It’s time to get reading in our annual Summer reading challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge is about going that bit deeper.  Children and Young People read and review five books that they have chosen as a challenge to themselves. The challenge may be in the length of the book, complexity of vocabulary or subject matter. The reviews should demonstrate a greater understanding of, and reflection on, the books they choose. While we know many more than 5 books will be read (in fact we have had a list of 60 books before in the Summer Reading Challenge) – we would like them this year to add the extra challenge of choosing only their top five books to review.

Then we would like them to add one more book. This year we would like them to tell us about a book they haven’t enjoyed and why. This could be a book that others love but which, for whatever reason, doesn’t resonate with them.  For Potential Plus UK’s Member Engagement Officer, for example, that book is Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, therefore she is challenging herself this summer to reread it to see if she can view it differently!   If they have never had a book they didn’t like then they just need to let us know that.

The challenge is open to children and young people aged 18 and under.

Rules:
1. Read the books over this Summer (from July 1st to 6th September 2019).
2. Rate the books from 1 – 5 stars (with 5 stars being a fantastic read and would recommend it to others).
3. Write/type/video/dictate reviews of their top 5 books. Reviews should include a personal reflection on the book as well as if and why they would recommend it to others. Try to tantalise new readers without giving away the whole plot.
4. Add one extra book they haven’t liked and the reasons why – if they can’t think of one then just tell us that.

Send the review list that says why and how the choices of books were challenging to Potential Plus UK by Tuesday 10th September. Please include your child’s age. Email: focus@potentialplusuk.org

All participants will receive a certificate of achievement to acknowledge the efforts that they have made and how they have risen to the challenges.

We would like to be able to quote and attribute some of these recommendations in future blogs. If you do not want us to attribute your child by first name (/name and initial of surname) please let us know when you send in the Summer reading reviews.

To see what books came highly recommended by our members in 2017 and 2018 visit our blogs Book Recommendations in 2017   and Summer Reading Challenge 2018 – The Reviews