Book Riot's 2020 Read Harder Challenge - Announcement and TBR

2020 is a the beginning of a brand new decade and is going to be a great year, I can already feel it!  Like 2017, 2018, and 2019, my resolution is to complete Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, which is a brilliant way to challenge myself to read more widely, broadly, and out of my comfort zone.  There are twenty-four tasks to complete over the course of the year.  You can read one book to complete multiple tasks, or read one book per task.  In order to get the most out of this challenge, I will be reading one book per task.  Here's the list of the twenty-four challenge tasks and my proposed reading list.  This year, rather than complete these in official task order, I'm going to change things up a bit:

January:

Read a book that takes place in a rural setting

My choice: Call Down the Hawk (The Dreamer #1) by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm so excited to read this! Ronan is my favorite character from The Raven Cycle and I'm dying to see where his story goes.

Read the LAST book in a series

My choice: Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab - Schwab is one of my favorite authors and I'm getting caught up with her YA titles now.

February:

Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman

My choice: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas - I've probably mentioned it, but I love this series so much. I can't wait to see where it goes from where we left off.

Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages)

My choice: Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Waiyward Children #2) by Seanan McGuire - I'm so glad I've started to read more of McGuire's work because she's really fantastic.  It's about time that I continue on with this cool series.

March:

Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author

My choice: Resistance Reborn (Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse - I love her Sixth World series and I need to read everything she's ever written.  I'm especially looking forward to what she does with Poe Dameron.

Read a book about a natural disaster

My choice: Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman - I've been really impressed by what little I've read of Neal Shusterman and it's about time I'm going to read more of his work.

April:

Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own

My choice: I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb - I've been meaning to read this for ages, so this challenge is a perfect time to read it.

Read a YA nonfiction book

My choice: Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager - I've had this on my radar for awhile and this seems like the perfect opportunity to finally pick it up.

May:

Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color

My choice: Pride by Ibi Zoboi - I was really impressed with American Street so I'm really intrigued by what she's going to do with this Pride and Prejudice retelling.

Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII

My choice: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I can't wait to finally read this.

June:

Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman

My choice: Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams - I don't know about you, but this graphic novel series sounds like a really fun updated take on the Nancy Drew archetype.

Read a romance starring a single parent

My choice: Tempest (Old West #3) by Beverly Jenkins - This author has been on my radar for awhile now.  She's very popular at my library, so I'm interested to see what it's all about.

July:

Read a graphic memoir

My choice: Tomboy by Liz Prince - This sounds like it's going to feel quite personal.  I don't know why I've put this off for so long.

Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author

My choice: Fences (The Century Cycle #6) by August Wilson - I've seen the movie with Denzel Washington and it was impressive.  Definitely looking forward to reading the source material.

August:

Read an audiobook of poetry

My choice: Swing by Kwame Alexander - I don't know about you, but I this sounds like the perfect option for this task.

Read a debut novel by a queer author

My choice: Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor - I loved The Lunar Chronicles and Rook, so I think this sounds like going to be perfect for me.

September:

Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before

My choice: Maangchi's Real Korean Cooking by Maangchi - Somehow I've never tried Korean food before... I'm going to have to do something about that.

Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical)

Kenyon Review - I plan on reading the newest edition of this literary magazine which is based Gambier, OH which is practically in my backyard.

October:

Read a horror book published by an indie press

My choice: Zombie, Ohio (Zombie #1) by Scott Kenemore - I've been eyeing this rural set Ohio zombie book for years.  It's time I finally try it.  By the way, this author went to Kenyon College, the school that puts out the Kenyon Review.

Read a book about climate change

My choice: Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam #1) by Margaret Atwood - I've been meaning to start in on this series for ages.

November:

Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community

My choice: Grandmother's Pigeon by Louise Erdrich - How did I not know that Erdrich had a picture book out before now?

Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK

My choice: Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus - Yes, some of this takes place in the U.S., but a good deal of it is set in 1840s Japan and I've always been interested in that country. 

December:

Read a book by or about a refugee

My choice: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai - I've had this Vietnam War MG book on my tbr for a few years now, so it's time I tackle it.

Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non)

My choice: El Deafo by Cece Bell - Another one I've been eyeing for ages.  This graphic memoir is perfect for this choice.


Are you taking part in this challenge?  Have you read any of these books?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!