Read. Win. Graduate: The 100 Books Before Graduation Challenge
High school is a lot—between homework, sports, clubs, part-time jobs, and just trying to keep up with everything, finding time to chill can be tough. But what if you could take a break, escape into a good story, and win prizes for it? Herrick District Library has your back with a new reading challenge just for teens: 100 Books Before Graduation.
This free program is open to all students in grades 9–12 and is designed to inspire you to read 100 books before you walk across that graduation stage. And don’t worry—it’s not about reading for school or writing book reports. This is about finding books you enjoy and making reading something you look forward to, not something you have to do.
Why Should You Join?
Here’s the deal: reading isn’t just fun—it’s actually good for you. Studies show that reading helps reduce stress (yes, even the kind you feel before exams), strengthens your vocab and writing skills, builds empathy, and opens your mind to new perspectives. In short, it makes you smarter and more chill. What’s not to love?
Plus, the 100 Books Before Graduation program makes it easy to stay motivated. You get a prize just for signing up, and there are awesome rewards waiting for you at 25, 50, 75, and 100 books. There are also fun quarterly milestone parties—aka Milestone Mayhem—and if you log at least one book a month, you’ll be entered into a gift card drawing. Score.
How to Get Started
Signing up is simple. Just fill out the online form (linked on the program’s page), and you’ll get a welcome email with everything you need to begin. Every time you finish a book, add it to your reading list. Watching your list grow is super satisfying—and you'll always know how close you are to your next prize.
So if you're ready to read more, stress less, and snag some cool stuff along the way, give 100 Books Before Graduation a shot. Whether you’re into fantasy, romance, manga, mystery, audiobooks, or graphic novels—it all counts. Your future self will thank you.
Sign up today and start your journey to 100!
