I have a goal this year of reading at least one book a week or 52 books by the end of the year. Which even with books from Danille Steel and Debbie McComber I knew they wouldn’t publish that many books in a year. Which is why I’m excited to join Read Around the USA – 2023 States Reading Challenge
Which began in January and its March so as you can see, I’m way behind in this challenge but there is nothing like jumping into something with both feet and eyes wide open. Come and join me because I know with a lot of hard work we can catch up and with everyone else. Not only that I am going to have Charlie join the challenge for his Homeschool reading class.
What is the Read Around the USA Challenge?
In 2023, we’ll be reading around the United States! Before you panic, don’t worry, we do NOT expect you to read a book in every state. Instead, similar to our Read Around the World Challenge, we broke the states & inhabited territories out into 12 groups. Most months will be made up of 5 states from connected regions. The intent of the challenge is to choose ONE book from that region.
As with all of our challenges, we’ll provide book recommendations for each region, including multiple selections from every state.
If you use Facebook, we also recommend joining the Read with the Book Girls group. It’s the place book discussions happen for the challenges and a great spot to get more book ideas from other readers.
JANUARY: BOOKS SET IN MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, AND VERMONT
I choose to read. FRANCESCA’S KITCHEN by Peter Pezzelli Setting: Providence, Rhode Island, 2000s and EMPIRE FALLS by Richard Russo
Setting: Maine, 2000/2001
FEBRUARY: BOOKS SET IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND WYOMING
ROOT, PETAL, THORN by Ella Joy Olsen Setting: Salt Lake City, UTAH and STRICTLY BUSINESS by Kallista Kohl Setting: Sedona, ARIZONA, 2022
MARCH: BOOKS SET IN ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TENNESSEE
RUN, ROSE, RUN by Dolly Parton & James Patterson Setting: Nashville, TENNESSEE, present-day. As well as FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE by Fannie Flagg Setting: ALABAMA, 1930s and 1985 and THE BEACH TRAP by Ali Brady Setting: Destin, FLORIDA, present day and THE NEWCOMER by Mary Kay Andrews Setting: coastal FLORIDA, present day.
I will update the list each month. In the meantime, check out these other challenges: Decades Reading Challenge you can see all the details here. Book Voyage: Read Around the World Challenge now. The fourth challenge is a self-paced option called Lifetime of Reading that focuses on the age of the main character. It still comes with book recommendations for every month, but you can complete the challenge in any order.
Depending on your reading goals, you can choose one of the challenges per year, or complete them in any combination.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
