"All I have learned, I learned from books." -Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Reading Challenge
2023-2024
2023 Winner
Teen Choice Award
How do I participate?
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READ at least 4 of the 20 books featured on this page.
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Write a short book review (3-6 sentences) on the comment thread below. Comments are due March 10, 2023.
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VOTE for your favorite book on the list along with other Illinois high school students between March 15- April 15.
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Book Club will focus on the four books from the Abe Lincoln Challenge that were chosen by the student committee. Details upcoming.
Click on Book Image for Summary
Mr. Rios is killed when the plane he is flying on crashes. In the Dominican Republic, his daughter, Camino learns of his death. In New York City, his daughter, Yahaira learns of his death. However, neither daughter knows that their father has been living two lives. Now that their dad is dead, their lives will be forever altered.
Kate and Anderson are besties and have a crush on talented and sweet Matt. Which is more important: a relationship or friendship?
Dearborn, Michigan has a large Muslim population. Huda and her family just moved there. Just like her old town, this, too, has a clique, except for Huda.
Tyler Feder uses humor in this graphic novel that reflects on her mother's cancer diagnosis and the enormous loss Tyler must deal with after her mother's death.
Regina Dominican alum, Jessica Ann Foley writes another best-seller about troubled-teen Mia, who is sent to a therapeutic school in Minnesota. Out in the middle of no where, Mia begins to confront her past.
Emory's older sister, Maddie is the popular one and her older brother, Joey is always high and on a typical day, he is driving with Emory and friend, Candy when they get in a car accident, which kills Candy. Months later, Joey returns from rehab, but the town is still reeling from the accident.
When Michael's family moves yet again, he is enrolled in a strict Catholic school. The problem he is an atheist and thinks he has found a soul-mate in Lucy, an outspoken feminist. Lucy, Michael, and other outcasts, Avi, Max and Eden form a secret society setting out to expose the school's hypocrisies.
This year's Georgia prom will be different. Wanting to change their image as a racist school and community, the prom will be integrated. Madison has been bullied all her life. She has a secret - she's biracial. Some of her classmates feel that they aren't quite done with Maddy just yet and this may just cost them all their lives.
Raised by his loving grandmother, George writes this non-fiction memoir about the adventures he and his three brothers experienced in Georgia and through it all, their Nanny held them together.
Charlie is smart, funny, and fat. She wants a good relationship with her body, but it is hard to lose weight. Her best friend, Amelia, has her back, even if Amelia is popular, athletic, and slim. Charlie starts a tentative relationship with Brian. Things are starting to turn around until she finds out that Brian had asked out Amelia first. A sensitive coming-of-age story that tackles many contemporary issues.
Ashley and her friends hike into the Smoky Mountains for a night of partying. But, Ashley catches her boyfriend with another girl. Angry and drunk, Ashley storms off and falls into a ravine. In the morning, a hung-over Ashley, discovers she is lost and alone with a very. infected leg
A dystopian novel where citizens can enjoy streaming through the Postman app the executions of convicted felons. Dee Guerrera, 17 yrs. old has been convicted of murdering her stepsister. She's innocent and the next convict to be on the "hit" list. Can she prove her innocence before the world can watch her die?
Chloe moves with her moms to Alabama, a very conservative community. At her new school, Christian Academy, Chloe has a chance against Shara to be named valedictorian. One month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and then vanishes. Chloe's hunt for answers leads to secrets, cryptic notes, and finding love in unexpected places.
Cristian is a seventeen year old who has grown up in 1989 Communist Romania. He wants to be a writer in a country that does not allow such freedom. After Cristian is blackmained to become an informer by the secret police, he decides to rish everything to bring down the regime.
Nora O'Malley comes from a long list of con-artists. For five years she has playing at normal. Together with her ex and her girlfriend, they enter the bank to deposit their fundraising money - only the bank is being robbed. The bank robbers have no idea who they're really holding hostage!
Misbah and Toufiq have been married through an arranged marriage. They come to the United States and open up a motel in California. They meet another Muslim couple, Salahudin and Noor. They connect like one big family until "The Fight." With their bond broken, each faces a different reality. The breathtaking novel of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness is both tragic and poignant.
This science fiction novel is set in space. Ryland is the sole-survivor of a last chance mission to save the world. Unfortunately, Ryland has lost his memory. He's got to do it all alone. Or does he?
A favorite teacher gives an assignment to debate the pros of Hitler's Final Solution. Two students, Logan and Cade, refuse to participate. Soon, students, parents, and the community are involved.
Gene never liked sports. Now he is a teacher and his school's basketball team is having an awesome season. As he gets to know the players, he discovers their individual stories are unique and interesting. So much, that this season will change the lives of the players and their teacher.
He has lost his mom to opiod addiction and his father is dying from emphysema in a small Appalachian town. Cash watches over his best friend, Delaney and is thankful for his loving grandparents. Both he and Delaney receive a full ride to a prestigious Connecticut prep school. The only problem is that Cash is hesitant to leave behind his grandparents and his dad.