100 Books Before Graduation

Welcome to MGPL’s 100 Books Before Graduation! Your goal is to read 100 books before you graduate high school. Along the way you will gain valuable skills like expanding your mind, diversifying your vocabulary, increasing your critical thinking, strengthening your writing abilities, and learning how to relax from school!

Questions? Contact Cailyn, Adult Services Librarian, at cheintzelman@mgpl.org or 847-929-5119.

How It Works

Sign Up

Sign up online or call the library to begin.

Log Your Reading

Once you have signed up, start reading! Fill out a book log form for every book you read. You can also call the library to log your reading over the phone. A librarian will keep track of how many books you have read, how many reviews you have written, and send you updates along the way. Want to keep your own list of books you've read? Download and print our book log.

Earn Prizes

Prizes will be awarded after reading 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 books.

Book Lists & Recommendations

If you need suggestions for titles to read throughout the challenge, consider these library resources:

FAQ

  • Any student living in Morton Grove from the time they graduate 8th grade to the time they graduate high school.
  • Any resident who is already in high school is welcome to join; you will just have less time to complete the challenge.

  • Any book counts; books you read in your free time, books you read for school, books you listen to, graphic novels and manga, etc..
  • There is no set list of books you must read. However, there is a list of 100 books you may use for inspiration.

  • If you read 25% or more of a book and did not finish (DNF) it, you can still count the book towards your goal of 100 if you submit a critical book review!
  • Book reviews must be at least 5 complete sentences.
  • You are allowed to DNF 10 books out of the total 100 and each review will count towards 30 minutes of volunteer time. Therefore, if you complete 10 reviews, you will have 5 hours of volunteer service.

Unfortunately, you are only allowed to count a book towards your goal of 100 once. Any books you reread will not count.

Join us quarterly for a 100 Books Before Graduation book talk and support group! Meet others who are participating in the challenge, get ideas from fellow readers, and check in with a librarian on where you stand in the challenge.