Outstanding Books
Challenge
2016
Take the challenge!
What is the Outstanding Books
Challenge?
The Outstanding Books Challenge is a program
that rewards you for reading books!
reading books.
What books do I have to read?
 Outstanding Books for the College-Bound and
Lifelong Learners.
 Contemporary, not “classics.”
 Selected for their interest and value to collegebound high school students. That means you!
Q: What are the books about?
A: Everything in the world!
There is something for everyone in each of
the five categories! Fiction, non-fiction,
poetry, biography…
The categories
Arts and Humanities
Music, arts, comedy, photography,
religion, dance, sports, movies…
History and Cultures
Includes historical fiction and biography.
No history textbooks or anything like
them!
Literature and Language Arts Novels and poetry, plus non-fiction
about writing and language.
Science and Technology
Space, medicine, brains, dinosaurs,
computers! Includes some science
fiction.
Social Sciences
Great variety of topics! Identity,
economics, social issues, etc.
Each category
contains about
25 books. Here
are just a
few…
Books You Might Already Have Read
Arts & Humanities
Books That Might Surprise You
History & Cultures
Books You Might Already Have Read
Popular
author!
Graphic
Novel!
Author of
Eleanor &
Park!
Literature & Language Arts
Books That Might Surprise You
Concussion
crisis!
Underdog high
school robotics
team!
Murder!
Mayhem!
Forensics!
Science & Technology
Smart Books!
Social Sciences
How many books do I have to read?
Bronze level: 1 book from each of the 5
categories= 5 books
Silver level: 2 books from each of the 5
categories= 10 books
Gold level= 3 books from each of the 5
categories= 15 books.
Do I have to attend meetings?
No.
Once you sign up, you will receive updates and reminders
through the
school email address
you use to
sign up on TurnItIn.com
Those who finish the OBC are expected to attend
a brief award ceremony.
How will you know I read the books?
 For each book you read, you will write a 250-500
word review and submit it through TurnItIn.com.
must
follow the directions
 All reviews must be original and
posted on the Library website.
Rules
• Reviews must contain a minimum of 250 words and demonstrate
to the librarian’s satisfaction that you have read and understood
the book
• Your review should contain no more than 1/3 summary. The rest is
your ideas, reactions, questions, and opinions.
• All reviews must be submitted through TurnItIn.com.
• Use a heading with your name, the title of the book, and the
category.
• No late reviews will be accepted
• Spelling and grammar do not count, but reviews so poorly written
that I can’t understand them will not be accepted.
Guidelines
The questions in the Response guidelines are just ideas to help you get started!
You DO NOT have to answer all of them!
Summary
Response
(choose a
few
questions
to
address)
Fiction
Non-fiction
Describe the setting, the point of view, and
the main characters. Then, give a brief
summary of the plot, including the major
events of the book.
Give an overview of the author’s topic, thesis,
and main points. What conclusions does the
author draw?
Discuss the theme(s) of this book. What is
this book trying to say, and do you agree or
disagree with it?
Did you agree or disagree with the author’s point
of view, thesis, or conclusions? How convinced
are you? Explain.
What is your overall response to this book? Did you love it? Hate it? Find it interesting?
Provocative? Boring? Explain
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this book?
Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?
How would you evaluate this author’s writing?
Did this book challenge your assumptions or change your mind about anything? Discuss.
What interesting questions did this book leave you with?
Good News for
Previous OBC Winners:
Those who completed the Outstanding Books Challenge last
year may choose books from previous lists or off the list,
but off-list choices must be discussed
with the librarian in advance. Check your
email for details.
What do I get for doing this?
You get the usual rewards of reading good books:

Improved vocabulary and comprehension!

Better scores on the SAT and ACT!

Broadened horizons!

Exposure to new ideas and new points of view!
Okay, but what else?
(useful for your college
application on the section that says
“Academic Awards or Honors”)
1.
An award certificate
2.
An end-of-the-year celebration!
3.
A prize! Usually, a Barnes & Noble gift certificate for a
respectable sum, sponsored by HASA.
When are the reviews due?
All reviews are due by Monday, May 2, 2016.
No late reviews will be accepted!
If you plan to participate, please sign up no
later than December 1 on TurnItIn.com
with a valid email address.
How do I sign up?
Complete instructions for signing up through
Turnitin.com, writing the reviews, and
everything else are available on the
Outstanding Books Challenge section
of the Library’s website.
You can also stop by the Library and ask Ms.
Goldberg for more information.
Why Should I Do This?
1.
The more good books you read, the smarter you get.
2.
OBC looks great on your college application.
3.
You get a prize! And cake!
4.
Your family will be proud of you.
5.
Your English teacher will be impressed!
Take the Challenge!