The Challenge Factory discussion

Here in the United States, we are getting ready for what we call 'March Madness'.
It is the annual basketball tournament for over 60 universities. Let's have our own 'March Madness' between 5 top ranking girls' high school basketball teams.

They are (in no particular order):
Pike High School (Indianapolis, IN)
Trinity High School (Euless, TX)
Staten Island Academy (Staten Island, NY)
Male High School (Louisville, KY)
Mesquite High School (Gilbert, AZ)

This challenge is simple.

You score 1 point for a team when you report that you have read a book with that team's reading requirement. At the end of the 7 days, the winning team will play the next team in the roster.

Books must be at least 150 pages.

For March 22 - 31:

Staten Island Academy - read a book where time is spent on an island
vs
Pike High School - read a book with a lot of red or white on the cover (Pike's school colors are red and white)


March 15 - 21: Trinity High School and Pike High School

March 8 - 14: Pike High School and Mesquite High School

March 1 - 7: Pike High School and Male High School

yes!!! loved this challenge last time!!

I love March Madness! I also really enjoyed this challenge when we played it in the fall. Thanks, Lanelle!

Thank you, Rachel and Kathy. I'm excited for this challenge!

Yes! This was great fun last time. Thanks Lanelle!

:-)
I enjoyed the football one last fall. Looking forward to this as well!

Sounds fun. I'm pretty new around here so I have a question. Do we list our books here for this challenge of will there be a different thread?

Bunnita (Worth Reading It?) wrote: "Sounds fun. I'm pretty new around here so I have a question. Do we list our books here for this challenge of will there be a different thread?"

Bunnita, all you have to do is report that you've finished a book here on this thread and which team it fits. I will keep score.

Last Fall we had a similar challenge, but with football teams.
Feel free to check out that thread.

I'm in! Sounds fun!

***This is my post thread to keep track for me ***

AND THE WINNER IS...

Let's have our own 'March Madness' between 5 top ranking girls' high school basketball teams.

They are (in no particular order):
Pike High School (Indianapolis, IN)
Trinity High School (Euless, TX)
Staten Island Academy (Staten Island, NY)
Male High School (Louisville, KY)
Mesquite High School (Gilbert, AZ)

You score 1 point for a team when you report that you have read a book with that team's reading requirement. At the end of the 7 days, the winning team will play the next team in the roster.


MARCH 1-7:
Pike High School - read a book where MC uses a weapon
XXX
vs.

Male High School - read a book written by male author
XXX

MARCH 8-14:
Pike High School - read a book where author's first or last name starts with "R" or "A"

vs.

Mesquite High School - read a book with a tree on the cover
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk 3/11/17

Yay! I was hoping this challenge would be back. March Madness is perfect.

Lanelle wrote: "Bunnita (Worth Reading It?) wrote: "Sounds fun. I'm pretty new around here so I have a question. Do we list our books here for this challenge of will there be a different thread?"

Bunnita, all you..."

Ok thanks

I'm in again. Sounds good!
Week 1
Pike High School - read a book where the main character uses a weapon
vs.
Male High School - read a book written by a male author

Lanelle --

Uses a weapon -- meaning shoots a gun, stabs with a knife etc? Emphasis on the verb use.

What about carrying a weapon, but not actually using it against someone or firing it? So a hunter that doesn't shoot the gun, someone holding the knife, but not stabbing with it.

What about implied weapons? A police officer has a gun, military personnel have guns. What if the weapon is never directly mentioned?

How about non-traditional weapons, like a beer bottle, golf club, or an object swung with intent to harm?

Thanks for your help.

Susan A wrote: "Lanelle --

Uses a weapon -- meaning shoots a gun, stabs with a knife etc? Emphasis on the verb use."

I want the character to physically use a weapon, traditional or non-traditional. I think that would rule out things like poison. Poison would be a method, not hands-on. Does that make sense?

Lanelle wrote: "Susan A wrote: "Lanelle --

Uses a weapon -- meaning shoots a gun, stabs with a knife etc? Emphasis on the verb use."

I want the character to physically use a weapon, traditional or non-traditiona..."

Yes, it does make sense and makes it a bit more challenging as well :) Thanks.

For Pike High School - read a book where the main character uses a weapon

Ryker - finished 3/1
The hero uses a gun to shoot the bad guy in the shoulder

Pike gets the first point of the game with a free throw!


Pike - 1
vs.
Male - 0

Susan A wrote: "Lanelle wrote: "Susan A wrote: "Lanelle --

Uses a weapon -- meaning shoots a gun, stabs with a knife etc? Emphasis on the verb use."

I want the character to physically use a weapon, traditional o..."

I agree it will be more challenging!

Male Author

Always Running by Luis J. Rodríguez ***** 3/2/17

Male author

Funny, Weird And Interesting Things You Didn't Know About... Ireland! by Michael Hopkins *** 2/3/17

There are two 3-point shots for Male HS!


Pike - 1
vs.
Male - 2

The Abominable by Dan Simmons
I finished it today 3/2 and gave it 5 stars.

Male author

I just finished reading Bone Crossed (again :) Bernard shoots a shotgun at Mercy.
A point for Pike.

And Rachel's book is a point for Male.

Pike - 2
vs.
Male - 3

male author

The Case of the Sliding Pool by E.V. Cunningham *** 3/3/17

Nothing but net! And Male High School is pulling ahead.


Pike - 2
vs.
Male - 4

Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia by Michael Farquhar.

Male author.

For Pike High School - read a book where the main character uses a weapon

Finished Shadow's Seduction 3/4 - The MCs use swords to fight and kill.

A slam dunk for Male and a free throw score for Pike.



Pike - 3
vs.
Male - 5

Jazz by Toni Morrison. Weapon used (if I add more, if would be a major spoiler).

Are claws or fangs a weapon?

I thought I had a weapon...however, the weapon was pulled, but not used. I did finally read 2 books by a male authors.

The Fight Within by Andrew Grey

and

The Wedding Date by Sean Ashcroft

Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Ashcroft/...

Marla wrote: "Are claws or fangs a weapon?"

I'm going to say 'no' to fangs or claws. A weapon is a thing, not part of a body.

Kathy's book is a point for Pike and Susan's two points are for Male.


Pike - 4
vs.
Male - 7

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich (4/3/17) - The MC uses a stun gun on somebody

For Pike High School - Finished My Sunny Vampire - The heroine shoots a stun gun and stabs the bad guy with a stake.

Two shots from the foul line for Pike High School.



Pike - 6
vs.
Male - 7

Okay, how about she throws books at someone?

(There are all kinds of weapons and violence in this book, but she's a werewolf and doesn't use weapons.)

I finished The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin 4stars

Flashbacks of a gun being used.

Marla wrote: "Okay, how about she throws books at someone?

(There are all kinds of weapons and violence in this book, but she's a werewolf and doesn't use weapons.)"

Sure.

JoAnne's book is a point for Pike High School. And the score is tied.



Pike - 7
vs.
Male - 7

Lanelle wrote: "JoAnne's book is a point for Pike High School. And the score is tied.
Pike - 7
vs.
Male - 7 "

Woops a penalty for me and would have to take back the point. I missed that it had to be a main character using the weapon. It was used against the one of the main characters in a past life. Don't think that counts.

JoAnne wrote: "Woops a penalty for me and would have to take back the point. I missed that it had to ..."

Oh, no. A personal foul :)
Thank you for your honesty, JoAnne. I'll put the score back the way it was.

Pike - 6
vs.
Male - 7

Borrowing Trouble by Kade Boehme - male author

Lanelle wrote: "JoAnne wrote: "Woops a penalty for me and would have to take back the point. I missed that it had to ..."

Oh, no. A personal foul :)
Thank you for your honesty, JoAnne. I'll put the score back th..."

Thanks - only thought it fair when I reread the requirement.
Have to pay more attention in the future!

Susan A wrote: "Borrowing Trouble by Kade Boehme"

Susan, which team does your book score a point for?

Lanelle wrote: "Susan A wrote: "Borrowing Trouble by Kade Boehme"

Susan, which team does your book score a point for?"

oops, sorry! Kade Boehme is a male author. I edited the original post to add that in.

Question - does building and detonating a bomb count as a weapon?

Susan A wrote: "Question - does building and detonating a bomb count as a weapon?"

Sure. And your other book is a point for Male High School.

Pike - 6
vs.
Male - 8