Are you up for a challenge that protects your brain, reduces stress, and makes you smarter? Do you think you can read 100 books? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you should join our reading challenges to help you achieve this goal. You can track your reading on your phone or other device, find great books to read in both print and digital formats, and earn special prizes. Along the way, you’ll develop the habits of a lifelong reader and enjoy its many benefits.

100 Books Before High School

CCPL is challenging all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to read 100 books before high school! The goal is for you to develop a lifelong reading habit, so there are no assigned books, no book reports, and no grades to worry about. Read whatever you want during middle school for the 100 Books Before High School challenge. (We have some suggestions below if you need them.)

Readers are eligible to sign up any time after completing 5th grade and have until the end of 8th grade to finish this challenge. Simply sign up for the challenge online, and then log every book you complete during this time period.

• If you read 25 books, you will receive a special laptop sticker and bookmark.
• If you make it to 50 books, you will receive a $15 Bookshop.org gift card to purchase a special book for yourself.
• If you make it to 100 books, you will receive the Ultimate Reader’s Gift Basket. You will also be emailed a certificate of completion.

Participants can only complete the program and earn prizes one time per challenge. Each book logged must be unique – rereads won’t be counted as two separate books. The Ultimate Reader's Gift Basket must be picked up in person at a Carmel Clay Public Library location.

Click the image to register

100 Books Before Graduation

For high school students in grades 9-12, the challenge is to read 100 books before graduation. We know that high school can be a very busy and stressful time, and reading for pleasure is a great way to practice self-care even if it is only a few pages a night. For our 100 Books Before Graduation challenge, there is no assigned reading (although you can count the books you read for school), no grades, and no projects or papers to worry about.

Readers are eligible to sign up any time after completing 8th grade and have until the end of 12th grade to finish this challenge. Simply sign up for the challenge, and then log every book you complete during this time period.

• If you read 25 books, you will receive a special laptop sticker and bookmark.
• If you make it to 50 books, you will receive a $15 Bookshop.org gift card to purchase a special book for yourself.
• If you make it to 100 books, you will receive the Ultimate Reader’s Gift Basket. You will also be emailed a certificate of completion.

Participants can only complete the program and earn prizes one time per challenge. Each book logged must be unique – rereads won’t be counted as two separate books. The Ultimate Reader's Gift Basket must be picked up in person at a Carmel Clay Public Library location.

Click the image to register

Book Suggestions

All books count for the 100 Books Challenges, including ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, and manga. If you need help finding a good book to read, check out our suggestions below, view great titles recommended by CCPL librarians and teens like you in our Pages in the Park videos, or challenge yourself to read titles that are not your usual with our Reading Challenge Sheets below.

Which 100 Book Challenge should I register for?

Beginning the summer before 6th grade through the end of 8th grade, you can take part in the 100 Books Before High School Challenge. From the summer before 9th grade through the end of 12th grade, you can take part in the 100 Books Before Graduation challenge. These two 100 Books challenges are based on a reader’s grade level not reading level.

Which books or which types of books do I need to read?

There are no specific titles or genres you need to read for your challenge. Every reader is unique! Part of becoming a lifelong reader is finding the books and authors that excite you and encourage you to make time to read during your day.

Can I use the same book more than once on my log if I re-read it?

No, we would like you to have the chance to read as many books as possible, so each title you count for your challenge should be a separate title.

Can I log books that I read before the date I signed up for the challenge – from when I started 6th grade or 9th grade?

No, we would like everyone to start from the point they sign up for a challenge. We know this might be tricky for those of you who are signing up when you’re already part-way through the time frame, but consider it an extra challenge!

I started a book but didn’t like it and don’t want to finish it. Can I still add to my log?

If you have given the book a genuine chance by reading or listening to at least 50% of it, then you can add it to your list. We don’t want to force you to finish a book when there are so many other great books at the library for you to enjoy.

What are the prizes?

You will receive prizes for the reading you do during this challenge even if you don’t complete it. The Ultimate Reader's Gift Basket must be picked up in person at a Carmel Clay Public Library location.

• 25 books = Challenge Laptop Sticker
• 50 books = $15 Bookshop.org Gift Card
• 100 books = Ultimate Reader’s Gift Basket & Certificate of Completion

I finished 100 Books Before High School. Can I also sign up for 100 Books Before Graduation?

Yes! You can register for the 100 Books Before Graduation challenge any time after you finish 8th grade and before you finish 12th grade. We would love to have you complete both challenges.

I don’t know what to read!

One of the goals of these challenges is to help you become a lifelong reader and to give you a chance to read titles you never would have expected to enjoy. You can find lots of titles to choose from in our Book Suggestions section above, or you can stop by the library to say hello and browse the shelves for titles that catch your eye.

100 books seem like a lot. How will I have time to read that many?

Reading 100 books is a lot! However, we do not expect you to complete this challenge in a week, a month, or even a year. We do encourage you to join both programs at the earliest opportunity possible, which would give you three years to complete the 100 Books Before High School challenge and four years to complete the 100 Books Before Graduation challenge.

Remember that the goal is not just to read 100 books but also to develop a lifelong reading habit. Everyone reads at their own pace, so enjoy the process and take your time.

Do ebooks or audiobooks count? What about graphic novels?

Yes! Reading an ebook or listening to an audiobook totally counts as having read the book. Graphic novels and manga count, too. You can read books in whatever way and format works best for you.

Can I add the books I need to read for school?

Yes! While we encourage you to read books for fun, school reading counts too.

I finished my 100 Books Challenge, and I still have time before the program ends to read another 100 books. Can I register for the challenge again?

Congratulations on reading 100 books! However, readers can only participate in each challenge one time due to our limited prize budget.

If you have more questions, call the library’s Young Adult Department at 317.814.3983 or email us at youngadult@carmelclaylibrary.org for more info.