Read 50 books in 2026 to claim the title of Ultimate Book Nerd. This title comes with bragging rights and swag to let the world know you are a card-carrying book nerd!

From January 1 - December 31, read 50 books from the 50 categories listed below.

There will be optional quarterly “Meetings of the Nerds” on the 2nd Thursdays of March, June, September, and December 2026 and share book recommendations and discuss your favorites.

Guidelines:

  • Read 50 books
  • 1 book per category
  • Graphic novels, audiobooks, and digital all count
  • UBN is for ages 12 and up

UBN 2026 Challenge Categories

Download the UBN 2026 Reading Log (PDF)

Need book suggestions? Follow the link associated with a category below to find book lists.

  1. The cover contains something from the ocean

  2. A childhood favorite

  3. A book written before 1950

  4. A book written from an animal's point of view

  5. A book set in Africa

  6. A nonfiction book about food

  7. A winner or honor book from the Montana Book Awards

  8. An audiobook

  9. A book from the library's "NEW" shelves

  10. A western

  11. A dystopian novel

  12. A book set in a country you've never visited

  13. A cozy mystery

  14. A book in your to-be-read pile

  15. An autobiography or memoir

  16. A historical fiction novel

  17. A book written in epistolary format (letters, journal or diary entries)

  18. A book written from multiple points of view

  19. A book written by an indigenous author

  20. A book of poetry

  21. A fiction graphic novel

  22. A nonfiction graphic novel

  23. A romance

  24. A book by a Montana author

  25. A book written in the decade you were born

  26. A classic science fiction novel

  27. A book with a female villain

  28. A juvenile book

  29. The first book in a series

  30. A time-travel book

  31. A book about the environment

  32. A book that is over 400 pages long

  33. A book with a cover you like

  34. A book about the American Revolution

  35. A classic or adaptation of a fairy tale

  36. An adventure story

  37. A book that was turned into a TV show or movie

  38. A book that was required reading in school
  39. A play

  40. A DIY or self-help book

  41. A microhistory

  42. A book published in 2006 (the year the current library building opened!)

  43. A book about religion

  44. A translated book

  45. A book you have read before

  46. A banned or challenged book

  47. A book recommended by library staff

  48. A book that was selected for a celebrity book club

  49. A book based on a real person or historical event

  50. A true-crime book

 

Have questions? Contact Becky Kasten at rkasten@bozeman.net.

Ultimate Book Nerd began at Boise Public Library! We thank them for sharing their concept for this reading challenge.