Did you know that the Massachusetts Center for the Book sponsors state-wide reading challenges and events for readers across the Commonwealth? And with the end of the year swiftly approaching, the MA Center for the Book is beginning to roll out information on their 2025 Reading Challenge! Libraries from across the state are invited to sign up to participate as Reading Partners to help spread awareness, but any Massachusetts reader can participate, regardless of whether or not they have a library card.
Participation is easy! For readers, simply read a book that fits the challenge of the month and then use this form to submit a brief review. There’s no obligation to participate every month, but each entry earns you the opportunity to win free books!
Libraries who want to join the fun can use this form to sign up as an official Reading Partner of the 2025 Reading Challenge. Reading Partners will be featured on the challenge site and are encouraged to engage their readers with social media posts, programs, and displays featuring the book challenge of the month. The MA Center for the Book has a lot of handy resources for participating libraries looking to advertise to their patrons and will be sending all 2025 Reading Partners physical postcards and bookmarks they can distribute in addition to posting digital resources like these materials for the 2024 Reading Challenge.
While this Reading Challenge is targeted towards adult readers, the Massachusetts Center for the Book hosts another reading challenge targeted at students. You can find out more information about that challenge here.
Want to get prepped for 2025? Here are the reading categories for next year’s challenge along with a handy graphic that lists all of them posted below:
JANUARY: A book published or about the year you were born
FEBRUARY: A book with the name of a city in the title
MARCH: A book about someone with a marginalized identity
APRIL: A book about books, bookstores, or libraries
MAY: A book with a first sentence of eight words or less
JUNE: A book that spans multiple generations
JULY: A book you were drawn to by its cover
AUGUST: A book with a protagonist who is a teenager or senior citizen
SEPTEMBER: A book told in non-chronological order
OCTOBER: A book published by a Massachusetts press
NOVEMBER: A cookbook or book about food
DECEMBER: Another book by an author you’ve already read