Pride Month: Queer YA Fantasy
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Meija Sixteen-year-old Lucha Moya lives with her sister and sometimes present mother in a city in the world of Robado where she makes a
Adults Read On:
Adults Read On:
How It Works
Sign Up
Sign up through our Beanstack app beginning January 1st, 2026.
ARO is open to readers ages 16 and up.
Mission
20 books in 2026 is the goal!
How It Works
ARO resets every year, but you can jump in whenever you want! Sign up, get as close to 20 books as you can.
We’ll have prizes for you when you hit the 5-book mark, 10-book mark, and 20-book mark.
Reading Lists
Looking for some great books to help you complete the challenges? We’ve got some librarian-recommended titles that should suit just about any reader. You don’t have to pick from these lists to finish the challenges, we just wanted to give you some good options!
What’s My Book Again? Rocker Memoirs to Read this Summer
In honor of the recently released rocker memoir Fahrenheit-182 (which can be found in our collection) by bassist and vocalist of Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, here are ten other popular memoirs by musical artists. These books will open your eyes to behind-the-scenes accounts that contributed to some of the most influential music of the last century.
Heated Rivalry: Tired of Reheating?
Hard to imagine getting tired of this one—the book is fantastic. The show feels like someone shook the pages and Shane and Ilya just fell out, complete with a très magnifique soundtrack (as Shane might say). I mean, when was the last time you even thought about t.A.T.u.? Still, a change can be a nice palate cleanser. While Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series is a great place to start (make sure you’ve read The Long Game), let’s be honest, if you’re here, it’s probably because this is not enough. Below are some steamy, mostly queer sports romances to keep the momentum going.
Botanical Horror
Botanical horror is a subgenre of horror that incorporates plants, fungi, or other elements of nature as key sources of fear, danger, or supernatural occurrences. These stories often explore themes of nature reclaiming its power, human hubris in manipulating ecosystems, and the eerie intelligence of plant life. Dare to explore the dark side of nature? Check out a book from this list—if you can escape its grasp!
Science-y Books for Non-Scientists
Whether you regard yourself as a scientist or not, we all have an inherent interest in the world around us. These riveting reads will bring out your inner scientist and inspire you to delve deeper into some fascinating scientific topics.
Great Tragedies in History
Fires. Floods. Blizzards. Plagues. Ship sinkings. The month of May marks the anniversaries of several great tragedies in history.
May 7, 1915: A German U-boat sinks the British ocean liner Lusitania, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people.
May 6, 1937: The Hindenburg bursts into flames while landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
May 4, 1970: The Ohio National Guard kills four unarmed students and wounds nine others during an anti-Vietnam War protest.
May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupts. The eruption was one of the greatest volcanic explosions ever recorded in North America, killing 57 people and destroying the mountain’s volcanic cone.
Brush up on your history by reading one of these curated titles covering tragedies in history.
70s Glam
The 1970s provided a bridge between the folksy ’60s and the over-the-top ‘80s, filling the disco decade with flowy bohemian fashion, manmade fabrics designed to
Mysteries Around the World
Read a mystery set anywhere outside of the USA. No passport or tickets necessary – Why spend money and stress on travel when you can go anywhere
Poetry on the Pages of Prose
April is National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world. Launched by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month’s goals
“April is the cruelest month”: Poet Memoirs and Biographies
In honor of one of the most influential poems of the 20th century that begins with the line, “April is the cruellest month”, this April
Beyond the Dream: Exploring the full Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is often remembered through a few familiar lines from “I Have a Dream,” but his legacy extends far beyond a single speech. When King’s work is reduced to convenient quotations, the depth of his ideas and his growth as a bold, outspoken activist are often lost. Throughout his life, he challenged economic injustice, opposed the Vietnam War, and called for a “radical revolution of values.” This booklist invites you to read deeper and engage with King’s own words. By exploring his speeches, essays, and books in full, you can better understand the breadth of his vision and the lasting relevance of his call for justice.