2025 Extreme Reader Challenge
Looking for a new challenge or way to add variety to your reading life? Sign up for Tacoma
Public Library’s Extreme Reader challenge! During this year-long adventure, you’ll explore new
titles and authors, read more diversely, and connect with fellow book lovers in your community!
Sign up today for the 2025 Extreme Reader challenge!
The Basics
The challenge begins on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The final day to register and report is Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
- Read 50 books (teens can read 25) in 50 weeks from 55 categories to complete the challenge and become an Extreme Reader
- Adults and teens (age 13 and over at time of sign up) are eligible for the challenge
- Books read must apply to current category list
- Participants must have a valid Tacoma Public Library card to register
Categories & Recommendations
At a loss for what to read? Staff-curated booklists are available for many of the categories and are linked below. These booklists will take you directly to the Tacoma Public Library catalog, where you can place holds and add titles of interest to your library account.
2025 Extreme Reader Categories
1. 3-word title, opens a new window
2. Animal character or narrator, opens a new window
3. The author as a character, opens a new window
4. Author born in the same month as you
5. Author whose name contains a color
6. Author you would recommend to a friend
7. BIPOC author who was first published when they were under 40 years of age, opens a new window
8. Book with even number of pages – dual category
9. Book with odd number of pages – dual category
10. Book you keep hearing about
11. Could have been shorter
12. Character is 60 years of age or older, opens a new window
13. Characters who are twins, opens a new window
14. Choose a book of your liking
15. Current favorite author
16. Eisner Award, opens a new window
17. Features an actor or film industry, opens a new window
18. Features a female detective, opens a new window
19. Features the mafia or organized crime, opens a new window
20. From a previous year's Extreme Reader (ER) category list, opens a new window
21. Green cover (50% or more), opens a new window
22. Has an epilogue
23. Has a zombie, opens a new window
24. Historical fiction not set during WWII, opens a new window
25. Image on cover that is not a photograph, opens a new window
26. Includes a dinosaur, opens a new window
27. Includes family conflict, opens a new window
28. Includes K-pop or K-drama, opens a new window
29. Includes a serial killer
30. Lightning or thunder in the title, opens a new window
31. Liked at the start, but not the end
32. Literary mystery, opens a new window
33. Main characters have a falling out, opens a new window
34. National Book Critics Circle Award--Fiction, opens a new window
35. On your to be read list for a long time
36. Past or current Lucky Day title, opens a new window
37. Romantasy, opens a new window
38. Satire, opens a new window
39. Sci-fi story not set in space, opens a new window
40. Set in your favorite season
41. Set on an island, opens a new window
42. Set in the Southwest of the United States, opens a new window
43. Shelved in the 800s, opens a new window
44. Sparks your imagination
45. Standalone you wish had a sequel
46. Sword and planet, opens a new window
47. Tacoma Reads 2025 adult or teen title
48. Takes place during Japan's Edo period (1603-1868), opens a new window
49. Title begins with "How to", opens a new window
50. Title is a complete sentence, opens a new window
51. Title that would be a great name for a band
52. Told in non-chronological order, opens a new window
53. Two or more people on the cover, opens a new window
54. Vehicle with wheels on the cover, opens a new window
55. Wish you had read it years ago
Completion & Rewards
Extreme Reader registration and reporting will take place on Beanstack, a virtual reading tracking system. Through Beanstack you can log categories you’ve completed on a computer or mobile device by visiting the Beanstack website, opens a new window or downloading the Beanstack app, opens a new window. For more information on using Beanstack, visit our Beanstack FAQs, opens a new window.
Once you sign up for Beanstack, the Extreme Reader challenge matching your age range (adult or teen) will be presented under the Reading Challenges. If you’re already signed up for Beanstack with Tacoma Public Library, you can find the Extreme Reader challenge under the ‘Challenges’ section of your account.
Through the Beanstack tracking system, registration, reporting, and completion can now take place at any time during the challenge year. Registration is available throughout the entire challenge!
Several engaging features are available through Beanstack. You can add friends and ‘compete’ with your progress, plus users can leave reviews for books!
Extreme Readers who are unable to register and complete through Beanstack may contact extremereader@tacomalibrary.org or JoLyn Reisdorf at 253-280-2979 for more information.
Rewards
Rewards for each year will be awarded after the challenge year has concluded. The last day to complete the challenge is Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Updates & Challenge FAQs
Check back here for corrections, updates, and frequently asked questions!
Challenge FAQs:
- Can both fiction and non-fiction titles count towards the challenge?
Absolutely! Either fiction or non-fiction titles can be read for any category unless the category itself states otherwise.
- Does the subtitle of a book apply to category parameters?
Unfortunately, it does not. If a category requires a specific word or parameter, that content needs to be included in the main title.
For example, for the category 'A book with a royal moniker in the title,' the book "A Princess in Theory" by Alyssa Cole would count whereas "Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens" by Jane Dunn would not fulfill the requirements.
- Do audiobooks and graphic novels count in this challenge?
Absolutely! Both audiobooks and graphic novels are just another way to tell a story. As long as they are at the appropriate reading level for the participant, they are acceptable formats.
- Do juvenile books count towards reading challenge?
As Extreme Reader is based on the honor system, we hope that participants will honor the nature of the challenge with their reading selections. Teen and higher level Juvenile books count, but other lower level books (easy readers, picture books, and board books) will not be accepted.
- I love podcasts; both fictional and non-fiction storytelling varieties. Can they count towards the Extreme Reader challenge?
Unfortunately, podcasts cannot be counted towards the Extreme Reader challenge.
- If I sign up for the challenge later in the year, can books I’ve already read be applied to the challenge or can I only count books that are read after I’ve officially registered?
Any books read between the program start and end date can be counted towards the challenge, regardless of when you register.
- Can I read one book and apply it to multiple categories?
Each title you read can only fulfill a single category.
- If I read a book for the challenge that I’ve already read before, does it still count?
Absolutely! If you read through a book during the challenge, it can be used, regardless of how many times you’ve read it in the past.
- I’m not old enough to register, can I still participate?
To officially sign up for the challenge through Beanstack, participants must be 13 or older by the time the challenge ends. However, anyone can use the category list to steer their reading for fun!
- What if I’m too young to sign up, but will turn 13 during the challenge?
You can still participate in the challenge and register once you’ve met the age requirements, as long as that happens before the challenge and registration ends. Any books you’ve read since the start of the challenge in January will count, even if you weren’t registered at that time.
- How do I pick which challenge level to join if I’m 18, or will be turning 18 during the challenge year?
Currently, the only difference between the challenge levels is the book requirement to complete. Beanstack will automatically show you which challenge you are eligible to participate in when you register.
Connect & Contact
Connect with fellow Extreme Readers in the TPL Extreme Reader Facebook group! Share what you’re reading, support fellow participants, exchange tips and reading recommendations, interact with the ER staff team, and make book loving friends! This group is for registered participants only, registration is required prior to joining the Facebook group.
Overbooked Book Group
Overbooked is our low key, no pressure book group for Extreme Reader participants. We meet up throughout the year for fun socializing – where members can talk about what they are reading, share recommendations, and discuss the challenge. Dates and locations for Overbooked meetups are announced via the Facebook group.
Questions?
Please reach out to the Extreme Reader staff team at extremereader@tacomalibrary.org , opens a new windowwith any questions, comments, feedback, or concerns!
