105 Ways to Give a Book

Ninth Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge

48 Hour Book ChallengeYup, it's the Ninth Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge — that weekend readathon of legend. Last year, Ms. Yingling graciously hosted this challenge as I had multiple conflicts. Of course, now this year I've ended up busy and distracted with the remarkable adventures of two teenage girls. But then something was percolating around the Internet that inspired me and gave me a reason to engage. So in solidarity of the cause of WeNeedDiverseBooks, this year's 48 Hour Book Challenge is dedicated to reading, sharing and reviewing books that show diversity in all ways.

I'm hoping with lots of participants over the weekend, that we can saturate the blogosphere with dozens - nay, HUNDREDS - of titles that show the beautiful range of the human experience. That's our challenge. And saying that may be a good time to reminder readers that while the window of reading allows 48 hours, you could read for much less and STILL participate. Twelve hours - and not even in a row - qualifies you as an official participant who can join in reading and sharing diverse books for one wonderful weekend. So please consider coming on board. Here are the basics:

  1. The weekend is June 6-8, 2014. Read and blog for any 48-hour period within the Friday-to-Monday-morning window. Start no sooner than 7:00 a.m. on Friday the sixth and end no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday the ninth. So, go from 7:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday... or maybe 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Monday works better for you. But once begun, the 48 hours do need to be in a row. That said, during that 48-hour period you may still have gaps of time in which you can’t read, and that’s fine.
  2. The books should be middle-grade, young adult, or adult books. If you are generally a picture book blogger, consider this a good time to get caught up on all those wonderful books you’ve been hearing about. Graphic novels can be included in the reading. One audiobook can also be included in your time and book total — helpful if you have somewhere to drive to or need to prepare dinner, etc.
  3. Three winners will be chosen at random from each of three levels of reading commitment - 12 to 23 hours, 24 to 35 hours, and 36 to 48 hours. Since each level will progressively have less participants, the more you read the better your chances. Top readers will still win individual prizes. International winners may be given gift cards instead of books due to mailing costs, unless a U.S. address is provided.
  4. It’s your call as to how much you want to put into it. If you want to skip sleep and showers to do this — and some people do — go for it. If you want to be a bit more laid back, fine. But you have to put something into it or it’s not a challenge. Twelve hours is the benchmark for winning prizes.
  5. The length of the reviews or notes written in your blog are not an issue. You can write a sentence, a paragraph, or a full-length review. Up to you. The time spent reviewing counts in your total time.
  6. You can include some amount of time reading other participant’s blogs, commenting on participating blogs and Facebook pages, and Tweeting about your progress (remember the #48hbc tag!). For every five hours, you can add one hour of networking. This time counts in your total time.
  7. On your blog, state when you are starting the challenge with a specific entry on that day and leave the link to that post at the Starting Line post at MotherReader on June 6th. And please link to the contest on your post.
  8. When you finish, write a final summary that clearly indicates hours — including partial hours — you spent reading/reviewing/networking, the number of books read, and any other comments you want to make on the experience. It needs to be posted no later than noon EST on Monday, June 9th. Also, check in at the Finish Line post on MotherReader that will be posted Sunday and please link to that post from your final summary post.

I’m always looking for donations for winners’ prize packages and other “door prizes” to be awarded to participants selected at random. Past prizes have included original sketches from Mo Willems and Matthew Holm, signed and sketched books from Adam Rex, loads of signed books, t-shirts from Threadless, artistic blank journals, jewelry, gift cards, notecards, and more. Good stuff. If you’d like to contribute to the prizes this year, shoot me an email at MotherReader AT gmail DOT com.

Sign up now in the comments and block of the dates on your calendar. Questions can also go in the comments, and I will respond in the comments and add a FAQ soon. Talk this up, people! Let's have some fun!

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

Count me in! (and having a hard time believing I'm the first to sign up!) I'm probably still in only for the lowest time bracket, but this was so much fun last year, plus I have a lot of books to meet this particular challenge waiting to be read.

Unknown said...

I'm so in! I loved this challenge the first year I did it, and the fact that this year's focus is on diversity makes it the BEST CHALLENGE EVER! I'm up for the 12-23 hour bracket. So excited!

Anonymous said...

I'm in as well. I'm volunteering that weekend for my local library's summer reading club kickoff so I can't commit to 48 full hours but I'll be reading as much as possible! :D

Melissa said...

I'm in! I love this challenge. And I love your idea to read diverse books during it. Now to start thinking about a pile...

Unknown said...

I've never done one of these before, but I think this might be a good year to try. I always work weekends, but I think I only have to work one day that weekend, so it should still work! Yay! Already thinking of books to stockpile :)

Gail Gauthier said...

I'm planning to take part from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening. I've announced this through my blog and Facebook page and may have a NESCBWI member interested. Oh, I should mention this at the NESCBWI listserv, too.

Ms. Yingling said...

Hooray! Dates are perfect, and I'll e mail you about books I've been stockpiling for prizes! Whee!

Randomly Reading said...

Count me in as well. Focusing on diversity is a great idea and I have lots of books for that. I'll spread the word on my Randomly Reading blog.

Booking It With Sandi said...

I'm up for the challenge. This will be my first year. Is there a link for newbies to get further instructions?

Brandy said...

I'm in! I probably won't be able to participate as wholeheartedly as I usually do due to it being first full weekend in new home, but I will do my best! This is one of my favorite weekends of the year.

Juli said...

Woohoo!! So looking forward to this year's challenge. Can't wait :)

Unknown said...

Yes, I'm in for this year and I'll send this out to all our writer-type friends in the greater Indianapolis area.

Unknown said...

This will be my first time to join but this sounds like a lot of fun. We will be at the lake during this challenge so this will be the perfect time to get some of my reading lists dwindled down. I think I will stick to the 12-23 hrs for my first time. I will be advertising on my new book review site and all my social media networks. I look forward to this challenge and getting to know some new book buddies! :)

Sarah said...

Had lots of fun doing this last year, so I'm in for this year as well! We have our SRC kickoff carnival that weekend, so timing is not ideal, but I'll read when I can!

Unknown said...

I've been compiling a list of Afro-Carribean books for kids and posted their covers here: http://www.pinterest.com/jjparsonsauthor/afro-caribbean-books-for-kids/. Hope that will help readers find books with diverse protagonists.

Anonymous said...

I'm to give the challenge a whirl again this year, even though it's once again the same weekend as my students' commencement. I had such fun last year and I'm especially excited for the opportunity to continue highlighting diverse books :) I'll use the event to reinvigorate my blog as well.

Anonymous said...

I am in for this year. Perfect date!

ebin_5446 said...

I will be participating & reviewing via my Goodreads 48HBC2014 shelf http://bit.ly/1luNSOZ possibly tweeting @MHHSELibrary & posting at http://www.facebook.com/mhhselibrary
I am encouraging students to participate this year as well!

Anonymous said...

I am SO IN! Thanks.

Katy Manck, MLS said...

Oh, yes, I'm in! Started my stack of books & holding them till that weekend.

I'll blog some already-read diverse titles on BooksYALove.com then, too.

shogem said...

I am very excited to join this challenge. Nothing like having "carved out" reading time. It is my first time and I am definitely in!

Only Marfalfa said...

I'm in. This is my first year blogging and I'm excited to participate in this challenge.

Maureen E said...

I have to work, of course (siggh) but I'm still going to give this a shot!

Unknown said...

It will be bittersweet in the Burnette household this weekend as the Amazing Dancer graduates the Friday of 48HBC. But, I'm going to commit to 12 hours on Sunday as I will need some recovery time!

alyssa said...

I'm signing up for the challenge, especially because of this year's theme of #weneeddivsersbooks. :)

Iron Guy Carl said...

I'm in too, showing boys how much MANLY MEN can enjoy reading. I'm asking boys to participate as well, at least for part of the time.

Iron Guy Carl said...

I'm in too, showing boys how much MANLY MEN can enjoy reading. I'm asking boys to participate as well, at least for part of the time.

Anonymous said...

I'll be joining in this year! Excited!

Greg Pattridge said...

Okay, I'll play. I'm going to shoot for 9 a.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Sunday. Thanks for hosting.

Nikki S said...

This is my first time signing up! I LOVE this challenge! I will support anything that shows diverse readers!

Here's Armchair BEA: Giveaways Galore and Beyond the Barriers!

Sandra Stiles said...

It's been several years since I participated. I NEED this challenge. It comes the weekend before our last 2 days of school. I'm already tired so this should relax me. I'll see how many of my students I can encourage to participate as well.

Anonymous said...

I am in, despite my terrible work schedule. We'll see how this goes!

Only Marfalfa said...

I intend to participate starting Friday morning. I'll be announcing my participation on my blog this week.

Anonymous said...

I'm in, too! I'll be using my group blog, called "No Boys Allowed Reviews." Usually, 4 members of my book club all use it once-a-month to post reviews of our book for the month. It's neat because it shows how the same novel can provide a totally different reading experience for each reader. We're also big on girl power & showing that "chick lit" can be smart! But this challenge will be aaaallll me. I have to work on Saturday, sadly, but I'm very excited!

Here's a link to our blog/my announcement of the challenge!:

http://noboysallowedreviews.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/blognapper-on-the-loose/

I participated last year, too, using my personal blog "The Pooka Picks" (http://thepookapicks.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/48hbc-the-starting-line/), but I write that from the perspective of a magical rabbit (strange, I know), and I thought it might be nice to post reviews as a person this year. ;)

Anamaria (bookstogether) said...

I can't resist. I think this might be my first 48HBC, because every other time we've either been hosting a party or out of town. This time we're also hosting a party, but whatever! I've read LOTS of diverse (aagh, we need a better word) books this year already and will post a wee list in advance for people who need suggestions, too! Thanks, Pam!

Andromeda Jazmon said...

I am in! I have a stack of books on my TBR pile that I would love to get caught up on. I haven't been blogging much lately but this is a golden opportunity. Thanks for doing this once again!!

Marcy said...

Oh! I'm in! I have an 18-month-old (much better than having a 6-month-old last year, though!) and need to work on apartment hunting this weekend, so I can't guarantee I'll make it up to even 12 hours, but... I can't resist trying!

Carol H Rasco said...

I'm in and have sent you email about prizes from RIF.

Carol Rasco

evelyn.n.alfred said...

This is a great idea.

evelyn.n.alfred said...

I don't know if I'll have time to do this myself, but I think it's a great idea.

Julie said...

If it's not too late, I'd love to participate this weekend! I've already started thinking about what I'm going to read. :D

Julie said...

If it's not too late to sign up, I'd love to participate! I've already started planning my reading list!

Unknown said...

Sounds Fantastic! It's been a hectic week of summer classes and I am looking forward to a nice break. I will sign up for the 12-23 hour bracket. Plan on seeing what the hype is for, "The Fault in Our Stars", and read a good classic that I have yet to read, "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Sure to be a romantic weekend!

Naomi said...

Slightly last-minute, since my 48-hour window has now started, but count me as signing up...

Anonymous said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I MISSED IT!!!!!!! :-( Can you host another before next year? :-)