The Forty Book Challenge “Failure is not an option, so why talk about it?” -Donalyn Miller, The...

The Forty Book

Challenge“Failure is not an option, so why talk

about it?”-Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

By Wendy Wardell

You will read forty books this year. This includes books that we read together for class.

You will read from a variety of genres in order to explore books you might not ordinarily read and to develop an understanding of literary elements, text features, and text structures.

You Want Me To What?

Poetry Anthologies / collections: 3Mythology, Folktales, and Legends: 5

Realistic fiction: 2Historical fiction: 5

Fantasy: 4Science fiction / Dystopian Society: 2

Mystery / Action Adventure: 4Informational: 4

Biography, Autobiography, Memoir: 2Personal-choice chapter books: 9

The Expectation

Something really important to remember…

Any book you read

that is over 300 pages

will count for two books.

Outline of Expectations

POETRYRead 3 Anthologies or

Novels Shortened form of writing Has figurative language

(similes, metephors, personnification) The author’s expression of feelings and opinions

May follow a form or structure but does not have to

Personification

Mythology, Folktales, or Legends: 5

Stories passed down for generations

Original stories usually passed down orally

Myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales, nursery rhymes

Unknown origin

Realistic fiction: 2

Characters are every day people doing every day things.

Setting is a modern-day realistic place.

Plot consists of realistic events.

May highlight social issues.

Historical fiction: 5

Takes place in the past (forty years before now is considered historical)

Plot (storyline) contains historical events

Characters may be historical figures

Fantasy: 4

Contains unrealistic or unworldly elements

Characters may have magical powers in addition to human qualities

Theme is often focused on good versus evil

Science fiction / Dystopian Societies: 2

Fantasy that involves or is based on scientific principles

Often set in the future

Mystery / Action Adventure: 2

Involves something

unknown Centered around

person investigating wrongdoing or obtaining secret information

Informational: 4

Provides information

on a topic Nonfiction Organized into

sections or categories No characters or

settings

Biography, Autobiography, Memoir: 2

Biography –Story of someone’s life written by someone else

Autobiography –Story of someone’s life written by his/herself

Memoir –a short account of the author’s experiences written by him/herself

Personal-choice chapter books: 9

Just read what you love!

How do I keep Track of all these books?

Book Review Slip for bulletin board Reading Tracker

Tracker

Congratulations!