Reading Together: A Yearlong Reading Challenge
Let's read together! Join members of your Boston Public Library community to read books tied to our monthly themes. You can explore the themes in order, or choose the theme that fits your mood! All ages are welcome. If you have any questions, contact us at yearlong@bpl.org.
How to Participate
Recommendations
Not sure what to read? Your friendly librarians at the Boston Public Library have compiled lists of suggestions for each theme. Browse for inspiration, but you can always choose a different book if you prefer! As you recommend books to us, we will compile your suggestions so that your fellow participants can take advantage of them, too.
Adults
Reading Together in January: Books about the Past for Adults
Reading Together in February: Debut Authors for Adults
Reading Together in March: #OwnVoices Books for Adults
Reading Together in April: Books with Pictures for Adults
Teens
Reading Together in January: Books about the Past for Teens
Reading Together in February: Debut Authors for Teens
Reading Together in March: #OwnVoices Books for Teens
Reading Together in April: Books with Pictures for Teens
Families
Families Reading Together in January: Books About the Past
Reading Together in February: Debut Authors for Families
Reading Together in March: #OwnVoices Books for Families
Reading Together in April: Books with Pictures for Families
Monthly Book Discussions
Part of the fun of reading together is getting to talk about what you read! Every month, we have chosen a Community Read title for adults, teens, and families to read and discuss together.
For the month that these books are Community Reads, they will be available as eBooks with no wait list in Overdrive, and a library-wide book discussion will be held at the end of the month. Other book discussion groups hosted at the Boston Public Library may also choose to discuss books that tie into the monthly theme. Check our Events page for upcoming Reading Together book discussions.
If you're reading out of order, or not interested in this month’s Community Read, you can still participate. Discuss your thoughts on our Reading Together forum, hosted on Discord! Please note that children under the age of 13 are not able to create a Discord account.
Monthly Themes
January — A Book about the Past
February — A Debut Author
March — An #OwnVoices Book
April — A Book with Pictures
May — An Author of Color
June — An Award-Winning Book
July — An LGBTQ+ Author
August — A Book in Translation
September — A Staff Pick
October — A Story under 100 Pages
November — An Author Born Outside the United States
December — A Book about the Future
Adults
January: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
February: His Only Wife
March: The Mothers
Teens
February: Reverie
March: Patron Saints of Nothing
