Beat the Backlist 2023 Reading Challenge

Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge 2023 images shows the title text on top of a grid of backlist book covers.

Beat the Backlist 2023 Reading Challenge

Welcome to my ongoing list for the Beat the Backlist 2023 Reading Challenge, hosted by Austine Decker. Reading challenges are kind of a new thing for me this year. I joined a couple and set some concrete goals for myself for the year. Hopefully, it will help inspire me and keep me on track to read some of the books I really want to that tend to get pushed to the side in favor of brand-new releases.

I’ll list the books I’ve read and a teeny bit about them here. You’ll also see the prompt the book satisfies posted with it. At the bottom of the post, you’ll find all 52 prompts, with the ones I’ve completed listed in bold. I hope you enjoy this journey through Beat the Backlist 2023 as much as I do.

Beat the Backlist 2023

1. Cozy read or cover.

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich cover shows a young girl in the foreground with her house made of birchbark in the background.

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Follows the story of Omakayas, the sole survivor of a smallpox outbreak, and her daily life in her Ojibwa tribe in 1847.

Published: June 3, 2002

4. Meant to read it last year.

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Brilliant. Compares the caste systems of India with the US and Germany during the rise of the Nazis.

Published: August 4, 2020

8. Nonfiction just for fun.

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson

Review | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Loved it. Compelling and moving. About the continuous pursuit of identity, the power of family and friendships.

Published: April 28, 2020

9. Set in or inspired by the 1700/1800s

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Four sisters living in Concord, MA during the Civil War, growing up, falling in love, and coping with loss and change. A sweet story which I read because I’m interested in a nonfiction about the author’s life.

Published: August 28, 2014 (orig 1868)

10. Bought it and forgot it.

Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About Raising Happy, Helpful Humans

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Examines studies behind modern parenting guidance and explores how parenting works in cultures across the world known for raising happy, helpful kids.

Published: March 2, 2021

11. 2022 Debut Novel

J. R. Silver Writers Her World by Melissa Dassori cover shows a girl holding up a book in front of the lower half of her face. The cover of the book she's holding completes the image of her face.

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About Raising Happy, Helpful Humans

Review | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: J.R. discovers the things she writes in her school essays come true, but they have consequences. A story about changing friendships and a budding writer. I loved this one. Perfect for fans of Gillian McDunn.

Published: March 2, 2021

12. Name in the title.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo cover shows a small mouse with large ears and a red thread tied around his neck carrying a needle at his side like a sword as he runs.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A little mouse with big ears, a princess grieving her mother’s death, a rat with a plan for vengeance, and a girl escaping terrible abuse. I didn’t like this one as much as I hoped to.

Published: August 30, 2009 (orig. 2003)

15. Won an award.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston cover shows a girl with a hand extended over a glowing ball. Swirls of light extend out from the ball, circling around her, lifting her hair.

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1) B. B. Alston

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A 12-year-old girl is invited into a secret supernatural community after her brother goes missing. When she learns she has an “illegal” magical gift, she faces even more obstacles to finding him. Loved this one!

Published: January 19, 2021

22. That Plot Heist Tho

A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar

A Million to One by Adiba Jairgirdar

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Four women with extraordinary talents plan a heist aboard the Titanic.

Published: December 13, 2022

23. Family drama or court intrigue. – Kings, queens, princes… who’s in charge here?

Cursed by Marissa Meyer cover shows a dark castle in front of a full red moon. A person cloaked in red stands facing the castle.

Cursed (Gilded #2) by Marissa Meyer

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: The conclusion of the reimagined tale of Rumpelstiltskin. Packed with power struggles and dripping with magic. So glad I read this one.

Published: November 8, 2022

29. Set on a Continent You Don’t Live On

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong cover shows a crystal decanter with a smoky substance inside surrounded by a vine with pink flowers.

Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1) by Chloe Gong

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A spy and an assassin go undercover as a married couple to expose a terror cell murdering civilians in 1931 Shanghai. A companion to the THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS duology. Twisty and engrossing.

Published: April 26, 1993

30. Released at least 23 years ago.

The Giver by Lois Lowry cover shows the face of an older, bearded man in top right and a young man in profile on the bottom left. Bare branches of trees extend toward the center from the left side.

The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1) by Lois Lowry

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A boy discovers his simple village harbors secrets and must decide what to do about them. This is a reread for me. Originally I wanted to read the whole series this year. Not sure if I’ll still do that.

Published: April 26, 1993

32. POV character is under 18.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, Leigh Dragoon, and Kit Seaton

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, Leigh Dragoon, and Kit Seaton

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A young wizard and a talented weaver race toward the capital bearing news that could stop the looming threat of war. A quick, fun read.

Published: February 2, 2021

34. Novel in verse, poetry, or anthology.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo cover shows a girl on the left with darker skin and a winding fire escape staircase behind her and a girl on the right with lighter skin and palm leaves behind her separated by the silhouettes of airplanes in the center, nose to nose.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Sisters who share a father but have no idea the other exists are united after he is killed in a plane crash. Told in powerful verse. I think I could read anything Elizabeth Acevedo writes.

Published: May 5, 2020

39. Your favorite genre – YA fantasy

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Gilded (Gilded #1) by Marissa Meyer

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A lush, complex retelling of the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Definitely a must-read for reimagined fairytale lovers. I loved the dark fairytale world.

Published: November 2, 2021

40. This school isn’t what it seems. – It’s alive… ish?

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia

Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This one is twisty and strange (set in a school that’s some degree of alive), but the characters were so expertly drawn, and the relationships sucked me into the story. This is the first book by Francesca Zappia I’ve read, and I want to read everything else she’s written.

Published: June 28, 2022

41. Graphic Novel Outside Your Favorite Genre – Biography

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker

Review | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I discovered this book as I read a biography collection of Asian American artists and entertainers. I was blown away by so many moments in this book– history that I just don’t know enough about.

Published: July 16, 2019

43. Protagonist has a pet. – Seven has a toad named Edgar Allen Toad.

Witchlings by Claribel Ortega

Witchlings (Witchlings #1) by Claribel A. Ortega

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Three Witchlings must complete an impossible task or lose their magic and be turned into toads. Totally charming! This was such a fun read. Definitely continuing with the series.

Published: April 5, 2022

44. Five Word Title

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig

House of Salt and Sorrow (Sisters of the Salt #1) by Erin Craig

Review | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Annaleigh mourns the loss of another sister as rumors of a curse swell around her family. Desperate to find a marriage match, Annaleigh and her sisters sneak away to dance through the night at ball after ball, leaving their father puzzled at their worn slippers. A haunting, sea-bound retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Published: April 5, 2022

45. More than 500 pages.

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Twin princesses, separated at birth, navigate a tightening circle of enemies determined to have control of their kingdom. Romance and political intrigue abound.

Published: August 6, 2019

48. Character is keeping a big secret.

The Magic Fish by Trung le Nguyen cover shows a boy with glasses and a patched jacket looking at an open book. In the background is an illustration of a mermaid.

The Magic Fish by Trung le Nguyen

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A Vietnamese American boy wants to come out to his parents. He and his mother read fairytales together. Beautiful illustrations.

Published: October 13, 2020

49. Horses. That’s the prompt.

Born to Run by Ann Hunter cover shows a horse and rider facing forward, the rider's head down so we can't see their face.

Born to Run by Ann Hunter

Review | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A girl in foster care escapes an abusive home and begins to heal with the love of a horse.

Published: March 1, 2015

51. All about music or the arts.

Meg Jo Beth Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Amy Boyd Rioux cover shows four girls (presumably the March sisters) in long dresses.

Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Amy Boyd Rioux

Review to Come | Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Rioux gives a brief account of Louisa May Alcott’s life and the parts from which she drew inspiration for LITTLE WOMEN. She also explores conversations through the decades about why the book resonates with different generations, the various movies and stage adaptations, and who’s reading the book today.

Published: March 1, 2015

Beat the Backlist Prompts

  1. Cozy cover or read.
  2. About dragons or robots.
  3. Takes place primarily in winter or a cold region.
  4. Meant to read it last year.
  5. Giving an author a second chance.
  6. An author writing under a pseudonym.
  7. Fairy/folktale I haven’t heard of before.
  8. Nonfiction just for fun.
  9. Set in or inspired by 1700/1800s.
  10. Bought it and forgot it.
  11. 2022 Debut novel.
  12. Name in the title.
  13. Multiple POVs.
  14. A character is lost royalty.
  15. Won an award.
  16. Here there by monsters.
  17. No romance.
  18. Recommended by a bookseller.
  19. Set on or involving a train.
  20. Featuring travel (time optional).
  21. All the nature vibes.
  22. That plot heist tho.
  23. Family drama or court intrigue.
  24. POV character is an adult (18+)
  25. Standalone.
  26. Let’s play sportsball.
  27. It’s a trope (your favorite).
  28. Less than 170 pages.
  29. Set on a continent you don’t live on.
  30. Released at least 23 years ago.
  31. Protagonist name starts with “M”.
  32. POV character is under 18.
  33. “Lost” or “found” in the title.
  34. Novel in verse, poetry, or anthology.
  35. Letter “Z” in the title.
  36. First in a trilogy.
  37. All the romance.
  38. Spooky vibes.
  39. Your favorite genre.
  40. This school isn’t what it seems.
  41. Graphic novel outside your favorite genre.
  42. This house is alive (or at least very important).
  43. Protagonist has a pet.
  44. Five-word title.
  45. More than 450 pages.
  46. Plants on the cover.
  47. Epistolary or unusual writing style.
  48. Character is keeping a big secret.
  49. Horses. That’s the prompt.
  50. Main cover is your least favorite color.
  51. All about music or the arts.
  52. Picked out by a friend with no context.

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