on reading
- By an author with a last name 5+ letters long
- About someone you admire
- About a mom/dad/grandparent
- An alternative history
- Has Life or Death in the title
- Has a cover with realistic artwork
- Has a crime in it
- Title has double letters (e.g., tree, wood)
- Author with the same name, first or last, as one of your loved ones
- Set on a farm or in a rural location
- A book from a library display
- About a major world event
- A book you own but haven’t read
- Has a circus or carnival in it
- A book of satire
- Has Love in the title
- A book from the 2020 NPR Book Concierge list
- Has a one-word title
- An adult nonfiction book
- Set in the British Isles
- A debut novel
- Published in the 1900s
- Has a verb in the title
- (Title is like) The _____’s _______
- Has multiple narrators
- A graphic novel
- Set in two time periods
- Suggested by another Extreme Book Nerd
- Published before you were born
- A book you love (read it again)
- Has a title from, or story inspired by, another literary work
- A book you read in high school
- An Andrew Carnegie award nominee
- From the library’s “Read for Empathy” display
- Has Book in the title
- Set in a place conquered by the Roman Empire
- A book recommended by an IFPL librarian
- Listen to an audiobook
- Has a cover with shoes
- Adult Nonfiction 800s
- A book published this year
Print these categories (8.5 x 11″)
Extreme Book Nerd Prize
Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 18, 2021 will receive this exclusive Extreme Book Nerd zip-up 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 18, 2021.
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.
Book Nerd Your Way

Now in its 2nd 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 18, 2021.
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 (11 x 17″)
Book Nerd Your Way Prize
Book Nerd Your Way participants who finish the challenge on/before December 18, 2021 will receive an exclusive color-changing tumbler.
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 as long as they meet the requirements above and are completed by December 18, 2021.
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.
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.
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens

Also in its 7th year, Extreme Book Nerd for Teens is a variation of the classic challenge adapted specifically for busy teens. Read books from 25 of the 26 categories on the reading log. Extreme Book Nerd for Teens starts on January 4 and ends December 18, 2021.
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 2021 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:
- Has a black cover
- From your to-be-read list
- A wild card (pick up from 3rd-floor desk)
- Has a conjunction in the title
- By an author with a last name 5+ letters long
- About a mom/dad/grandparent
- Has a cover with realistic artwork
- Author with the same name, first or last, as one of your loved ones
- A book from a library display
- From the 2020 NPR Book Concierge list (visit the website)
- A young adult or adult nonfiction book
- A debut novel
- Published in the 1900s
- Has multiple narrators
- A graphic novel
- Published before you were born
- A book you love (read it again)
- A title from, or story inspired by, another literary work
- A book you read in high school (or middle school)
- An Andrew Carnegie Award nominee
- From the library’s “Read for Empathy” display
- A book recommended by an IFPL librarian
- Listen to an audiobook
- Has a cover with shoes
- A book from the adult nonfiction 800s
- A book published this year
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Prize
Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 18, 2021 will receive this exclusive Extreme Book Nerd zip-up 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 18, 2021.
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.
For more information about any of these programs, call the library at 208-612-8460 or send us an online message.