The Reading Challenge Group discussion

One of the fun activities that we have here in the 2015 Reading Challenge Group is the Points Challenge. This is a fun and casual way for us to keep track of the books we read while earning some bonus points.

Feel free to join the challenge by posting your own message below with your tally for the month. Get ready to have some fun and cheer on the other participants to help motivate us all to read new genres/authors/etc!

Keep in mind - the books that you count for points should only be counted as part of one of the categories, unless it is also meets the definition of that month's bonus...then it can count as a bonus in addition to the other category!

Happy counting!

POINT SYSTEM GUIDELINE

Read a general book: 1 point per book
Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points per
Read a group read book: 5 points per book
Read a buddy read book: 5 points per book you read with a buddy
Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points per book
Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 points per book
Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points
Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book

Definitions:

A GENERAL book is any book you read this month (not covered by another category).

A GROUP READ book is limited to the books nominated and chosen by the group and discussed in the Group Read folder.

A GENRE Challenge book is any book that fits the Genre of the Month.

MINI-CHALLENGE books are 3 points each. There is an additional 10 point bonus for completing a challenge that involves several books.
For example, the New Year, New Author is a 3 pointer, because it only requires one book. Something like the Decade Challenge, however, can earn you a lot of points because each book counts as 3 points and then you also earn the extra 10 points (for completing a multi-book mini-challenge) once you complete the challenge.
**Also note that if you complete the 5 books in a BINGO, you will get 10 points every time you complete a Bingo.

Kassandra's April Tally

Total = 34

Read a general book: 1 point per book
Blood Red Road
I Hunt Killers
Game

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points per

Read a group read book: 5 points per book

Read a buddy read book: 5 points per book you read with a buddy

Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points per book

Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 points per book
-Blue Labyrinth
-A Darkness More Than Night
-You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points
-completed the Pinterest challenge April 10th

Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book
-A Darkness More Than Night
-You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation

Melissa's April Tally Points: 285

Read a general book: 1 point per book
- So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George; Illustrated by David Small; Caldecott Medal 2001; READ 4/2/15
- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein; Caldecott Medal 2004; READ 4/2/15
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead; Caldecott Medal 2011; READ 4/2/15
- Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback; Caldecott Medal 2000; READ 4/2/15
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; 1001 Children's Books; READ 4/4/15
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; 1001 Children's Books; READ 4/5/15
- Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully; Caldecott Medal 1993; READ 4/6/15
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aarderna; Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon; Caldecott Medal 1976; READ 4/6/15
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein; 1001 Children's Books;

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 pts

Read a group read book: 5 pts
- Crafts & Hobbies: 100 Days of Kindness - Spreading Happiness, Joy, and Love with 100 Acts of Random Kindness! by Jacob Reimer; READ 4/1/15

Read a buddy read book: 5 pts

Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 pts
POETRY:
- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth; Poetry; John Newbery Medal; READ 4/1/15
- Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman; John Newbery Medal; READ 4/1/15
- Animalia by Graeme Base; Poetry; 1001 Children's Books; READ 4/3/15
- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; Illustrated by Gustave Dore; READ 4/8/15
- Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone by Frieda Wishinsky; Illustrated by Neal Layton; 1001 Children's Books; READ 4/16/15
PLAYS:
- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde; Play; READ 4/5/15
- Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller; Pulitzer Prize 1949; READ 4/29/15
HOBBIES:
- A Gallery Of American Samplers: The Theodore H. Kapnek Collection by Glee Krueger; Samplers; READ 4/10/15
- Welcome to Braggsville by T. Geronimo Johnson; 50 New Book Mini Challenge - Published this year; READ 4/15/15
WORLD LIT: SOUTHEAST ASIA
- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien; Vietnam; READ 4/26/15

Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 pts
- The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster; Caldecott Medal; 50 New Book Mini Challenge; READ 4/1/15
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson; National Book Award 2014; Genre - Poetry; Award Winner Challenge; ROY-G-BIV-Rainbow Challenge; READ 4/3/15
- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley; ROY-G-BIV-Rainbow Challenge - Blue; READ 4/4/15
- The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson; READ 4/8/15
- - The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale by Arthur Ransome; Caldecott Medal 1969; 2015 Alphabet Soup Challenge; READ 4/10/15
- Missing May by Cynthia Rylant; Newbery Medal 1993; Award Winner Challenge and Crazy Calender: Spring Challenge; READ 4/10/15
- The Fables of Aesop Edited by Joseph Jacobs, Illustrated by Richard Heighway; Classic Bingo - short stories; READ 4/13/15
- Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman; Roy-G-Biv: Ride the Rainbow - Black; READ 4/17/15
- My Sweet-Orange Tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos; Roy-G-Biv: Ride the Rainbow - Orange; Brazil; READ 4/19/15
- The Gold Bug by Edgar Allen Poe; Roy-G-Biv: Ride the Rainbow - Yellow; READ 4/19/15
- The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim; Crazy Calendar; READ 4/22/15
- The Violets of March by Sarah Jio; ROY-G-BIV and Crazy Calendar Challenge; READ 4/24/15- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; Classic Bingo; READ 4/29/15
- Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry david Thoreau; Classic Bingo - Essay; READ 4/30/15
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; Award Winner Challenge: Newbery 1977; READ 4/30/15


Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points
-Award Winners Challenge; FINISHED 4/10/15
LEVEL THREE:
1. Missing May by Cynthia Rylant; Newbery Medal 1993; READ 4/10/15
2. The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth; John Newbery Medal 1931; READ 4/1/15
3. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson; National Book Award 2014; READ 4/3/15

ROY-G-BIV: Ride the Rainbow; Finished Level One 4/19/15
Level One:
Blue Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley; READ 4/4/15
Orange My Sweet-Orange Tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos; READ 4/19/15
Yellow The Gold Bug by Edgar Allen Poe; READ 4/19/15

Classic Bingo; 2nd Finished 4/22/15
B1,I1,N1,G1,O1

Crazy Calendar: Spring Edition
March - The Violets of March by Sarah Jio; READ 4/24/15
April - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim; READ 4/22/15
May - Missing May by Cynthia Rylant; Newbery Medal 1993; READ 4/10/15
Finished Challenge 4/24/15

Classic Bingo: 3rd Finish 4/29/15
N1,N2,N3,N4,N5

Classic Bingo: 4th Finish 4/29/15
B2,I2,N2,G2,O2

Classic Bingo: 5th Finish 4/30/15
O1,O2,O3,O4,O5


Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book
- Crafts & Hobbies: 100 Days of Kindness - Spreading Happiness, Joy, and Love with 100 Acts of Random Kindness! by Jacob Reimer; READ 4/1/15
- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth; John Newbery Medal; READ 4/1/15
- Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman; READ 4/1/15
- So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George; Illustrated by David Small; READ 4/2/15
- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein; READ 4/2/15
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. stead; READ 4/2/15
- Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback; READ 4/2/15
- Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley; READ 4/4/15
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; READ 4/4/15
- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde; READ 4/5/15
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; READ 4/5/15
- Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully; READ 4/6/15
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema; Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon; READ 4/6/15
- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; READ 4/8/15
- The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson; READ 4/8/15
- The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale by Arthur Ransome; Caldecott 1969; READ 4/10/15
- A Gallery Of American Samplers: The Theodore H. Kapnek Collection by Glee Krueger; READ 4/10/15
- Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone by Frieda Wishinsky; READ 4/16/15
- Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman; READ 4/17/15
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; READ 4/29/15
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; READ 4/30/15

Camille's April Points.

Read a general book: 1 point per book
1. East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North
2. Love and Freindship and Other Early Works
3. Rebecca

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points per
1. Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing
2. The Nose
3. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue
4. How Much Land Does a Man Need?
5. Wailing Ghosts

Read a group read book: 5 points per book
Read a buddy read book: 5 points per book you read with a buddy

Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points per book
1. Goblin Market

Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 points per book
1. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (Decade Challenge)

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points

Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book
1. East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North
2. Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing
3. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue
4. How Much Land Does a Man Need?
5. Love and Freindship and Other Early Works
6. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

Total: 47.5 points

Yay, excited to have you join us Iasa!

The question from the books stacked by my bed this month is -- Why didn't we get read this month? "Because your titles were four words and under."

Kassandra, you have created a monster! :D

I should think so, a word is a word, even "the" - it's so much easier this way!!
What about older books that have an "or" title, like "Cecilia; or whatever comes afterwards", do they count?

That's hilarious Melissa. Don't worry, I'm sure we will find all sorts of bonuses to get some of the TBR titles whittled down. Either that or you know, create a much bigger TBR pile ;)

Iasa, that's entirely up to you if you choose to count them. You can make that limit as flexible as you like as long as it hits the minimum!

Allison's April Point Tally
Final Total: 72 Points

General book (1 point). Subtotal: 5

Fortune's Pawn
Honor's Knight
The Haunting of Maddy Clare
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
Be Buried in the Rain

"Shortie" (0.5 points)

Group read (5 points)

Buddy read (5 points)

Genre challenge (3 points)
Temple of a Thousand Faces (World Lit - Southeast Asia)

Mini-challenge (3 points). Subtotal: 12

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Award Winners)

All the Paths of Shadow (TBR Pile 2015)
Angelfall (TBR Pile 2015)
Lord of the Changing Winds (TBR Pile 2015)

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge (10 extra points) +10

Completed the TBR Pile 2015 Mini Challenge! (12 Books owned since before 2014)

Bonus** Read a book with 5 or more words in the title (6 points). Subtotal: 42

All the Paths of Shadow
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Lord of the Changing Winds
Temple of a Thousand Faces
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
Be Buried in the Rain

I'm now completely re-arranging my shortlist because of this bonus!!

That's good to hear Allison!

The children's Caldecott Medalists have quite a few wordy titles! :D

Melissa wrote: "The children's Caldecott Medalists have quite a few wordy titles! :D"

Should I be adding Caldecott to the Award Winners mini-challenge??

Allison wrote: "Melissa wrote: "The children's Caldecott Medalists have quite a few wordy titles! :D"

Should I be adding Caldecott to the Award Winners mini-challenge??"

Sure Allison, but I'll only add one to each section.

Melissa wrote: "Sure Allison, but I'll on..."

Oh I see - they're actual children's books and really short. If you want to count them for the Award Winners challenge, go for it, though.

My plan is to read from some of the different awards, that way there is a variety.

Iasa wrote: "I know Allison me too!

Camille, my boys used to love me reading East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North to them"

I thought it was brilliant and different from Western European tales, which I liked! I think I'm going to read this to my children when I have them.

My new most FAVORITE book so far this year! I HIGHLY recommend Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. A beautiful told memoir written in free verse. Yes, it is for middle schoolers, but us adults will like it too. :D

So far im on 3pt read 3 general books

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Boy in the Dress

Jodie wrote: "So far im on 3pt read 3 general books

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Boy in the Dress"

Jodie, plus you get 6 extra points per 5 or over word title! I suppose that didn't make sense. Anyways a total of 21 points for those three titles. Yah!

Melissa wrote: "Jodie wrote: "So far im on 21pt read 3 general books and they was all on the bonus so an extra 6pt

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Boy in the Dress

It made sense but I didn't write the last bit down when I made a copy of the points 21pt thats much better.

Now on 26.5 I think for Much Ado About Nothing
0.5 for it beung a play and 5 for as the group read.

Iasa wrote: "Melissa, what did you think of The Importance of Being Ernest?"

Iasa, did you read this one? I thought it was humorous from beginning to end and it wrapped up in such a cute way. Fun sarcasm and would recommend highly! There is a PBS Movie on this one too, and also good.

I could reread this one again, sooner than later. I smirk thinking about it. Just recommended to my mom and sister, too.

Total: 54

Read a general book: 1 point
A Study in Scarlet
Prince Caspian
The Silver Chair
Daredevil Legends, Vol. 2: Born Again

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points

Read a group read book: 5 points
Much Ado About Nothing

Read a buddy read book: 5 points

Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points

Read a book for a mini-challenge (Alphabet Soup): 3 points
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
No Exit
Birds
The Importance of Being Earnest
Lysistrata
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Wasps
Utopia
An Enemy of the People

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points

Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
An Enemy of the People

Melissa wrote: "My new most FAVORITE book so far this year! I HIGHLY recommend Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. A beautiful told memoir written in free verse. Yes, it is for middle scho..."

I've added it - thanks, Melissa!

Allison wrote: "Melissa wrote: "My new most FAVORITE book so far this year! I HIGHLY recommend Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. A beautiful told memoir written in free verse. Yes, it is..."

You are so welcome, Allison! :D

Earnest=Wonderful

I also highly recommended Lady Windermere's fan. Supposedly written for Lily Langtry, "the Jersey Lily," who refused to act in it because the secret revealed fell too close to home. Shared "A Good Woman" with the family as the Easter break crash-and-watch-a-video. Beautiful, well acted update of Wilde's classic.

Read a general book: 1 point per book
It Had to Be Him
Leviathan Wakes

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points per
Read a group read book: 5 points per book
Read a buddy read book: 5 points per book you read with a buddy
Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points per book

Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 points per book
Crimson Midnight ( ROY G. BIV)

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points
Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book

Melissa - your points are amazing!!!! This month's bonus is really working for you. Great job!

Thanks, Kassandra! It really was a fun one! :D

Finished the below challenge and another 13 points...so much fun this month!

Crazy Calendar: Spring Edition
March - The Violets of March by Sarah Jio; READ 4/24/15
April - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim; READ 4/22/15
May - Missing May by Cynthia Rylant; Newbery Medal 1993; READ 4/10/15

Finished Challenge 4/24/15

When I grow up, I want to be Melissa and have all these points :)

Camille wrote: "When I grow up, I want to be Melissa and have all these points :)"

LOL!!! You are too funny! The secret to my success: Chapter One: Read Children's Books - The Secret of My Points. :D

Camille - I agree with you! Melissa has collected enough points this month for all of us :)

Stephanie's April Point Tally
Total: 34

General: 10 points

Tegami Bachi vol. 1
Tegami Bachi vol. 2
Tegami Bachi vol. 3
Bakuman vol. 7
Bakuman vol. 8
Tegami Bachi vol. 4
Tegami Bachi vol. 5
Tegami Bachi vol. 6
Tegami Bachi vol. 7
Tegami Bachi vol. 8

Bonus challenge: 24 points

Calvin and Hobbes: Something Under the Bed Is Drooling
Calvin and Hobbes: Yukon Ho
Calvin and Hobbes: Weirdos from Another Planet
Calvin and Hobbes: Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat

APRIL
TOTAL POINTS TALLY: 126 points

Read a general book: 1 point per book
- The Canterville Ghost
- The Mauritius Command
- Millicent Min, Girl Genius
- The Moth in the Mirror

Read a "shortie" (short story, poem, play): 0.5 points per
- Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing
- The Overcoat

Read a group read book: 5 points per book
- Splintered (YA) March

Read a buddy read book: 5 points per book you read with a buddy
- War and Peace

Read a book for the genre challenge: 3 points per book
- The Hunting Of The Snark
- The Ballad Of Reading Gaol
- Five O'Clock Tea
- The Crucible
- Waiting for Godot
- The Living Room
- The Good-Natured Man: A Comedy
- The English Governess at the Siamese Court: The True Story Behind 'The King and I' (WL)

Read a book for a mini-challenge: 3 points per book
- The Namesake
- Bridge to Terabithia
- When You Reach Me
- Eminent Victorians
- Gathering Blue

Complete a multi-book mini-challenge: 10 extra points
- Award Challenge: Level One
- Bingo: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
- Bingo: B1, I1, N1, G1, O1
- Bingo: B4, I4, N4, G4, O4
- Bingo: N1, N2, N3, N4, N5
- BINGO BLACKOUT!

Bonus** - Length Matters - read books with 5 or more words in the title: 6 points per book
- The English Governess at the Siamese Court: The True Story Behind 'The King and I'
The Moth in the Mirror

Playing the Bingo Mini-Challenge really helped my total points... I hope more people will join for the next round starting in May.

I ended up with 24 points. Definitely not my best month by any means.

I'm doing a *Happy Dance*! This is the most points and most fun I've had!

Grand Total is....285 points

I might not be racking up this many points again this year, but again we'll see what Kassandra has in store for extra points. :D

Twist and Shout! Amazing numbers this month, Melissa!!! You are the Queen of April!

Thank you, thank you very much! *Takes a bow*

Queen of April indeed! Great job Melissa - now it's time to see who will take the top spot in May :)

I'm glad this bonus has been fun and helpful to get people into their spring books. I'll be posting the May thread now. Sorry for the delay!

Don't forget to make your final April updates.

Woah, congrats on so many points Melissa! This is amazing!

I ended up with 41.5 points. Best month so far :)

Thanks, Alessandra! A fun month. :D

Congrats on your hitting a new personal best Alessandra!

Points total for April - 13.

Hi all - I'm going to close this thread off but head on over to the June thread to post your new results!