Reading Challenge 2025
Service Update
The 2026 Reading Challenge will be launching in February. We apologize for any inconvenience.
This year, Toronto Public Library invites you to start your reading journey and discover new books, authors and genres. Read or listen to books in a variety of different categories for a chance to win prizes.
Reading Challenge Bingo Card
Download the fillable, printable Reading Challenge form (PDF).
How to participate
- Start at any time of the year by reading books to fit the different categories.
- Read widely. Try books you wouldn't normally read, in any format you like and interpret the categories as broadly as you'd like.
- Connect with other readers. Join the discussion on Facebook or attend a Reading Challenge event.
- Win prizes. Complete the online survey and share your booklist to be entered into a random draw for a prize pack.
The Challenge
Using the Reading Challenge Bingo card, read books to complete one line, three lines or the full card in order to complete your personal reading challenge.
We'll be posting recommendations for each category over the course of the year in the order they're listed here:
Categories
- A book by an author who has written 25 or more books
- A book with forced proximity (see definitions)
- A 2SLGBTQ+ coming of age story
- A book with a number in the title
- A book by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person
- A book written by a neurodivergent author (see definitions)
- A science fiction, horror or fantasy book by an Indigenous author
- A book about an influential Canadian woman
- A book of Canadian poetry
- A book featuring a love triangle
- A book that gives a feeling of wellness
- A book about a global issue
- A book about nature
- A book about social media
- A book about a trip
- A book set in space
- A book set in Africa
- A book likely to become a classic
- A book with an unethical main character
- A book with ghosts
- A book about artificial intelligence
- A book about an athlete
- An instructional book
- A book published this year
Definitions
- forced proximity
- Forced proximity is when characters are forced to share close physical or emotional space.
- neurodivergent
- Someone who is neurodivergent processes information in a way that is not typical of most individuals. They may have learning disabilities, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injury and more.
Join the Facebook group
Share reading recommendations with fellow readers at the TPL Reading Challenge Facebook group.
