Adi's Reading Challenge

What is Adi's Reading Challenge?

In 2012 we founded Adi’s Reading Challenge in honor of our former student, Aditya Srinivasan, as a way to encourage boys to read highly acclaimed, newly published books. We try to predict which books will win ALA Youth Media Awards, such as the Coretta Scott King Award, the Pura Belpre Award, the Sibert Award, and most especially, the Newbery Medal. The challenge takes place every year from early October to late January.

How it Works

List of 4 items.

1

Read the books on our shortlist. There are usually about twenty-five to choose from. A few are either just for 4th and 5th graders or for 6th grade and up but the majority are for everyone. Check the Reading Challenge wall in the library or click here to see which books are in the challenge. You many borrow one challenge book in print at a time. Many books are also available as Playaways or Overdrive downloads. You can have somebody read the book aloud to you - that still counts!
2
Fill out a form or complete a video with your thoughts about the book. You will need to log into Google using your Allen-Stevenson email address.
- Fiction Response Form
- Nonfiction Response Form
- FlipGrid Video Response (Describe a Memorable Scene)
- FlipGrid Video (Describe a Memorable Character)
3

See a librarian to discuss your form or video and talk about the book a little bit. Make sure you know the book well! Afterwards, Ms. Okeson will let you choose a small prize and she will also attach your name to the book cover on our challenge wall. Check this document to see which librarian you can talk to about your book and when they are available.
4

If you read the target number of books for your grade level you will be invited to our voting party in late January, a week before the ALA awards are announced. We will talk about the books, vote on the ones we think should win and eat huge amounts of pizza and oreos! This year the deadline for submitting online responses about books you've read is Sunday, January 12th.

Why Take Part?

List of 7 items.

1

First of all, these books will be among the most interesting you have ever read. The library team works hard to find books that are truly special. For every book that makes it into the challenge, there are roughly two books that we read and reject.
2

During the challenge, figuring out the next book you are going to read is easy!
3

You will most likely read books in genres or on topics that you have never considered before. This broadens you as a reader and as a person.
4

You can easily read the same books as your friends so that’s another thing you now have in common.
5

Okay, it has to be said, there are goodies involved. In addition to the prize you get after each book, there will be several prize drawings for boys who have read a certain number of books by a particular date. Past prizes have included a trip to Butterfield to get the snack of your choice (even frozen yogurt) or exclusive use of the adults only leather armchair in the library for a week.
6

We have several parent-child book discussions around challenge books and these are some of the most fascinating conversations you will have.
7

It’s fun, especially the voting party!