2012 Reading Challenges

This will be my first year participating in any online reading challenges. This will also be the first full year that this blog has been opened and I can't think of a better way to break it in. There are a lot of great challenges floating around and I encrouage you to take up any that might interest you.

2012 Ebook Challenge 

Challenge Guidelines:
The challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012. You can post reviews to any book site. Any genre or book length counts, as long as it is in ebook format. You can move up levels, but no moving down. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.

Goal:
CD Level - 10 ebooks

1. How to Date An Alien by Magan Vernon
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

I read books pretty much exclusively in Ebook format anyway, and I'm a huge fan and supporter of them. I don't think this one will be too much of a chore. I'm actually worried that I might reach my goal kind of early in the year, but I can always move up to the next level!

2012 Self-Published Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
The challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012. You can post reviews to any book site. Any genre, length, or book format counts as long as it is self-published by the author. You can move up levels, but no moving down.

Goal:
Paragraph Level - 10 books

1. The Sphinx Project by Kate Hawkings (Feb 28)
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

I have an inkling that this might be more of an actual challenge just because self-published books are, to me at least, so much harder to find. So I'm going conservative on this one and sarting at 10 books. I can always level up, though!

2012 Debut Author Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
The objective is to read & review a minimum or 12 young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013. You can post the reviews on your blog, Goodreads, or Youtube. Your blog/video must be in English. Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

Book Guidelines:
Must be a young adult or middle grade title. Must be the author's YA or MG debut, released in 2012. If an author has previously published works for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge. If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

Goal:
Minimum - 12 books // Personal - 30 books

1. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons (Jan 13)
2. Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Jan 24)
3. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows (Jan 31)
4. The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker (Feb 1)
5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
6. Slide by Jill Hathaway (March 1)
7. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Jan 3)
8. Glitch by Heather Anastasiu (Aug 7)
9. The Selection by Kiera Cass (April 24)
10. x
11. x
12. x

I love discovering new authors and I love YA and MG novels. It's like this challenge was created especially for me, so of course I'm going to sign up. I hope to do even more than the minimum, though.

2012 Sophmore Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
The challenge is to read 10 sophomore YA/MG novels in 2012. To officially participate, you need a Goodreads account or a blog where you post reviews in English.

Goal:
Minimum - 10 books

1. Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth
2. Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
3. Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
4. Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

There are a lot of debut authors that I read last year. Most of them were starting some sort of series that I definitely intend to continue with. I think this is a great way to continue to support new authors that I have fallen in love with.

2012 Standalone Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
Read 15 standalone YA books released between Dec 27, 2011 and Dec 31, 2012. Any format counts as long as you read them during the year 2012. Anyone with a Goodreads account or blog where they post reviews in English can participate

Goal:
Minimum - 15 books

1. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (June 12)
2. Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini (Sept 4)
3. Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe (Jan 10)
4. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (Feb 7)
5. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers (June 19)
6. Above by Leah Bobet (Apr 1)
7. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (May 8)
8. When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen (Feb 28)
9. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (Feb 14)
10. Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Sep 18)
11. Dead to You by Lisa McMann (Feb 7)
12. Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick (Jan 28)
13. First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky (May 8)
14. Revived by Cat Patrick (May 8)
15. The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin (Aug 2)
16. The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten 

I love books in a series but sometimes I have SOS Syndrome (Serious Overload of Series). Sometimes I would just like to sit down and read a book that has a beginning and end to the story. I don't have to worry about when the next book is coming out and that is refreshing. So I want to try to read more of these in 2012.

2012 YA Contemporary Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
You can read any contemporary YA novel that is published between January 1, 2012 and December 30, 2012 but you must read them in 2012! (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book)

Goal:
Level 2 - 10+ books

1. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
2. Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

Contemporary YA is not something that I read a lot of, but I want to change that! 

2012 Dystopian Reading Challenge 

Challenge Guidelines:
Runs Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012. Books must be started after Jan 1, 2012. All books must be dystopian YA or MG. Must post reviews to either blog or Goodreads account. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.

Goal:
So Hard it Would Have it's Own Apocalypse! - 21+ books

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x
11. x
12. x
13. x
14. x
15. x
16. x
17. x
18. x
19. x
20. x
21. x

Dystopia and post-apocalyptic novels are my absolute favorite, so dystopia + YA is pretty much going to be the bread and butter of my blog. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that at least 40% of the books I read this year will be set in dystopian societies so, yes, this will probably be an easy challenge to complete.

2012 New Adult Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:
Will run Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012. The book must feature a protagonist who is past the average age for graduation from high school (18 in most places). All genres welcome. If there is no concept of "graduation", go by real world standards.

Goal: 

Living On Your Own - 9 books

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x

New Adults read too! I would love to read more books that aim for a bit older audience than the YA genre. After all, sometimes I still consider myself a New Adult (don't we all?) so this is perfect!