Welcome back to Sages Read — an all-ages community reading challenge! Sages Read is a yearly reading challenge that we hope inspires you to stretch your reading in new and interesting ways. And to talk and share about the books you're reading! Share your book selfies and recommendations with us  by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook!

Sages Read is a joint initiative of Hartfield Book Co., Allerton Public Library and Monticello schools. Need help finding books to fit a particular challenge? Feel free to ask a friendly neighborhood bookseller, librarian or teacher! You can also look for recommendations on our Facebook and Instagram pages and browse the challenge on the StoryGraph app to see what others have added.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2025?
We're celebrating our SEVENTH year! You'll see that reflected in a couple of this year's challenges. :-) In addition to the printed challenge sheets (download below or pick up at Hartfield, Allerton Public Library, or the school libraries), we're also testing out an online challenge tracker! 

2025 CHALLENGES
Each challenge must be met by a different book read in 2025 and recorded on the challenge sheet (download pdf below) or the online tracker. You can receive multiple prizes throughout the year by submitting your challenge progress at Hartfield Book Co. each time you hit a new prize level. See below for more information about prizes and how to claim them.
  1. A book with a title that starts with an S or R (for Sages Read!)
  2. ​A book with one of the seven days of the week in the title
  3. A book that you chose based on the first line
  4. A book set on the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska)
  5. A book with only two colors on the cover
  6. A book about book bans, censorship, or free speech
  7. A book that features a unique form of travel
  8. A sci-fi or fantasy book written by a Black author
  9. A book set (at least partially) at a zoo or museum
  10. A book that appeared on a “Best of 2024” list
  11. A book from the last seven years that won an American Library Association award or honor other than the Newbery or Caldecott
  12. A book that features a farmer or gardener
  13. A book that you wanted to read last year but didn’t
  14. A book that has a recipe in it
  15. A biography or memoir written by or about a non-celebrity
  16. A book written by a new-to-you author
  17.  A book with a punctuation mark in the title
  18. A book with a prologue, epilogue, or author’s note
  19. A book with a main character who is under 10 years old
  20. A book set in a Middle Eastern country and written by a Middle Eastern author
  21. A book that makes you feel relaxed
  22. A book with an alliterative title (two or more words start with the same sound)
  23. A book about winning or losing
  24. A book that you saw recommended on social media or by a family member

PRIZE LEVELS
BOOK BUG Read four books that complete four challenges and you have clearly been bitten by the Book Bug! Come select a bookish prize from the treasure box!
BOOK WORM Read eight books that complete eight challenges and you are officially a Book Worm! Come select a book from Hartfield’s book vault!
BOOK DRAGON Read 12 books that complete 12 challenges and you are granted the enviable status of mighty Book Dragon! Come select a prize from the treasure box and a book from the book vault!
BOOK MAGE Read 24 books that complete all 24 challenges and you shall be dubbed the mightiest of the mighty, the bookish-est of the bookish … the powerful Book Mage! Turn in your completed sheet or tracker by the end of the year to be endowed with a satchel of bibliomagic (a tote bag of books chosen just for you)!

CLAIMING THE PRIZES
All prizes will be picked up at Hartfield Book Co. BOOK BUG, BOOK WORM and BOOK DRAGON prizes can be claimed throughout the year. Just bring your challenge sheet or tracker into Hartfield Book Co. during regular store hours. A bookseller will check off your challenges, lead you to your treasure(s) and send you on your merry way to continue your awesome reading adventures! BOOK MAGE prizes will be fulfilled three times a year. Qualifying Book Mage sheets turned in before May 31 will be distributed in June; those turned in by August 31 will be distributed in September; and those turned in by December 31 will be distributed in January. Book Mages will be contacted when prizes are ready for pickup. 

This year’s prizes are made possible by donations from Hartfield Book Co., Allerton Public Library, and the Monticello Education Association (MEA).
Thank you! 


QUESTIONS?
Don't hesitate to ask your friendly neighborhood bookseller or librarian!
Happy Reading!
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