Project Mayhem's Summer Book Bingo Challenge

Have you ever tried book bingo? It's a fun challenge that could encourage you to read new and wonderful titles. If you read a book that matches a genre, concept or trope listed on one of the squares, cross it off. If you get five in a row, that's bingo! You could even keep going and try to fill in the entire block.

You can download and print this book bingo (right-click on the image and "save as" to your computer), or find more online, or even get a template and make your own.

Here are some suggested titles to get you started. (This heavily features the Project Mayhem crew and other writers I know. Hey, when you can help out friends AND be lazy by avoiding doing too much extra research, it's a double win.) Feel free to add other suggested books in the comments, including your own!

Book with animal main characters: Nightshade Chronicles by Hilary Wagner: Deep beneath a modern metropolis lies the Catacombs, a kingdom of remarkable rats of superior intellect. 

See also 25+ of Your Favorite Books With An Animal As The Main Character and this GoodReads list of Best Middle Grade and YA Animal Fiction.

Prize winner: Try the Newbery Medal and Honor Books.

Banned book: ALA's Banned and Challenged Classics or Banned Books Week are good resources.

#OwnVoices title: Here's a list of 25 middle grade #OwnVoices books. See also Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos: Ana Maria Reyes; and The Wind Called My Name by Mary Louise Sanchez (see below).

Historical set before 1600 CE: The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch: 1177 BC: When their friend disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty. Can they stop the plot against Egypt in time?

Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose: In 1587, an English girl settling the island Roanoke befriends a Roanoke girl.

In The Well of Sacrifice by Chris Eboch, a Mayan girl in ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone challenging his power.

Mystery: Silki: Summer of the Ancient by Jodi Lea Stewart: Silki, a young Navajo girl, thought she'd made up Wol-la-chee, the Ancient Ant Man, on one of her horseback rides with her best friend Birdie. When Wol-la-chee shrieks into her life one summer day on Concho Mountain, Silki's world turns upside down

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl: 12-year-old Cricket and a field cricket named Charlene find adventure in an overgrown ghost town in Electric City, Mississippi. They follow a thirty-year-old clue trail left by an eccentric artist in search of a secret room that may or may not exist–all to try to win back Cricket's run-away mother. 

The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch: 1177 BC: When their friend disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty. Can they stop the plot against Egypt in time?

Fairy tale or legend influence: The Genie's Gift by Chris Eboch is a lighthearted action novel set in the fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of The Arabian Nights.

Marabel and the Book of Fate by Tracy Barrett: Free-spirited Marabel must defy expectations to rescue her brother--and their kingdom--in this charming, action-packed, and magical story perfect for fans of Ella Enchanted and Dealing with Dragons.

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni: In this riveting fantasy adventure, thirteen-year-old Jax Aubrey discovers a secret eighth day with roots tracing back to Arthurian legend. Fans of Percy Jackson will devour this first book in a new series that combines exciting magic and pulse-pounding suspense.

Reread a favorite: You tell me!

Set in another country: Operation Golden Llama by Sam Bond: Dumped at their eccentric Grandma's, Cagney, Olivia, Aidan, Lissy and Tess are convinced they're in for a boring summer. But when Grandma gets a series of mysterious phone calls and a highly unlikely pet sitter arrives, the cousins find themselves jetting off to Peru, where their adventures have only just begun.

Elephants on the Moon by Jennifer Bohnhoff: Set in Normandy just before the D-Day invasion. As rumors of an allied invasion swirl around her, Eponine begins to understand that nothing and no one is what it seems. 

Dreamcatcher (aka On Different Shores) by Jen McVeity: The only thing that interests Tess is leading a group of young environmental activists, the 'Green Guerillas'. And even though Tess never goes near the water now, she still has nightmares about drowning ... (Published in Australia but available in paperback on Amazon and other book sites.)

Science fiction: You Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please by James Mihaley: When Giles witnesses an alien realtor showing Earth to possible new tenants, he knows he'd better do something.

The Atomic Weight of Secrets Or the Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black, by Eden Unger Bowditch: In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, are taken from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black.

The Galaxy Games Series: Book #1: The Challengers by Greg R. Fishbone: Thirteen-year-old Tyler Sato has lied, cheated, and scammed his way into the Galaxy Games. Now, on the eve of the galaxy-spanning sports tournament, Tyler's past is catching up with a vengeance! 

Author's debut novel: Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos: Ana Maria Reyes is stuck in a tiny apartment with too many family members. Then she hears about New York City's best private academy. If Ana Maria can win a scholarship, she'll be able to achieve the education she's longed for.

The Wind Called My Name by Mary Louise Sanchez: The country has been gripped by the Great Depression, so times are hard everywhere. Then Margaríta Sandovalhas to leave her familia and compadres in New Mexico—especially her beloved Abuelita—to move to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where her father has taken a job on the railroad. 

The Sweet Spot, by Stacy Barnett Mozer: When thirteen-year-old Sam Barrette's baseball coach tells her that her attitude's holding her back, she wants to hit him in the head with a line drive. All stakes now rest on Sam's performance at baseball training camp. But the moment she arrives, miscommunication sets the week up for potential disaster.

The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan: Families change and new friendships form as these terrific kids grow up and move on in this whimsical novel-in-verse about finding your voice and making sure others hear it.

A book that made you cry: Sorry, I don't know what sets you off. But if something fits in this and another category, you get two for one!

Ghost story: The Ghost on the Stairs by Chris Eboch: While filming at an old hotel in Colorado, Jon and Tania find themselves trapped in a ghostly love story that happened more than a century ago. 

Night Visions by Ghost Stories Ink: This anthology of short stories was inspired by paranormal investigations performed by Jessica Freeburg's group of ghost hunting children's authors and illustrators, Ghost Stories Ink.

The Ghost in the Third Row, by Bruce Coville: For sixth-grader Nina Tanleven, trying out for a part in a play is pretty scary. But nothing can compare to seeing a ghost, a woman in white, sitting in the audience!

Book with an animal on the cover: Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles by Robert Lee Murphy: Will Braddock, a fourteen-year-old orphan, sets out in 1867 on a quest to determine his own destiny and winds up being involved in the building of the first transcontinental railroad. 

Operation Golden Llama by Sam Bond: Dumped at their eccentric Grandma's, Cagney, Olivia, Aidan, Lissy and Tess are convinced they're in for a boring summer. But when Grandma gets a series of mysterious phone calls and a highly unlikely pet sitter arrives, the cousins find themselves jetting off to Peru, where their adventures have only just begun.

The Ghost Miner's Treasure, Book 4 of the Haunted series by Chris Eboch: Jon and Tania travel with the ghost hunter TV show to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, where the ghost of an old miner is still looking for his lost mine. The siblings want to help him move on, but first they'll have to find the mine.

Historical set in your country: (if you're in the U.S.) May B. by Caroline Starr Rose: May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—then she is abandoned. 

Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine by Caroline Starr Rose: Action, history, survival, and the bond of brotherhood all rolled into one as an eleven-year-old boy searches for gold and freedom in Alaska.

The Atomic Weight of Secrets Or the Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black, by Eden Unger Bowditch: In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, are taken from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black.

The Bent Reed by Jennifer Bohnhoff: It's June of 1863 and Sarah McCoombs feels isolated and uncomfortable when her mother pulls her from school and allows a doctor to treat her scoliosis with a cumbersome body cast. When the McCoombs farm becomes a battlefield and then a hospital, Sarah must reach deep inside herself to find the strength to cope as she nurses wounded soldiers from both sides. 

Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles by Robert Lee Murphy: Will Braddock, a fourteen-year-old orphan, sets out in 1867 on a quest to determine his own destiny and winds up being involved in the building of the first transcontinental railroad. 

A book that made you laugh: Try You Can't Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please by James Mihaley: When Giles witnesses an alien realtor showing Earth to possible new tenants, he knows he'd better do something.

The Danger Gang and The Pirates of Borneo by Stephen Bramucci: "Adventure, suspense, humor and heart! I loved reading about Ronald and his brave friends, and I know you will, too! Watch out evildoers--you don't stand a chance against the unflappable Ronald Zupan!" - Varian Johnson

The Penguins of Doom by Greg R. Fishbone: "Dear Reader, In order to make this book I had to escape from a mad scientist, adopt a trio of wild penguins, become an Olympic freestyle skateboarder, collect a whole bunch of empty yogurt containers, and find my missing tripletsister. In order to enjoy it, all you have to do is read every page. Thanks for doing your part!" 

A book your friend loves: Ask your friends!

Historical set in another country: After the Ashes by Sara K Joiner: Katrien lives on Java in the Dutch East Indies in 1883. She loves science and observing the natural world. When Krakatoa erupts, Katrien is forced to flee farther into the jungle, and the only person who agrees to her plan is her hated rival, Brigitta.

Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet: In 1989, Noah Brown's ordinary, everyday life is smashed to smithereens the day his parents tell him his name isn't really Noah, his birthday isn't really in March, and his new home is going to be East Berlin, on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

New Gold Mountain, by Christopher Chen: In 1860, tension grows between European and Chinese miners at the Lambing Flat goldfields in New South Wales. Twelve-year-old Shu Cheong records his thoughts and experiences as he witnesses the brutal anti-Chinese demonstrations held by white miners. But at the same time, he discovers that not all white Australians hold the views of the violent mob. (Published in Australia so it might be hard to find.)

Fantasy: The Genie's Gift by Chris Eboch is a lighthearted action novel set in the fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of The Arabian Nights.

The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet: On their first day in Paris, Maya and her little brother, James, find themselves caught up in some very old magic.

Deadwood, by Kell Andrews: Seventh-grader Martin Cruz hates his rotten new town, Lower Brynwood, but with his mom fighting a war in Afghanistan, he has no other choice but to live with his crazy aunt. Then he gets a message from a tree telling him it's cursed—and so is he.

Jinnie Wishmaker by Deanna Roy: Jinnie Wishmaker can grant any living thing its one true wish. But somehow, the wishes always have a mind of their own.

Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti: Joshua Cooper learns that lightning never strikes by chance when a bolt strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever. To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark world.

The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet: Up in the magical, wrinkled hills, Linny breaks an ancient law. No matter how musical a girl may be, she must not so much as touch a string of a lourka before she turns twelve, or she'll be spirited off to Away.

Reality Leak by Joni Sensel: When 11-year-old Bryan starts to get mail through the toaster, he has to find — and fix! — a crack in reality that has started to leak.

Set in the Twentieth Century: The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet: It's 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta's life, like the world around her, is about to change.

Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson: It's Mississippi in the summer of 1955, and thirteen-year-old Rose Lee Carter is living with her sharecropper grandparents on a white man's cotton plantation. Then, one town over, a fourteen-year-old African American boy, Emmett Till, is killed for allegedly whistling at a white woman. When Till's murderers are unjustly acquitted, Rose realizes that the South needs a change . . . and that she should be part of the movement.

The Wind Called My Name by Mary Louise Sanchez: The country has been gripped by the Great Depression, so times are hard everywhere. Then Margaríta Sandovalhas to leave her familia and compadres in New Mexico—especially her beloved Abuelita—to move to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where her father has taken a job on the railroad. 

Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet: In 1989, Noah Brown's ordinary, everyday life is smashed to smithereens the day his parents tell him his name isn't really Noah, his birthday isn't really in March, and his new home is going to be East Berlin, on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

Adventure or survival story: Surviving Bear Island, by Paul Greci: After a sea kayaking trip with his father takes a dangerous turn, Tom Parker is stranded on the remote, outer coast of unpopulated Bear Island in the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Bandits Peak by Chris Eboch: A teenage boy meets strangers hiding in the mountains and gets drawn into their mystery. But when he discovers their true purpose, will he risk his life to expose them?

Blizzard Besties: A Wish Novel by Yamile Saied Méndez: Vanesa Campos can't wait for winter vacation. Skiing on the slopes, sipping hot cocoa . . . But when the flakes start falling, everything changes. Vanesa's little brother, Hunter, might be stranded out in the blizzard!

The Wild Lands, by Paul Greci: Natural disasters and a breakdown of civilization have cut off Alaska from the world and destroyed its landscape. Now, as food runs out and the few who remain turn on each other, Travis and his younger sister, Jess, must cross hundreds of miles in search of civilization.

After the Ashes by Sara K Joiner: Katrien lives on Java in the Dutch East Indies in 1883. She loves science and observing the natural world. When Krakatoa erupts, Katrien is forced to flee farther into the jungle, and the only person who agrees to her plan is her hated rival, Brigitta.

Featuring a person with a disability: The Bent Reed by Jennifer Bohnhoff: It's June of 1863 and Sarah McCoombs feels isolated and uncomfortable when her mother pulls her from school and allows a doctor to treat her scoliosis with a cumbersome body cast. When the McCoombs farm becomes a battlefield and then a hospital, Sarah must reach deep inside herself to find the strength to cope as she nurses wounded soldiers from both sides. 

Bull Rider by Suzanne Morgan Williams: Fourteen year old Cam O'Mara is a ranch kid from the sage brush country of central Nevada. He is a skateboarder, not a champion bull rider like his brother Ben, but when Ben joins the Marines and is seriously injured in Iraq, Cam turns to his family traditions and in particular bull riding to overcome his grief and to give his brother hope for a new life.

House Arrest by K. A. Holt: Timothy is on probation. But when he must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be. House Arrest is a middlegrade novel in verse about one boy’s path to redemption as he navigates life with a sick brother, a grieving mother, and one tough probation officer.

Alternative history or time travel: The Amethyst Road by Louise Spiegler: A run-in with social services, aptly nicknamed the Cruelty, launches Serena on a journey that is at once an escape and a quest to reunite her family. This fantasy is set in an alternative Pacific Northwest.

The Jewel and the Key by Louise Spiegler: An earthquake and the discovery of a mysterious antique mirror unleash forces that jolt sixteen-year-old Addie McNeal back to 1917 Seattle, just as the United States is entering World War I. Addie finds herself shuttling back and forth between past and present, drawn in both times to the grand Jewel Theater.

The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel: When 12-year-old Ariel stumbles on a mysterious dart in the woods, she's soon swept on a perilous journey with little more than a kidnapper and a ghost to guide her. Only by trusting her instincts can she solve a dangerous riddle from the past to reveal a legendary treasure — and a startling truth.

On Etruscan Time, by Tracy Barrett: Hector, spending the summer with his archaeologist mother at a dig near Florence, unearths a strange eye-shaped stone at the site of what was once an Etruscan village. The artifact brings on nightmares about Arath, who lived two thousand years ago and was in terrible danger. The stone transports both boys back and forth into each other's time. 

Please share this, and feel free to add other suggested books in the comments, including your own!