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TASK HELP: Fall Challenge 2025 > 25.4 - Robin P's Task: The ABC's

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message 1: by SRC Moderator, Moderator (last edited Sep 01, 2025 03:54PM) (new)

SRC Moderator | 7051 comments Mod
25.4 - Robin P's Task: The ABC's

For back-to-school time, we'll do tasks based on the alphabet. Read 2 books, one each from 2 different options.
Required: State the options

Option 1: Authors

Read a book whose author's first and last initials are sequential in the alphabet, going forward. Examples: Charles Dickens - CD, Liane Moriarty - LM. Reverse order is not ok, so you can't use a name like John Irving.

Option 2: Titles

Read a book whose title words (minimum 3) are in alphabetical order. Examples: Bruno, Chief of Police, Everything I Never Told You, Blood of Tyrants. There can be multiple words that start with the same letter as long as they are in alphabetical order, for instance, Once There Were Wolves, Any Approaching Enemy.

Option 3: Genres

Read a book with an MPG that starts with A, B, or C - examples could include (but are not limited to) Adventure, Africa, Adult, Biography, British Literature, Book Club, Contemporary, China, Classics, etc. Children's can only be used if it meets SRC rules.
Required: State the MPG.

Option 4: School

Most people learn the ABC's in school. Read a book whose main character is in kindergarten through high school.
Required: Provide a reference if it's not obvious from the GR page.


message 2: by Robin P (last edited Sep 02, 2025 08:35AM) (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Spell Check Approved

MPG Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy, etc approved

See threads below for locked in MPGs.


message 3: by Robin P (last edited Sep 02, 2025 01:36PM) (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Spell Check Denied

Option 4: Text must have some mention of the character as a student, whether the story takes place in school or not. Just assuming from the age of the character isn't enough. If it's not obvious from the GR description, quote in the book referring to the character's school or experience there can be posted as verification.

Note: Entire word counts for alphabetization, not just first letter


message 4: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments I just realized the format for Option 4 doesn't match. I'll ask the Mod to change it to say Option 4: School.


message 5: by SRC Moderator, Moderator (new)

SRC Moderator | 7051 comments Mod
Robin P wrote: "I just realized the format for Option 4 doesn't match. I'll ask the Mod to change it to say Option 4: School."

Fixed


message 6: by Deborah (new)

Deborah | 1667 comments Would you lock in both As the Wicked Watch and A Flicker in the Dark for MPG: CRIME?


message 7: by Susan A (new)

Susan A | 1663 comments Great task!


message 8: by Trish (last edited Sep 01, 2025 11:37PM) (new)

Trish (trishhartuk) | 3675 comments Morning

Just to check for Option 4. Is the age of the child in the GR description enough to allow the book to qualify?

I've been meaning to read another Flavia de Luce book - I've got to Speaking from Among the Bones. I don't remember if we ever see her go to school (it's been a while since I previous read one in the series), but she's described as an "Eleven-year-old amateur detective and ardent chemist".

If that doesn't work, what about The Haunting - the last book in the Seacliff High series, and from the GR description: "In this seventh book in the series, the gang from Seacliff High are busy planning their annual Haunted Hayride. "

Also, presumably Cozy Mystery is fine for Option 3?

Thanks.


message 9: by Dee (new)

Dee (austhokie) | 8947 comments can i pleaes get A Mumbai Murder Mystery locked in for crime?


message 10: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Deborah wrote: "Would you lock in both As the Wicked Watch and A Flicker in the Dark for MPG: CRIME?"

Yes, both approved.


message 11: by Robin P (last edited Sep 02, 2025 08:32AM) (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Trish wrote: "Morning

Just to check for Option 4. Is the age of the child in the GR description enough to allow the book to qualify?

I've been meaning to read another Flavia de Luce book - I've got to [book:S..."



I think there should be some mention of school somewhere in the text for it to count, not just assuming from the age. Then you could quote that. Flavia does seem like the type who would refuse to go to school!

"The gang from Seacliff High" confirms they are in high school, so that's fine.

And yes, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy, etc. would count.


message 12: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Dee wrote: "can i pleaes get A Mumbai Murder Mystery locked in for crime?"

Yes, approved


message 13: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Susan A wrote: "Great task!"

Thanks! I keep trying to find something a little bit original, but that's a challenge in itself!


message 14: by Trish (last edited Sep 02, 2025 10:28AM) (new)

Trish (trishhartuk) | 3675 comments Robin P wrote: "I think there should be some mention of school somewhere in the text for it to count, not just assuming from the age. Then you could quote that. Flavia does seem like the type who would refuse to go to school!

"The gang from Seacliff High" confirms they are in high school, so that's fine.

And yes, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy, etc. would count."


Cheers. I'll go for the second of the two books, then.


message 15: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS | 2381 comments Need to verify my understanding of Option 2.

A Matter of Oaths

Does this one work? To clarify, I'm trying to see if we're going alphabetical for complete words OR just the first letters (oF oAths)


message 16: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Kathy KS wrote: "Need to verify my understanding of Option 2.

A Matter of Oaths

Does this one work? To clarify, I'm trying to see if we're going alphabetical for complete words OR just the first le..."


Sorry, it is the whole word. The word o-f would be alphabetized after the word o-a-t-h. If it was something like Oaths of Wizards (which I just made up), that would work. If there was a book called Paris Parts Party, for example, that would work, but not any other order of those words.

Thanks for pointing this out, I could have made that clearer in the original creation of the task!


message 17: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS | 2381 comments Thanks, as a retired librarian that's how my mind works, but sometimes GR guidelines do NOT follow those in libraries! ;-)


message 18: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Kathy KS wrote: "Thanks, as a retired librarian that's how my mind works, but sometimes GR guidelines do NOT follow those in libraries! ;-)"

Oh, obviously you didn't need the detailed explanation! Hopefully there won't be any Mc vs MA beginnings, since that one isn't consistently decided.


message 19: by Kathy KS (new)

Kathy KS | 2381 comments Robin P wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "Thanks, as a retired librarian that's how my mind works, but sometimes GR guidelines do NOT follow those in libraries! ;-)"

Oh, obviously you didn't need the detailed explanation!..."


I'd handle those "as spelled". Very few people probably remember when we handled them all as the same!


message 20: by Marie (UK) (new)

Marie (UK) (mazza1) | 3940 comments just checking this works for alphabetical title Flowers for Miss Pengelly


message 21: by Robin P (new)

Robin P | 1609 comments Marie (UK) wrote: "just checking this works for alphabetical title Flowers for Miss Pengelly"

Yes, that's good!


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