My youth group and I took on a challenge this year: the #vtReadingChallenge from challies.com (directions can be found here). This reading plan will encourage us to read books we wouldn't otherwise read, many of which point to the person of Jesus. Since we're starting the 2nd quarter of the year, I thought I'd give an update.
Maybe looking over our list will inspire you to join us? If so, send us a message. We'd love to hear about it. Or perhaps you have a book suggestion for one of the categories we haven't completed yet?
YG means a member of the youth group read the book.
MW means I read the book.
The Light Reader
✓ 1. A book about Christian living. An Infinite Journey by Andrew Davis (MW). Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff (YG).
✓ 2. A biography. No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by David Hazard (MW)
_ 3. A classic novel
✓ 4. A book someone tells you "changed my life”. Gifted Hands by Ben Carson (YG)
_ 5. A commentary on a book of the Bible
✓ 6. A book about theology. Knowing God by J.I. Packer (MW)
✓ 7. A book with the word "gospel" in the title or subtitle. Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus by Mike Slaughter (MW)
✓ 8. A book your pastor recommends. The Christian as Minister by Sharon Rubey (MW)
✓ 9. A book more than 100 years old. Selected Essays: Montaigne (MW). Oedipus Rex (YG)
✓ 10. A book for children. EverWorld: The Realm of the Reaper by K.A. Applegate (MW). The Giving Tree (YG)
_ 11. A mystery or detective novel
✓ 12. A book published in 2016. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
_ 13. A book about a current issue
The Avid Reader
_ 14. A book written by a Puritan
✓ 15. A book recommended by a family member. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
✓ 16. A book by or about a missionary. The Baboon Chase edited by Don W. Mills (MW)
_ 17. A novel that won the Pulitzer Prize
_ 18. A book written by an Anglican
✓ 19. A book with at least 400 pages. Game of Throne (YG)
✓ 20. A book by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien. Children of Heron (YG)
_ 21. A book that has a fruit of the Spirit in the title
_ 22. A book with a great cover
✓ 23. A book on the current New York Times list of bestsellers. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (YG)
_ 24. A book about church history
✓ 25. A graphic novel. Batman, Death by Design by Chip Kidd (MW). Diary of a Wimpy Kid (YG)
✓ 26. A book of poetry. The House on Marshland by Louise Gluck (MW). Edgar Allen Poe (YG)
The Committed Reader
_ 27. A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with
✓ 28. A book written by an author with initials in their name. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (YG)
_ 29. A book that won a ECPA Christian Book Award
_ 30. A book about worldview
✓ 31. A play by William Shakespeare. The Tempest by William Shakespeare (MW). Julius Caesar (YG)
✓ 32. A humorous book. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (MW)
✓ 33. A book based on a true story. Prisoner B-3087 (YG)
_ 34. A book written by Jane Austen
_ 35. A book by or about Martin Luther
✓ 36. A book with 100 pages or less. Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones (MW). Timmy Turner (YG)
✓ 37. A book with a one-word title. Prodigy (YG)
_ 38. A book about money or finance
✓ 39. A novel set in a country that is not your own. Dream a Little Dream (YG)
_ 40. A book about music
✓ 41. A memoir. A Work in Progress (YG)
✓ 42. A book about joy or happiness. Dog a Donut (YG)
✓ 43. A book by a female author. Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (MW). Shatter Me (YG)
_ 44. A book whose title comes from a Bible verse
_ 45. A book you have started but never finished
✓ 46. A self-improvement book. Energize, 100 Natural Ways to Recharge by Liz Wilde and Carol Morley (MW)
_ 47. A book by David McCullough
_ 48. A book you own but have never read
_ 49. A book about abortion
_ 50. A book targeted at the other gender
_ 51. A book by a speaker at a conference you have attended
✓ 52. A book written by someone of a different ethnicity than you. Shake Loose My Skin by Sonia Sanchez (MW). Legend (YG)
The Obsessed Reader
_ 53. A book published by The Banner of Truth
_ 54. A book about the Reformation
_ 55. A book written by a first-time author
_ 56. A biography of a world leader
_ 57. A book used as a seminary textbook
✓ 58. A book about food. candy freak by Steve Almond (MW)
✓ 59. A book about productivity. How Did I Get So Busy? by Valorie Burton (MW)
_ 60. A book about or relationships or friendship
_ 61. A book about parenting
_ 62. A book about philosophy
✓ 63. A book about art. Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art edited by Jan Greenberg (MW)
✓ 64. A book with magic. Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban (YG)
_ 65. A book about prayer
_ 66. A book about marriage
_ 67. A book about a hobby
_ 68. A book of comics
_ 69. A book about the Second World War
✓ 70. A book about sports. The Million Dollar Shot (YG)
_ 71. A book by or about a pastor’s wife
✓ 72. A book about suffering. The Fire Watcher (YG)
✓ 73. A book by your favorite author. The Serpent by Claire North (MW)
_ 74. A book you have read before
_ 75. A book about homosexuality
_ 76. A Christian novel
_ 77. A book about psychology
_ 78. A book about the natural world
_ 79. A book by or about Charles Dickens
_ 80. A novel longer than 400 pages
✓ 81. A historical book. Crime Throughout History (YG)
_ 82. A book about the Bible
✓ 83. A book about a country or city. Tales of Iceland by Stephen Markley (MW)
_ 84. A book about astronomy
✓ 85. A book with an ugly cover. Love Poems for The Very Married by Lois Wyse
_ 86. A book by or about a martyr
_ 87. A book by a woman conference speaker
_ 88. A book by or about the church fathers
✓ 89. A book about language. A Little Book of Language by David Crystal (MW)
_ 90. A book by or about a Russian
✓ 91. A book about leadership. Intuitive Leadership: Embracing a Paradigm of Narrative, Metaphor, and Chaos (MW)
_ 92. A book about public speaking
_ 93. A book by Francis Schaeffer
✓ 94. A book by a Presbyterian. Coffee with Calvin Daily Devotions by Donald McKim (MW)
✓ 95. A book about science. The Science of Michael Crichton edited by Kevin Grazier (MW)
_ 96. A book about revival
✓ 97. A book about writing. bird by bird by Anne Lammott and On Writing by Stephen King (MW)
_ 98. A book about evangelism
_ 99. A book about ancient history
✓ 100. A book about preaching. The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper (MW)
✓ 101. A book about the church. The Church Case Scenario by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz (MW)
✓ 102. A book about adoption: From Ashes to Africa by Josh Bottomly (MW)
✓ 103. A photo essay book. God Left Us Alone Here, A Book of War by John Gaps III (MW). Guinness Book of World Records (YG)
_ 104. A book written in the twentieth century
Extra Credit
✓ 105. A book from a library. NPR: The First Forty Years (MW)
_ 106. A book about business
_ 107. A book by an author less than 30
_ 108. A book published by a UK-based publisher
_ 109. A book you borrow
