In April, I read twenty-three books, and added to most of my challenges. No updates for my Jane Austen Challenge this month, but I am working on it. I have read 60 books towards my overall challenge and the #Dymocks52Challenge, and I’m at 28 books for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge – 29 if I include my first read for May. I have completed most of my reads for my book bingo challenge and have scheduled all those posts as well. So I have the next eight months to fill the final squares and fill in the card.

I have several bingo rows ticked off and have also filled in many of my Pop Sugar categories – some with books I plan to read so I know what I’m reading. Some may prove to be a bit more of a challenge, but that’s half the fun, trying to find something that suits, that I will enjoy and that I have or will receive, saving time as I go through each challenge.

So that’s my month of reading for April – hopefully May will be just as productive as I work my way through these challenges, reviewing and reading kids books for work that also contribute to some of these challenge categories.

Pop Sugar Challenge

1. A book becoming a movie in 2019: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
2. A book that makes you nostalgic: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday
3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction): Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills
4. A book you think should be turned into a movie: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads:
6. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover: Bella Donna: Coven Road by Ruth Symes, Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
7. A reread of a favourite book: Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth
8. A book about a hobby: The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stanton
9. A book you meant to read in 2018: Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
10. A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title:
11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
12. A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore:
13. A book published posthumously:
14. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie:
15. A retelling of a classic: Enola Holmes: The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Enola Holmes #3) by Nancy Springer
16. A book with a question in the title:
17. A book set on college or university campus:
18. A book about someone with a superpower: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume One: Squirrel Power by Ryan North
19. A book told from multiple POVs: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
20. A book set in space: Captain Marvel: Higher, Faster, Further by Kelly Sue DeConnick
21. A book by two female authors:
22. A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams
23. A book set in Scandinavia: The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
24. A book that takes place in a single day: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson
25. A debut novel: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson
26. A book that’s published in 2019: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni
27. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: Dragon Masters: Treasure of the Gold Dragon by Tracey West
28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire:
29. A book with LOVE in the title:
30. A book featuring an amateur detective: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill
31. A book about a family: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion
32. A book by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
33. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title: The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
34. A book that includes a wedding: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino
35. A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter:Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas, The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl
36. A ghost story:
37. A book with a two-word title: Saving You by Charlotte Nash
38. A novel based on a true story: The Familiars by Stacey Halls – The Pendle Witches
39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game:
40. Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading challenge:

2016 – A book based on a fairy tale:

2017 – A steampunk book:

Prompt:

Advanced

41. A “cli-fi” (climate fiction) book: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble, Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson
42. A “choose-your-own-adventure” book:
43. An “own voices” book: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim
44. Read a book during the season it is set in: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson (Easter Season)
45. A LitRPG book:
46. A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters:Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey (Ciphers used to give the chapter headings)
47. Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
48. Two books that share the same title: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda
49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom:
50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage

General/#Dymocks52Challenge

39. Middle School: Born to Rock by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
40. The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant
41. A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino
42. Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson
43. Poppy Field by Michael Morpurgo
44. The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys
45. Alice to Prague by Tanya Heaslip – Reviewed
46. The Lost Magician by Piers Torday (Published 7th of May)
47. The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton
48. The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stanton
49. Rabbit and Bear: Attack of the Snack by Julian Gough
50. Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley
51. Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
52. The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
53. Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda
54. Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim (Published 6th of May)
55. Toto the Ninja Cat and the Incredible Cheese Heist by Dermot O’Leary
56. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
57. Christopher Robin: The Little Book of Pooh-isms: With help from Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, and Tigger, too! by Brittany Rubiano
58.  Daughter of Bad Times by Rohan Wilson (Published 6th of May)
59. Deltora Quest: The City of Rats by Emily Rodda
60. Fabio, the World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: Mystery on the Ostrich Express by Laura James
61. Life Before by Carmel Reilly (Published 6th of May)

Australian Women Writer’s Challenge

1. All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – Reviewed
2. Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – Reviewed
3. Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – Reviewed
4. Saving You by Charlotte Nash – Reviewed
5. Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nikki Greenberg – Reviewed
6. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – Reviewed
7. Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth – Reviewed/Revisited post
8. What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – Reviewed
9. The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – Reviewed
10. The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – Reviewed
11. The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – Reviewed
12. The French Photographer by Natasha Lester – Reviewed and Q&A
13. Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey – Reviewed
14. The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – Reviewed
15. 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor – Reviewed
16. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – Reviewed
17. Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – Reviewed
18. Esther by Jessica North – Reviewed
19. Mermaid Holidays: The Talent Show by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas – Reviewed
20. The True Story of Maddie Bright by Mary-Rose MacColl – Reviewed
21. Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – Reviewed
22. Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – Reviewed
23. The Artist’s Portrait by Julie Keys – Reviewed
24. The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – Reviewed, Interview
25. Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
26. Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – Reviewed
27. Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
28. Deltora Quest: The City of Rats by Emily Rodda – Reviewed
29. Alice to Prague by Tanya Heaslip – Reviewed

Book Bingo:

Rows Across:

Row One:

A book with a red cover: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – #AWW2019*

Beloved Classic: Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – AWW2018

A novel that has more than 500 pages:

A novella no more than 150 pages: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019

Prize winning book:

Row Two:

A book by an author with the same initials as you:

Non-Fiction book about an event: The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – #AWW2019

Fictional biography about a woman from history:

Memoir about a non-famous person: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams

Book written by an Australian woman more than 10 years ago: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019 (2001)

Row Three:

Themes of Science Fiction: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday*

Themes of Culture:

Themes of Justice: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – AWW2019

Themes of Inequality: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – AWW2019

Themes of Fantasy: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – AWW2019

Row Four:

Book with a place in the title: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester -AWW2019

Book set in the Australian Outback:

Book set on the Australian Coast: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – AWW2019

Book set in the Australian Mountains: The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – AWW2019

Book set in an exotic location: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – #AWW2019

Row Five: Bingo

Written by an Australian Man: The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant

Written by an Australian Woman:Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nicki Greenberg – AWW2019

Written by an author under the age of 35: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – #AWW2019

Written by an author over the age of 65: Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – #AWW2019*

Written by an author you’ve never read: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – #AWW2019

Row Six: Bingo

Literary: Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – AWW2019

Crime: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – AWW2019

Historical: The Familiars by Stacey Halls

Romance: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Comedy: Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills

Rows Down:

Row One:

A book with a red cover: Children of the Dragon: Race for the Red Dragon by Rebecca Lim – #AWW2019*

Book by an author with the same initials as you:

Themes of science fiction: The Lost Magician by Piers Torday*

Book with a place in the title: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester -AWW2019

Written by an Australian man: The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant

Literary: Zebra and Other Stories by Debra Adelaide – AWW2019

Row Two:

Beloved Classic: Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner – AWW2018      

Non-Fiction book about an event: The Suicide Bride by Tanya Bretherton – #AWW2019

Themes of culture:

Book set in the Australian outback:

Written by an Australian woman: Zelda Stitch Term Two: Too Much Witch by Nicki Greenberg – AWW2019

Crime: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill – AWW2019

Row three:

Novel that has 500 pages or more:

Fictional biography about a woman from history:

Themes of justice: What Lies Beneath Us by Kirsty Ferguson – AWW2019

Book set on the Australian coast: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion – AWW2019

Written by an author under the age of 35: Archibald, The Naughtiest Elf in the World Causes Trouble with the Easter Bunny by Skye Davidson – #AWW2019

Historical: The Familiars by Stacey Halls

Row Four: – BINGO

Novella no more than 150 pages: Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019

Memoir about a non-famous person: Australia’s Sweetheart by Michael Adams

Themes of inequality: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – AWW2019

Book set in the Australian mountains: The Orchardist’s Daughter by Karen Viggers – AWW2019

Written by an author over the age of 65: Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s Brilliant Career began by Libby Hathorn – #AWW2019*

Romance: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Row Five:

Prize winning book:

Book written by an Australian woman more than ten years ago: Deltora Quest: The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda – #AWW2019 (2001)

Themes of fantasy: Vardaesia by Lynette Noni – AWW2019

Book set in an exotic location: Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – #AWW2019

Written by an author you’ve never read: The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble – #AWW2019

Comedy: Best Foot Forward by Adam Hills

April Round-Up – 21