2026 Reading Challenge

Massachusetts Center for the Book has a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2026!

Here is how the challenge works:

  • Choose a book that fits the monthly challenge, see below for this month’s suggestions.
  • After you read, fill out this form to tell us about the book.
  • That’s it!
    • If you read at least one book, you will be invited to a year-end celebration hosted by Mass Center for the Book.
    • If you read a book in each of the 12 months, you will be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 2 totes filled with books and Massachusetts goodies.
    • For February’s prompt, you can access the Genre Picker Wheel here!

August: Read a book that could be considered taboo

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Kim, Monika
The Bluest Eye by Morrison, Toni
The Glass Castle : A Memoir by Walls, Jeannette
I'm Glad My Mom Died by McCurdy, Jennette
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Maas, Sarah J
Bridgerton : the Duke and I by Quinn, Julia
Giovanni's Room by Baldwin, James
A Clockwork Orange by Burgess, Anthony
Gender Queer by Kobabe, Maia
Sold by McCormick, Patricia
Humankind : A Hopeful History by Bregman, Rutger
God Is Not Great : How Religion Poisons Everything by Hitchens, Christopher
The State of Affairs : Rethinking Infidelity by Perel, Esther
White Oleander : A Novel by Fitch, Janet
The House of My Mother : A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Franke, Shari
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Greenwood, Bryn
Tampa by Nutting, Alissa
Nineteen Minutes : A Novel by Picoult, Jodi
Blob : A Love Story by Su, Maggie
Someone You Can Build A Nest In by Wiswell, John
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Chbosky, Stephen
Tricks by Hopkins, Ellen