#12 Books, 16 Categories, 1 Year
Welcome to the Jax Stacks Reading Challenge, Jacksonville Public Library's only year-round reading challenge specifically for adults! Every year, your friendly (and book-obsessed) local librarians will craft 16 fun and challenging categories of books for you to choose from, along with some recommendations to get you started. You pick the 12 categories that interest you most and start reading! It's that simple.
Throughout the year, we hope that you try a new series, a new genre or a new format (like graphic novels). You might just find a new favorite! It's also a great way to broaden your reading horizons or read something you might have overlooked in the past!
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Learn the Rules | Choose Your Categories
Learn the "Rules"
Rule #1: Have fun reading.
Rule #2: Check out books from the Library.
Rule #3: Let us know when you're done.
That’s all we’re really asking of you! OK. So, these are really more like guidelines than rules (except the first rule, we're pretty sure that one is important). You can complete as much or as little of the challenge as you want. Don't think you can commit to 12 books? Pick your favorite category and just start reading. You might surprise yourself! But if you want some more structure, or you plan on completing the challenge, keep reading!
Keeping track of your progress?
Stop by your local library for a Jax Stacks Reading Challenge Bookmark. Just make sure to grab the one with the current challenge year on the front! To claim your prize, we also ask that you bring the completed bookmark back to the Library when you're done or email us a picture of it if you want to claim a prize for completion. More on that below!
Choose Your 2025 Challenge Categories
Choose your reading adventure - starting January 1, 2025!
Pick your 12 categories from the list below. Then, find one book to read for each category, for a total of 12 books, before the end of the year. Note: Each book only counts for one category, so choose wisely! Don't worry if you get started later in the year! Any book you've read in 2025 -- that fits one of these 16 categories -- counts for the challenge.
- A book by a 2025 Lit Chat author*
- A book read by a Library Book Club in 2025**
- A book from a Library display
- A book by an author who shares your name or initials
- A book published before 2000
- The first book in a series
- An anthology or book with two or more authors
- A retelling of another book or story
- An epistolary book or diary format
- A graphic novel, either in fiction or nonfiction
- A book featuring a Neurodivergent character***
- A mystery set outside the U.S.
- A nonfiction book about a minority group or person
- A book about music
- A book with a heist
- A book written for children
Looking for reading challenges and book recommendations for kids and teens?
Sign up for Mayor Deegan's River City Readers city-wide literacy challenge on the Beanstack tracker app. A new set of recommended titles are added each month, to match the theme. At the end of the year, the city’s top young readers are given prizes!
Get Book Recommendations
Looking for ideas (or a friendly reminder)? Sign up for the Jax Stacks email newsletter! On January 1, 2025, we'll be sending out the first round of recommendations (a few books for each category) via a welcome message to current subscribers. Don't worry if you sign up after that. We'll be sending out the same welcome message regularly to new subscribers!
Every month, we'll also send you reminders about our Library Book Clubs, Lit Chat author programs, and anything else that will help you complete the challenge! In addition to being able to cross off "A book read by a Library Book Club," throughout the year, these groups will be tackling other categories as well. So, join a Library Book Club or track their monthly picks!
Get great book recommendations by email!
Pro Tip: For even more great book recommendations, sign up for The Book Hookup or get a Personalized Booklist from one of our librarians!
Pick a Prize
It's completely optional but if you want to win a prize, be sure to keep track of those book titles on your Jax Stacks Reading Challenge bookmark. When you're done, just snap a picture of the front and back and send it to us at jplprograms@coj.net before December 31! You can also bring it to your favorite library location and ask a librarian to snap the picture and submit it on your behalf. All winners receive a 50% off coupon to the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library Bookstore.
Additional swag/prizes we've offered in the past include: a Jax Stacks-branded tote, sunglasses, mug, or tumbler. Stay tuned for announcements about the prizes for 2025!
Get Social
Are you a Bookstagrammer? As you read through the challenges, share what you’re reading on social media using the hashtag #jaxstacks and #amreading. Be sure to tag @jaxlibrary on Facebook and Instagram so we see your posts! You can also become a member of our Library U Facebook Group!
Keep track of your progress and make recommendations for other readers on the Jax Stacks StoryGraph Challenge. You can also find the challenge on GoodReads.
Jax Stacks 2022-2024
2024 Challenge Categories
- A book by a 2024 Lit Chat author
- A book with an eye-catching cover
- A book published the year you were born
- A book you read as a child
- A book of poetry, essays, or short stories
- A book read by a Library Book Club in 2024
- A sci-fi or alternate history book set in Asia
- A book with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist
- A nonfiction graphic novel or comic book
- A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
- A book by a Jacksonville author
- A book in translation, written in the 21st century
- A horror or dystopian novel
- A cookbook
- A book by a debut author over 50
- A book based on mythology
2023 Challenge Categories
- A book you've read and loved before
- A book written before 2000
- A book in a genre you don't usually read
- A book recommended by a library staff member
- A historical book set in Africa
- A book in translation
- A book written by an author when they were under 30
- A book set in a place you want to visit
- A book read by a Library Book Club in 2023
- A book by a 2023 Lit Chat author
- A self-improvement, how-to, or DIY book
- A book with a non-human protagonist
- A book banned in the last 10 years
- A book by a Nobel Prize winner
- A book with illustrations
- A book under 300 pages
2022 Challenge Categories
- A book by a Jacksonville author
- A book read by a Library Book Club in 2022
- A book by an author that shares your zodiac sign
- A book about current events
- A book in a different format than you usually read
- A book in a genre you don't usually read
- A book by an international author
- A book you've been meaning to read but haven't
- A book adapted to or from a TV show, film, or video game
- An audiobook read by the author
- An award-winner or celebrity book club pick
- A book about a culture other than your own
- The first book in a series
- A book written for teens
- A book written by a 2022 Lit Chat author
- A book under 300 pages
*Learn more about our featured authors and register for programs on our monthly Lit Chat blogs. If you're catching up later in the year, you can also find past interviews on our YouTube Channel or Completely Booked Podcast (available wherever you get your podcasts).
**See what our Library Book Clubs are reading on our monthly Book Club blogs.
***This category focuses on characters with neurological differences or those with developmental disorders. Typically, individuals who identify as neurodivergent have one or more of the following: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome, and/or sensory processing issues. People with certain mental health conditions, such as Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive and Anxiety Disorders, or an intellectual disability such as Down Syndrome might also identify as Neurodiverse.
