Summer Reading Challenge Rules

Challenge Period

  • Starts Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 12:00 pm

  • Ends Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 12:00 pm

Challenge

  • Participants are challenged to read as many hours as possible during the Challenge Period. Any hours spent reading before or after do not qualify.

  • Qualifying reading material includes physical books, ebooks and audiobooks. We encourage participants to get their books from an independent bookstore or from a library.

  • Magazines, newspapers, periodicals, journals and podcasts do not qualify

How to win

  • There are three ways to win

    • Bookworm Challenge: Most number of hours read (top 10 readers get a prize)

    • Bonus Challenges:

      • Most Pages Read: Participant who reads the most number of pages

      • Most Books Read: Participant who reads the most number of books

      • Book Salad: Read 10 books in 10 different genres to be entered into a raffle for a big prize package

    • Mini Challenge: Get a prize for every 30 hours you read

    • Visit our Prizes page for more information on the challenge categories 

  • Winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on October 6, 2024

  • Winners can pick up their prize(s) from Green Apple Books (506 Clement Street)

Participation

  • The challenge is open to readers aged 18 and older

  • Participants must pick up and drop off a physical copy of the Reading Log from Green Apple Books (506 Clement) or Friends & Neighbors (275 6th Ave, Ste 102) in San Francisco, CA

  • Reading Logs will not be mailed or be made available electronically

Logging Hours

  • Participants can pick up a Reading Log from Green Apple Books during business hours or at Friends & Neighbors events

  • Participants can keep track of their hours in whatever way they choose. However, they must submit an official paper Reading Log showing the total number of hours read.

  • Participants should also use the Reading Log to keep track of qualifying bonus categories

  • Hours read should be rounded to the nearest half-hour

  • The Challenge ends at 12:00 pm on Sunday September 22, 2024

  • The deadline to turn in Reading Logs to Green Apple Book is 9:00 pm PT on Friday, September 27, 2024

  • The hours a participant reads are self-reported. Be honest or risk being cursed!

Bonus Challenges

  • Most Pages Read: Awarded to the participant who reads the most number of pages

  • Most Books Read: Awarded to the participant who reads the most number of books

  • Book Salad: Read 10 books in 10 different genres during the Challenge Period.

    • Each book must be in a different genre picked from the list below.

    • Books must be read in their entirety to qualify.

    • List of qualifying genres

      • Novel

      • Poetry collection

      • Romance

      • Mystery

      • Sci-fi

      • Psychology / Self-help

      • Art / Design / Architecture

      • Short story collection

      • Essay collection

      • Biography / Autobiography / Memoir

      • Food writing

      • Occult

      • Graphic novel / Manga / Comic book

      • LGBTQ+

      • History

      • Sports

      • Play / Screenplay

      • Book written in another language

      • Book translated into English

      • Book published the year you were born

      • Banned book

      • San Francisco / California history

      • Book set in San Francisco / California

      • Book written by a writer who currently lives in San Francisco, CA

Mini Challenge

How to participate:

  • Pick up a Mini Challenge Reading Log. This is separate from the Main Challenge reading log.

  • Use the Mini Challenge Reading Log to keep track of how many hours you read by filling in the books up to 30 hours

  • Once you completely fill out a Mini Challenge Reading Log, bring it to Green Apple Books (506 Clement Street) and exchange it for a prize

  • Participants must fill out their name and email address on the Mini Challenge Log

  • Hours logged in the Mini Challenge also count towards the Bookworm Challenge

Terms & Conditions

  • Only one entry per participant for the Main Challenge and Bonus Challenges

  • Maximum 3 entries per participant in the Mini Challenge

  • All challenge criteria are self-reported. Be honest or risk being cursed!

  • The Summer Reading Challenge organizers reserve the right to disqualify an entry for any reason including suspicion of cheating or dishonesty. The decision to disqualify an entry is final and cannot be appealed.