Extreme Book Nerd –
January 3 to December 17, 2022 —
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
Now in its 8th 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 3 and ends December 17, 2022.
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 stainless steel travel tumbler.
#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 an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Your Way stainless steel travel tumbler.
* 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 5160)
Extreme Book Nerd Reading Categories
Following are the 2022 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:
- Pet in it
- Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire
- Author’s last name fewer than 5 letters
- Any author’s most recently published book
- Alex Award winner
- Originally published the year you were born
- A wild card (pick up at 3rd-floor desk)
- Fantasy
- Set in Victorian England
- Green Cover (at least 50%)
- From the bottom shelf
- Published the year a family member was born
- Young Adult
- Mystery
- Takes place in Asia
- 2 books by 1 author #1 (no series)
- 2 books by 1 author #2 (no series)
- Famous landmark in it
- About something in nature
- From a library display
- Author’s last name has a color in it
- Autobiography
- Set in space
- Features music or a musician
- How-to book on a hobby you have or want to have
- Previously started but never finished
- Book you think everyone should read
- Part of a series
- Longest book on your to-be-read list
- Gemstones or jewelry in it
- Borrowed from a relative or friend
- Set in the state you were born (country if born outside of U.S.)
- Train in it
- Woman in a dress on the cover
- Author who is new to you
- Pulitzer Prize winner or finalist
- “Clock” or “Time” in the title
- Book you love, read it again
- Road trip in it
- Knight in it
- Cover you don’t like
- Nonfiction
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime #1
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime #2
- Recommended by an IFPL librarian
- Published in 2022
- Book you own but haven’t read
- 000 (001-099) nonfiction
- 2021 NPR Books We Love
- Recommended by another Book Nerd
Extreme Book Nerd Prize
Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 17, 2022 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd stainless steel travel 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
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 17, 2022.
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 3rd 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 3 and ends December 17, 2022.
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 17, 2022 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd Your Way stainless steel travel 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 17, 2022.
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.
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens
Also in its 8th 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 3 and ends December 17, 2022.
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 2022 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 wild card (pick up from 3rd-floor desk)
- Nonfiction
- Book you love, read it again
- Set in Victorian England
- Takes place in Asia
- Mystery
- Young Adult
- Fantasy
- From a library display
- Alex Award winner
- Set in space
- Pet in it
- Green Cover (at least 50%)
- Author’s last name fewer than 5 letters
- Knight in it
- Published this year (2022)
- Recommended by an IFPL librarian
- Set in the state you were born (country if born outside of U.S.)
- Cover you don’t like
- From the bottom shelf
- Originally published the year you were born
- 2021 NPR Books We Love
- Author who is new to you
- About something in nature
- Road trip in it
- Part of a series
Extreme Book Nerd for Teens Prize
Participants who finish the challenge on/before December 17, 2022 will receive an exclusive Extreme Book Nerd stainless steel travel 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
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.
You must have a current library card during the program and when you pick up your prize in order to be eligible for prizes.
For more information about any of these programs, call the library at 208-612-8460 or send us an online message.