One for the Books: Sometimes short and sweet is what you want when you're reading
Start the year off with a fresh, new reading challenge! The Amazing Book Challenge returns for 2025 with 12 new themes designed to take readers on an unexpected literary adventure.
This year's challenge invites adult and teen readers to step outside their comfort zones and explore new topics, authors and series they may not have chosen otherwise. For each category completed, participants will earn a button or magnet. If they complete all 12 categories, they will receive a special Naperville Public Library tote bag and be entered into an end-of-year drawing.
To start things off, we're highlighting the category 'Short & Sweet' — read an anthology or a collection of short stories and call it a day!
Here are a few we suggest. To see a full list of recommendations and the other Challenge categories, visit www.naperville-lib.org/ABC.
'Endless Summer: Stories from Days That Last Forever' by Elin Hilderbrand
Elin Hilderbrand revisits her most treasured and iconic characters in this magical collection of stories. Collected in a single volume for the first time, 'Endless Summer' ranges from fan favorites to original, never-before-seen works.
'MatchUp' edited by Lee Child
'MatchUp' takes the bestseller pairings of its prequel 'FaceOff' and adds a delicious new twist: gender. Eleven of the world's best female thriller writers from Diana Gabaldon to Charlene Harris and 11 of the world's best male thriller writers, including John Sandford, C.J. Box and Nelson DeMille, come together for an unforgettable anthology.
'A Place in the World' by Frances Mayes
Though Frances Mayes is known for her travels, she has always sought a sense of home wherever she goes. In this poetic testament to the power of place in our lives, Mayes reflects on the idea of home, from the earliest imprint of four walls to the startling discoveries of feeling the strange ease of homes abroad, friends' homes and even momentary homes that spark desires for other lives. From her travels across Italy to the American South, France and Mexico, Mayes examines the connective tissue among them through the homes she's inhabited.
'One More Thing' by B.J. Novak
A boy wins a $100,000 prize in a box of Frosted Flakes — only to discover that claiming the winnings might unravel his family. We meet Sophia, the first artificially intelligent being capable of love, who falls for a man who might not be ready for it himself; a vengeance-minded hare, obsessed with scoring a rematch against the tortoise who ruined his life; and post-college friends who try to figure out how to host an intervention in the era of Facebook. Along the way, we learn why wearing a red T-shirt every day is the key to finding love, how February got its name and why the stock market is sometimes just … down.
'Florida' by Lauren Groff
The stories in this collection span characters, towns, decades, even centuries, but Florida — its landscape, climate, history and state of mind — becomes its gravitational center: an energy, a mood, as much as a place of residence. Groff transports the reader, then jolts us alert with a crackle of wit, a wave of sadness, a flash of cruelty, as she writes about loneliness, rage, family and the passage of time.
'Mouthful of Birds' by Samanta Schweblin
Unearthly and unexpected, the stories in 'Mouthful of Birds' burrow their way into your psyche and don't let go. Samanta Schweblin haunts and mesmerizes in this extraordinary, masterful collection. Schweblin's stories have the feel of a sleepless night, where every shadow and bump in the dark takes on huge implications, leaving your pulse racing, and the line between the real and the strange blur.
'The Way Madness Lies' by Dahlia Adler
'West Side Story.' '10 Things I Hate About You.' 'Kiss Me, Kate.' Contemporary audiences have always craved reimaginings of Shakespeare's most beloved works. Now, some of today's best teen writers take on the Bard in these 15 whip-smart and original retellings.
'Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment and Growing Up Female in America'
This collection of 21 essays from major young adult authors — including award-winning and bestselling writers like Amy Reed, Ellen Hopkins, Amber Smith and more — touches on a powerful range of topics related to growing up female in today's America, and the intersection with race, religion and ethnicity. Sure to inspire hope and solidarity within anyone who reads it, 'Our Stories, Our Voices' belongs on every young woman's shelf.
'Black Love Matters' edited by Jessica P. Pryde
Romantic love has been one of the most essential elements of storytelling for centuries, but for Black people in the United States, it hasn't been easy to find Black romance joyfully showcased in entertainment media. In this collection, revered authors and sparkling newcomers, librarians and academicians, and avid readers and reviewers consider the mirrors and windows into Black love as it is depicted in the novels, television shows and films that have shaped their own stories.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Video: Mariya Agapova kisses Jessica Eye on the mouth during BKFC faceoff
Two former UFC fighters shared a kiss during BKFC 76 pre-fight faceoffs, though one was not happy. While fighters occasionally get physical during their final opportunity to mean-mug their opponent, it's not usually in the way Mariya Agapova did it Friday when she kissed Jessica Eye on the mouth. Advertisement Eye was not a consenting party in the lip-locking. She appeared caught off guard by the action and vented some frustration toward Agapova moments later. The maneuver could add an additional layer of heat to Saturday's matchup, which takes place on the main card at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Former UFC fighters unexpectedly kiss during BKFC 76 faceoff
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Video: Mariya Agapova kisses Jessica Eye on the mouth during BKFC faceoff
Two former UFC fighters shared a kiss during BKFC 76 pre-fight faceoffs, though one was not happy. While fighters occasionally get physical during their final opportunity to mean-mug their opponent, it's not usually in the way Mariya Agapova did it Friday when she kissed Jessica Eye on the mouth. Advertisement Eye was not a consenting party in the lip-locking. She appeared caught off guard by the action and vented some frustration toward Agapova moments later. The maneuver could add an additional layer of heat to Saturday's matchup, which takes place on the main card at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Former UFC fighters unexpectedly kiss during BKFC 76 faceoff
Chicago Tribune
09-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
One for the Books: Naperville library fun and sunny outdoor events just go together
As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, it's the perfect time to head outside and enjoy everything summer has to offer, starting with Naperville Public Library's outdoor programs. This season, we're offering a variety of exciting outside events for children of all ages. From storytimes by the Riverwalk to story strolls and sudsy fun in the park, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab the family, soak up the sunshine and make the most of summer with us! To see a full list of summer programs, go to Grab your friends and family for a special fun-filled, outdoor storytime. We'll share stories, sing songs, dance to music and enjoy a puppet show, perfect for all ages. Outdoor storytimes at 95th Street Library will be held at the Wagner Family Pavilion at the 95th Street Community Plaza. At Nichols Library, they will be held at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre across Jackson Avenue from the library building. Bubble Palooza: 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20, at 95th Street Library and 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 25, at Nichols Library. Get ready for a bubbly adventure! Jump into a world of foam and suds, where children can create, chase and interact with bubbles in all sorts of ways. Chalk the Walk: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, at 95th Street Library and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Nichols Library. Express yourself through colorful chalk art as we transform the sidewalk outside the library into a masterpiece. We'll bring the chalk so you can bring your imagination to life with your own designs and doodles. End of Summer Bash with Miss Jamie: 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at 95th Street Library. Get ready to sing, dance, laugh and learn as you join the fun down on Miss Jamie's farm. With catchy tunes, silly moves and lots of farmyard fun, the whole family will have a blast during this educational music show. Story Stroll at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. Join us for a fun-filled stroll along the Riverwalk, where literacy, fitness and family fun will come together. As you follow a designated path, you'll find pages from a featured picture book posted along the way. Grab a map at the starting point and enjoy reading and walking at your own pace. Craft kits will be provided at the end for children to assemble at the Grand Pavilion or at home. DuPage Children's Museum will also be there with portable versions of their educational exhibits.
