Welcome to 2018’s Back-to-School Challenge. Listed below you will find several disciplines followed by courses in those disciplines. Make your reading selections to suit your graduation goal:

• Cum laude: 1 course from each discipline (6 books) plus 1 elective (2 books). Total books = 8
• Magna cum laude: 2 courses from each discipline (12 books total) plus 2 electives (4 books). Total books = 16
• Summa cum laude: 3 courses from each discipline (18 books) plus 3 electives (6 books). Total books = 24 books

You may substitute an elective choice for 2 courses from other disciplines.

Electives may be repeated once for credit. (For example, you might read 4 books from the same geographic location.)

Please include the date you complete each course and your evaluation of the materials covered.

Note: As a reminder, when choosing a book that "has to do with" a course, you may interpret "has to do with" as strictly or as loosely as you prefer. For example, looser interpretations of "a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water" might include just an image of a ship on the cover or the word "water" in the title.

Course offerings:

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective 
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books
5. Two award-winners

Fill in your schedule below:

Please note the (now-corrected) error in the challenge "schedule" chart I originally posted: there is no social studies category. I adjusted the number of books required as well. (Thanks go out to Margaret for catching the mistake.)

Course offerings:

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective 
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books
5. Two award-winners

My Spot!

Course offerings:

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - A book that has to do with superstition,  magic, or gambling- - CARPE DEMON

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective PLAID AND PLAGIARISM
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books
5. Two award-winners

Fill in your schedule below:

Done!  10/17/2018

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth.   The Liars' Club by Mary Karr (Humorous book that focuses on a disfunctional but poor  working family that at last inherits money from the wife's mother.), 3/14/2018, 3 stars
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment  That Autumn in Edinburgh by Ciji Ware, 5/30/2018, 3 stars  (The key characters are both working to save family businesses on the brink of ruin.)
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws:  I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. 3/27/2018, 3 stars (
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling  Caraval (Caraval, Bk 1) by Stephanie Garber, 1/31/2018, 2 stars.

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment  A Taint in the Blood by S.M. Stirling, 4/19/2018, 1 star (Negative at the lowest point if I could rate it that.  Grotesque, brutal, horror at its worst.  DON'T bother reading it.
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity  Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris, 4/20/2018, 4.5 stars
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families  The Children's Crusade by J. E. Christian, Antonio Jocson, 2/19/2018, 3 stars
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy  Bossypants by Tina Fey, 1/12/2018, 3 stars

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water  At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen, 2/23/2018. 4.5 stars
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk:  The Possibilities by Kaui Hart Hemmings. 2/12/2018. 3 stars (Sara St. John's son loves to ski off the trails sometimes, known to out ski avalanches until he doesn't.)
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports:  Class A Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere by Lucas Mann, 9/17/2018, 3.5 stars
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war:  Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, 3/5/2018, 4.5 stars

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness  Twelve Clean Pages by Nika Maples, 4/11/2018, 5 stars
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective  Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh, 1/11/2018, 3 stars
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival (topic doesn't say the key character survives)  Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal Of Shackleton's Polar-bound Cat by Caroline Alexander, 2/13/2018, 3 stars.  This is a most entertaining approach to Shackleton's trip where the Endurance became mired in ice only to be crushed to pieces during the melt.  The narrator is a cat, Mrs. Chippy, whose antics and affection helped keep spirits of the crew positive during that long cold winter. 
4. âHold your horses - a book that has to do with animals  A Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans, 1/22/2018, 5 stars

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation  Abarat by Clive Barker. 1/19/2018, 4.5 stars
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated:  The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo. 4/22/2018, 4 stars
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group  Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, 5/12/20`8, 3 stars
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death The Picnic Tree by Bonnie Reese, 1/30/2018, 4 stars

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts  The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Album, 3/18/2018m 3 stars
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking  The Curious Cook by Harold McGee (Read parts so I hope it's ok if I count it.  
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise  The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey, 6/13/2018, 4 stars (Gemma runs away from her fiance and takes a new name to conceal her identity.)
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics  The Black Country by Alex Grecian, 9/2/2018, 4 stars

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors  The Enemy (Enemy, Bk 1) by Charlie Higson, 1/19/2018, 3 stars and Old Man's War (Old Man's War, Bk 1) by John Scalz, 4/2/2018, 4 stars
2. Two books from the same geographic location  Shift, 10/15/2018, 4 stars and Dust, 10/17/2018, 4 stars
3. Two recommended books  Wide Open by Deborah Coates. 4/14/2018, 4 stars, and The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, Bk 1), 2, , 5/9/2018, 4 stars
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books:   The Dream Thieves5/22/2018, 4 stars by Maggie Stiefvater  and  Blue Lily Lily Blue, 7/5/2018, 3 stars,  by  Maggie Stiefvater
5. Two award-winners:  One:  The Bone People by Keri Hulme, 1/3/2017, 5 stars; Two:  Home by Marilynnne Robinson, 3/20/2018, 4 stars

Sounds fun I will try

Great job!

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water  At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective 
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books
5. Two award-winners:  One:  Two:

Fill in your schedule below:

I am joining too.  My spot.

Math:  COMPLETED

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth - Lethal Legacy
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment Discover the Wealth Within You
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws  The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling Lottery Winners Guide When It Happens to You by Shayne Jones.

Psychology: COMPLETED

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment - The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity - Always by Sarah Jio
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families - Secrets in Summer
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy Gazelles, Baby Steps and 37 other things Dave Ramsey taught be about debt by Jon Acuff

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water -The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk - No Cure For the Dead: A Florence Nightingale Mystery by Christine Trent
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

Science: COMPLETED

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness - The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective- X by Sue Grafton
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival - Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals - Better Off Read by Nora Page

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation Snowed in for Christmas by Claire Thomas
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group - Here's to Us
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death -The English Wife

Humanities: COMPLETED

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects by Lisa Occhipinti
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking - Secret Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise Winter by Marissa Meyer 
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics - Secret Keeping by John Howard Prin

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors - Wonder by R.J Palacio and Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson COMPLETED
2. Two books from the same geographic location Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand and The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand COMPLETED
3. Two recommended books -  Banish Clutter Forever by Sheila Chandra and Creating Affluence by Deepak Chopra COMPLETED
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books - Mod Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand COMPLETED
5. Two award-winners:  One: The One and Only Ivan by Kathleen Applegate Two:

Fill in your schedule below:

Great challenge! I'm in.

Course offerings:

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective 
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books
5. Two award-winners

Fill in your schedule below:

This looks like it will allow me to use up several books from my TBR, but still have the fun of finding books that fit! I'll try for:

• Summa cum laude: 3 courses from each discipline (21 books) plus 3 electives (6 books). Total books = 27 books

DONE! with a few extra...

Fill in your schedule below:

Course offerings:

Math:

1. Mother lode – a book that has to do with treasure, fortune, or wealth
2. Put your money where your mouth is – a book that has to do with finance, jobs, or employment
3. Rule of thumb - a book that has to do with rules or laws
4. Knock on wood - a book that has to do with superstition, magic, or gambling

Psychology:

1. Cabin fever – a book that has to do with isolation or imprisonment
2. Bend over backwards –a book that has to do with helping others, helping professions or generosity
3. Elephant in the room – a book that has to do with dysfunctional families
4. Tongue in cheek – a book that has to do with humor or comedy

Physical Education:

1. All in the same boat – a book that has to do with a ship, an island or a body of water
2. Out on a limb – a book that has to do with risk
3. The ball is in your court - a book that has to do with sports
4. Jumping the gun – a book that has to do with weaponry, fighting, a battle or war

Science:

1. Under the weather – a book that has to do with illness
2. Barking up the wrong tree – a book that has to do with misdirection, a mystery, a search or a detective 
3. Weathering a storm – a book that has to do with survival
4. Hold your horses - a book that has to do with animals

Foreign Language:

1. Go the extra mile - a book that has to do with travel or transportation
2. Greek to me - a book that has been translated 
3. Melting pot – a book that has to do with more than one racial or ethnic group
4. End of the road – a book that has to do with a journey, quest or death

Humanities:

1. Like a broken record – a book that has to do with the arts
2. It’s a piece of cake – a book that has to do with food, drinking or cooking
3. A blessing in disguise - a book that has to do with spirituality or disguise
4. Benedict Arnold – a book that has to do with betrayal or politics

Electives choices:

1. Two books by new-to-you authors
2. Two books from the same geographic location
3. Two recommended books
4. Two library/borrowed/traded books ONE more
5. Two award-winners

Fill in your schedule below:

Popping in to check on everyone's progress 

Bump

Checking in.  Sometimes I forget to post my books.