READING CHALLENGE
PLEASE RETURN TO:
NAME PHONE
CHALLENGE CHECKLIST
□
Read a book mentioned on The Book Drop.
□ Read a book about or featuring a real person.
□ Read a book about or featuring LGBTQIA+ history.
□ Read a book about or featuring plants.
□ Read a book about or featuring a movie or TV show.
□ Read a book by a Latine writer.
□ Read a book about or featuring friendship.
□ Read a book about or featuring mental health.
□ Read a book about or featuring music.
□ Read a book from OPL's Top Shelf lists.
□ Read a book by a Black writer.
□ Read a book about or featuring food.
IN CASE OF LOSS,
2023 READING CHALLENGE
The Omaha Public Library (OPL) Reading Challenge is back! OPL staff have created a series of reading challenges to push you outside of your reading comfort zone and into new literary realms. Take on one challenge each month or complete them on your own timeline. Finish all 12 to qualify for a prize!
Use this notebook to track your progress along the way, and complete the log sheet on the final page. Starting April 3, 2023, tear out the sheet and bring it to any OPL branch to receive a pin and to be entered into a drawing for a book store gift card! Alternatively, you may complete an entry form online at omahalibrary.org/reading-challenge.
Find even more title recommendations for each challenge at omahalibrary.org/reading-challenge or ask library staff for suggestions! Call or stop by your local branch, or request a custom reading list at omahalibrary.org/find-your-next-read.
Share your book selections on social media, and tag @omahalibrary on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram to connect with a community of readers.
All completed tracking sheets must be received by December 31, 2023, to be entered into the prize drawing. One completed entry per person is allowed.
Questions? Email readingchallenge@omahalibrary.org.
Discover more great reads. BookPage is a recommendation guide for readers, highlighting the best new books across all genres. Printed copies of this guide are delivered to all OPL locations prior to the start of each month. Pick up a copy at your local branch today!
INTRODUCTION
READ A BOOK MENTIONED ON THE BOOK DROP
OPL’s podcast, The Book Drop, features library staff discussing the latest books and bookish topics. They recommend titles across multiple genres to help you complete this challenge.
SUGGESTED READS
“Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life” by Lulu Miller (2020)
In this fascinating biography of order and chaos, a scientist must figure out how to move on after his life's work is destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
“Between Two Fires” by Christopher Buehlman (2012)
When a young girl is orphaned during the Black Death and rescued from war by a disgraced knight, he discovers she is no ordinary girl.
“The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name” by Brian C. Muraresku (2020)
This complex book about religious history digs into the use of psychedelics in religious practices.
“The Hollow Places” by T. Kingfisher (2020)
“Pray they are hungry” are the words Kara becomes obsessed with after finding them inscribed in a strange portal behind her uncle's house in this horror story.
“Everything I Need I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It” by Kaitlyn Tiffany (2022)
This book is an exploration of pop culture and technology history from an angle that is often overlooked.
CHALLENGE N Ō 1
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Find more Reading Challenge resources. Explore booklists curated especially for each challenge at omahalibrary.org/reading-challenge, or ask OPL staff for additional recommendations! Visit your local branch, or request a custom reading list at omahalibrary.org/find-your-next-read.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING A REAL PERSON
Whether you want to read a biography, historical narrative or a novel that reimagines a person’s life, this challenge can connect you with interesting stories about people you thought you knew.
SUGGESTED READS
“Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom” by David W. Blight (2018)
This Pulitzer Prize-winning book explores Douglass' remarkable life with evocative detail.
“My Autobiography of Carson McCullers” by Jenn Shapland (2020)
Recognizing herself in love letters written by Carson McCullers, Shapland re-examines the beloved author's life alongside her own.
“The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster” by Sarah Krasnostein (2018)
This biography full of pain and tragedy is infused with the perseverance and joy found in a powerful person who refuses to stay down.
“The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office From Two Best Friends Who Were There” by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey (2022)
In this heartfelt book, two stars of the TV show “The Office” share the behind-the-scenes experiences that lead to their great friendship.
“In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez (1994)
This novel tells the powerful story of the Mirabal sisters and their struggles and triumphs during the Trujillo dictatorship in 1950s Dominican Republic.
CHALLENGE N Ō 2
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Looking for a different format?
Many titles in OPL's collection are offered in a variety of formats, including large print, eBook, audiobook CD, downloadable audiobook, or book club bag. Use options in the lefthand column of OPL's online catalog to filter your search results.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING LGBTQIA+ HISTORY
This challenge invites readers to explore histories of the LGBTQIA+ community that haven't always been told and are now coming to light.
SUGGESTED READS
“Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23
Changed the World” by Sarah Prager (2017)
People Who
An exploration of Queer people missed by history and historical figures whose queerness was often sidelined, this is a great intro to a vast topic.
“Lavender House” by Lev AC Rosen (2022)
Described as “Knives Out” with a Queer twist, this suspenseful mystery is highly entertaining.
“Cantoras” by Carolina De Robertis (2019)
The dictatorship in Uruguay between 1973 and 1985 wasn’t a very welcoming environment for the LGBTQIA+ community, but this novel is a reminder that there was still friendship and joy to be found.
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller (2012)
Follow Patroclus and Achilles as they discover their love for each other while grappling with the realities of life during the Trojan War.
“The
Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison”
by Hugh Ryan (2022)
This book provides a historical look into Greenwich Village's Women's House of Detention, focusing on the incarceration of those living on the margins.
CHALLENGE N Ō 3
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Tune in to The Book Drop podcast. OPL has its very own podcast! In each episode, a team of OPL staff offers reading suggestions, chats with guests, and geeks out about books, information and pop culture. Listen today at omahalibrary.org/the-book-drop.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING PLANTS
Has OPL's Common Soil Seed Library put you in the mood to read about plants? This challenge suggests books that tell the history, science, and fictional stories of interesting plants.
SUGGESTED READS
“How
Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged”
by Veronica Peerless (2017)
Houseplants can be daunting for many, and this book has the solutions needed for increased confidence to create a greener home.
“Wicked
by Amy Stewart (2009)
In this witty microhistory of villainous plants, Stewart covers over 200 incidents of plants on their worst behavior.
“The Book of Koli” by M. R. Carey (2020)
In this fascinating post-apocalyptic tale, the protagonist is forced into the perilous wilderness where everything living is trying to kill humankind.
“The
Language of Flowers”
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (2011)
This book offers a new perspective on the power of flowers as emotional healers when a deeply-hurt girl uses them to communicate while attempting to face her past.
“When I
Sing,
Mountains
by Irene Solà (2019)
Dance”
Mushrooms are a catalyst for this magical story that covers landscape and emotion interwoven with beauty and pain.
CHALLENGE N Ō 4
Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities”
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Get growing with the Seed Library!
Common Soil is a space for sharing openpollinated seeds and gaining awareness and information about gardening and seed saving. Learn more and browse available seeds at omahalibrary.org/seed-library.
LOG SHEET
TITLE
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING A MOVIE OR TV SHOW
The entertainment industry is a major force in American culture. Dip into a book that explores what is happening behind the scenes.
SUGGESTED READS
“All
the Feels”
by Olivia Dade (2021)
After a run-in with the tabloids, a TV star is assigned a chaperon to help keep him in line. Can they keep their relationship professional?
“When
Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today”
by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (2021)Capturing the period from 1944 to 1955, this book follows the careers of four women, including Betty White, as they work to make it in the nascent world of television.
“The
Final Girl Support Group”
by Grady Hendrix (2021)
After years of dealing with the trauma of being “final girls”–those left standing after the incidents of a horror movie have played out–the group must resurrect their survival skills in this satirical horror story.
“The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont”
by Shawn Levy (2019)A fairy tale-like castle on Sunset Strip provides the historical setting where the Hollywood elite live out the dramas of fame and fortune.
“Mercury
Pictures Presents”
by Anthony Marra (2022)
Against the backdrop of a studio making low-quality productions, this novel details the life of an immigrant trying to escape the past.
CHALLENGE N Ō 5
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Join the club... Book club!
Join us for lively discussions of different books each month. Discussions are led by OPL staff and are open to everyone! Visit omahalibrary.org/events for meeting dates and book selections.
LOG SHEET
TITLE
READ A BOOK BY A LATINE WRITER
Get to know a new and/or well-known voice from the Latine community in this reading challenge.
SUGGESTED READS
“The Wedding Crasher” by Mia Sosa (2022)
While helping her wedding-planner friend, Solange crashes the wedding of a couple that doesn't belong together and finds romantic possibilities for herself.
“In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado (2019)
This autobiographical horror story is told in the most captivating language, and explores the difficult topic of abuse in a space in which it is rarely discussed.
“Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me” by Ana Castillo (2016)
In this collection of essays, Castillo uses her gift for language to describe the difficult and often darkened path of a single, brown, feminist parent.
“The King is Always Above the People” by Daniel Alarcón (2017)
This poetic collection of stories covers profound topics from family betrayals to gang life in Los Angeles.
“Once
by Maria Hinojosa (2020)
From the voice behind the longest-running Latinx radio show, Latino USA, comes a personal memoir blended with the history of immigration in the United States.
CHALLENGE N Ō 6
I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America”
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
See what's on OPL's 2022 Top Shelf. Curious which books published in 2022 were OPL staff favorites? Visit topshelf.omahalibrary.org to see which titles they chose and why! Choose a category or browse the covers to find your next great read.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING FRIENDSHIP
The themes of kindness, friendship and unity transcend genres. Explore some fictional and real-life friendships in this challenge.
SUGGESTED READS
“Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship”
by Kayleen Schaefer (2018)
Personal stories about Schaefer and her mother come together as a sociological celebration of female friendship.
“My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante (2012)
This beautifully-told story starts with two girls in 1950s Naples relying on each other, and covers the changes that happen in their friendship as their country begins to transform.
“Just Kids” by Patti Smith (2010)
Smith uses her poetic style to recount the story of her incredible friendship with famed photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
“Razorblade Tears” by S. A. Cosby (2021)
This fast-paced revenge thriller includes an unlikely friendship that is forged through tragedy.
“Stay True” by Hua Hsu (2022)
This memoir is a painful and profound exploration of friendship and identity.
CHALLENGE N Ō 7
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Meet Libby!
Borrow eBooks and digital audiobooks from OPL using Libby, the free app from OverDrive. All you need to get started is your library card! Find it on Google Play or the App Store.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING MENTAL HEALTH
Expand your understanding of mental health journeys or find a story that reflects yours in this challenge.
SUGGESTED READS
“Rest Is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey (2022)
From the self-proclaimed “Nap Bishop” comes this work about the importance of rest, restoration and healing to create a kind of liberation.
“Hardcore Anxiety: A Graphic Guide to Punk Rock and Mental Health” by Reid Chancellor (2019)
This nonfiction graphic novel explores the intersection of punk rock fandom and the author’s struggles with mental health.
“Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of An American Family” by Robert Kolker (2020)
This microhistory tells the story of a family in which schizophrenia was identified in six of 12 children, and how their story led to a better understanding of the diagnosis.
“Little & Lion” by Brandy Colbert (2017)
An intersectional tale of sibling love and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, this story brings dimension and heart to the table.
“Chemistry” by Weike Wang (2017)
This book's narrator is highly driven in the field of chemistry, but when things start going wrong in her research, she starts to question this first love and her looming engagement to a fellow scientist.
CHALLENGE N Ō 8
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Suggest a purchase. Didn't find the item you were looking for? Suggest that OPL add it to the collection! Log in to your account at omahalibrary.org and select My Library Dashboard from the menu. From there, you can Submit a Suggestion for OPL to purchase.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING MUSIC
Whether it be the soundtrack to your favorite novel or the story of how an incredible band got together, this challenge will have you thinking about what to listen to next.
SUGGESTED READS
“Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)” by Dan Ozzi (2021)
This in-depth history of the punk music scene questions what it means to still be punk while recounting an incredible story of the time.
“This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You” by Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas (2022)
Neuroscience and music make for great discoveries in this book about how our musical tastes are shaped by who we are.
“Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop” by Danyel Smith (2022)
Part memoir, part journalistic masterpiece, this book dives deep into the iconic story of Black women in pop while weaving in the author's own formative musical experience.
“The Ensemble” by Aja Gabel (2018)
With characters that jump off the page, this book brings readers into the converging worlds of four musicians connected by their art.
“The Violin Conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb (2022)
This book is a wonderfully-woven story about following a calling to music against the odds, and a deep history for the protagonist in terms of his race and his family.
CHALLENGE N Ō 9
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Check out OPL's book club bags.
OPL offers hundreds of bags containing multiple copies of a particular title, along with supplemental materials, that can be checked out for up to six weeks, making it easy for a group to read and discuss a book together. Learn more at omahalibrary.org/book-clubs.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK FROM OPL’S TOP SHELF LISTS
Each year, library staff contribute to a list of their favorite books published during the past year. These recommendations are compiled online at topshelf.omahalibrary.org for your browsing enjoyment.
SUGGESTED READS
“Girly
Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol”
by Mallory O'Meara (2021)
A fun dive into the role women have played in the history of alcohol, this microhistory is full of anecdotes to tell when out at a bar.
“Cultish:
The Language of Fanaticism” by
Amanda Montell (2021)
Pop culture is full of cult language; this original book describes how, where, and sometimes why from a linguistic perspective.
“The Hollow
Kind”
by Andy Davidson (2022)
A detailed and intricate tale of slow-burning horror, this story across time and perspectives will leave readers shaken.
Introvert's Year of Saying Yes”
by Jessica Pan (2019)
This excursion into extroversion is a comedic journey into the author’s year of challenging herself to do things she wouldn’t normally do and checking in with her extroverted mentors along the way.
“The
Subtweet”
by Vivek Shraya (2020)
This book shows how social media has the power to create transformative friendships that it can also easily destroy.
CHALLENGE N Ō 10
“Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Discover new books with NoveList Plus. Explore reading recommendations based on your favorite titles, authors, subjects and genres. Whether you read or listen to fiction or nonfiction, find your next great read with NoveList Plus. Get started at omahalibrary.org/resource.
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK BY A BLACK WRITER
This reading challenge will connect you with incredible works by Black writers you don’t want to miss.
SUGGESTED READS
“The World We Make”
by N. K. Jemisin (2022)
Speculative fiction at its best, this book imagines New York residents fighting for their city with magic and miracles through the complicated threats of politics and corruption.
“The
Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer”
by Janelle Monáe (2022)
Based on the Monáe's album, “Dirty Computer,” this collection of speculative fiction stories takes place in a technological dystopia.
“Salvage
the Bones”
by Jesmyn Ward (2011)
Four siblings who don’t have very much, including parental support, prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Katrina in this lyrical novel.
“Here
for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America"
by R. Eric Thomas (2020)
In heartfelt and funny essays, Thomas talks about what it is like to feel other in the cultures he inhabits.
Morgan Jerkins (2020)
This fascinating mix of history and memoir details Jerkins' quest to learn more about her family’s history and how it reflects the history of the country.
CHALLENGE N Ō 11
“Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots” by
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
See what's new in OPL's collection!
Visit omahalibrary.org/books to browse lists of new and on-order books at OPL. You'll also find Staff Picks booklists curated around a central theme to help you explore a topic in more depth!
LOG SHEET
READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING FOOD
Cooking memoirs, mysteries in bakeries, and recipe books with great stories can satisfy literary appetites of all kinds.
SUGGESTED READS
“Digging
Up Love”
by Chandra Blumberg (2022)
This warm romance centers around a baker trying to achieve her dreams of running a bakery in Chicago, and how her plans start to change when she meets an ambitious paleontologist.
“The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through AfricanAmerican Culinary History in the Old South”
by Michael Twitty (2017)
In this notable memoir by culinary historian Twitty, recipes, genetic tests, and historical documents converge to tell an important story about U.S. history.
“The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” by Aimee Bender (2010)
The protagonist of this original novel can taste emotions and must learn to hone her skill so it doesn’t torture her.
“Heartless” by Marissa Meyer (2016)
In a prequel to “Alice in Wonderland,” the protagonist of this book wants to open a bakery, but the king has other plans for her.
“Gastro Obscura: A
Adventurer's Guide” by Cecily Wong & Dylan Thuras (2021)
Food
Go on a gastronomical journey with the people behind travel guide Atlas Obscura to learn about ingredients, foods, and drinks from all over the world.
CHALLENGE N Ō 12
TITLE
AUTHOR DATE STARTED NOTES
DATE FINISHED RATING
Want even more recommendations?
Request a book bundle or custom reading list prepared especially for you by OPL staff at omahalibrary.org/find-your-next-read . Simply provide a few details about your preferences and OPL's book experts will get to work!
LOG SHEET
NOTES
LOG SHEET please print clearly
Starting April 3, 2023, tear out the completed sheet and bring it to any OPL branch to receive a pin and to be entered into a drawing for a book store gift card! Alternatively, complete an entry form online at omahalibrary.org/reading-challenge. Entries must be received by December 31, 2023.
Name Phone
1) READ A BOOK MENTIONED ON THE BOOK DROP Title & author:
2) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING A REAL PERSON Title & author:
3) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING LGBTQIA+ HISTORY Title & author:
4) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING PLANTS Title & author:
5) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING A MOVIE OR TV SHOW Title & author:
LOG SHEET
please print clearly
6) READ A BOOK BY A LATINE WRITER Title & author:
7) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING FRIENDSHIP Title & author:
8) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING MENTAL HEALTH Title & author:
9) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING MUSIC Title & author:
10) READ A BOOK FROM OPL'S TOP SHELF LISTS Title & author:
11) READ A BOOK BY A BLACK WRITER Title & author:
12) READ A BOOK ABOUT OR FEATURING FOOD Title & author:
OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS
Monday–Thursday ... 9 am–7 pm Friday & Saturday ... 9 am–5 pm Sunday ..... select locations 1–5 pm (Downtown Branch, Genealogy & Local History Room, Interim Branch, Millard Branch & Milton R. Abrahams Branch)
Library hours are subject to change. Check omahalibrary.org or call your local branch for details.
2023 HOLIDAY CLOSURES
New Year's .................... Jan 1-2 MLK Jr. Day .....................Jan 16 Presidents' Day* ............ Feb 20 Easter ............................... Apr 9 Staff Day* ......................Apr 28 Memorial Day ............... May 29 Juneteenth ................... June 19 Independence Day ...........July 4 Labor Day....................... Sept 4 Columbus Day & Indigenous Peoples' Day* ................... Oct 9 Veterans Day* ............... Nov 10 Thanksgiving .......... Nov 23-24 Christmas ...................... Dec 25 New Year's ..............Jan 1, 2024 *South Omaha Library open
LOCATIONS
A.V. Sorensen Branch ............................ 4808 Cass St. | 402.444.5274 Benson Branch ................................... 6015 Binney St. | 402.444.4846 Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch ....... 2100 Reading Plz. | 402.289.4367 Charles B. Washington Branch......... 2868 Ames Ave. | 402.444.4849 Downtown Branch* .............................. 1401 Jones St. | 402.444.4828 Florence Branch ........................... 2920 Bondesson St. | 402.444.5299 Genealogy & Local History Room ..... 3020 S. 84th St. | 402.444.4800 Interim Branch* ................................ 1410 Howard St. | 402.444.4828 Millard Branch ........................... 13214 Westwood Ln. | 402.444.4848 Milton R. Abrahams Branch ............. 5111 N. 90th St. | 402.444.6284 Saddlebrook Branch ....................... 14850 Laurel Ave. | 402.444.5780 South Omaha Library ............................... 2808 Q St. | 402.444.4850 W. Clarke Swanson Branch ........... 9101 W. Dodge Rd. | 402.444.4852 Willa Cather Branch ........................... 1905 S. 44th St. | 402.444.4851 *Downtown Branch expected to open in 2023, at which time Interim Branch will close
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