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Took a while to get there, but we have LOTS of results this round!

Top:
A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings

Bottom:
A book that breaks the fourth wall
A book that features a moral dilemma
A book that had a 10th anniversary edition published
A book related to wheels

As a reminder, our suggestions for Poll 16 will come from our Close Calls. The final voting list will be posted on Sunday, September 29.

INDIVIDUAL READ-A-THON WINNER

Megan was our Individual Read-a-thon winner and she picked...

A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year

Her rationale: I read through the ToB short list for the first time this year and it was so much fun! I found myself interested in books I would have otherwise never picked up because of it. I think it would be a great way to push people out of their comfort zones.

Emily oh so helpfully made a spreadsheet of the books 😂

For more information on the Tournament of Books:

The 2025 Longlist will likely be announced mid-November, and the Shortlist will come out at the beginning of December, for people who like to plan and want to use the most recent list!

Disclaimer: Megan is my IRL friend and long time member of my book club. Jackie did all of the everything related to the individual read-a-thon, and I had no part in Megan getting chosen (but I'm so glad she did because I LOVE this prompt... clearly, since I put together a whole spreadsheet for it).

I upvoted two of the winners and down voted the other two. The fourth wall was my favorite from this poll, but I’m not surprised it was in the bottom.

I’m kinda confused since I only count 9 close call prompts that didn’t make the list (I excluded the multi week prompt and the two that later got voted in).

I love these results, and I love Megan’s prompt too! I found some great books on the ToB list in the past. The long lists always have something for everyone, with a mix of genres, including some very dark and edgy choices. Great choice!

My only disappointment is that our list so far is very light on science related topics. Perhaps more creative minds than mine can come up with prompts that could lead to books about genetics, ecosystems, extinction, evolution, research, environment, neuroscience, psychology, micro histories, food science, medical discoveries, trees, fungi, butterflies, etc.

For the close calls poll, we keep track of each round of voting, and we will include prompts that have a high net vote and would have made it to the close calls list if they were in other polls but didn't quite cut it in their own. The full list will be the 9 official close calls and 6 prompts that had a high number of up votes and net votes.

Thanks, Emily!

NancyJ wrote: "I love these results, and I love Megan’s prompt too! I found some great books on the ToB list in the past. The long lists always have something for everyone, with a mix of genres, including some ve..."

I think, you could make some of those fit the prompt “digging up the past�� also maybe you can make the books you want to read fit some of the title/cover/author prompts.

Micro histories will be on the close call poll.

Great pick @Megan!

I love Megan’s prompt and don’t have to go back any further than the 2024 list!

Love Megan's prompt. I had to analyze it. I've only read 90 out of the whole list, but the good news (embarrassing as it is), I have 59 more. I think I'm going to pick off the oldest one from 2005.

I’m very happy with these results, even though one or two that I upvoted were bottomed.

And I love @Megan’s choice! One question though: the VERY helpful spreadsheet that you provided has the books categorized as longlist and shortlist. Obviously the shortlist books were on the longlist at the start, but are they still considered “on the longlist�� for our purposes?

Let me add my thanks to Megan�� I too love this prompt!

I'm not at all impressed with the collection. I would have given that 8 downvotes if I could have. Just not my thing at all. I may wildcard.

I didn't vote for prompt suggestion that didn't make it on the list as basically it's ready anything. I generally meet this one by reading a book then finding a prompt to fit it (as I read lots of ARCs so it's a good way to fit them into my challenge). so I guess I am happy with this one.

I voted for athlete etc as I have some audiobooks set in baseball clubs that I want to read and I downvoted underworld etc, so not really happy about tht one either - but more doable for me than collection :P

I upvoted 3 of the 4 winners. And I'm thrilled we got 4 winners.

Just a reminder that the collection can be a group of stories in a genre, such as sci-fi, romance,horror,mystery. Or articles on a subject that interests you , for instance, Nancy, here is a place to put science. The items can be from one or many authors. A KIS could be a book made up of linked stories, such as There There. Or a set of novellas from a series.

I had 5 upvotes and none of them made it into the list! I was nervous when I saw the short stories prompt but I’ve managed to find 4 books from my 600 book TBR so I do have options of what to pick.


I am very pleasantly surprised by the Tournament of Book list. I have lots of interesting options on the list. Thanks to the winner who picked this as I think this’ll be a fun prompt to complete :-)

I’m excited that we now have 45/52 prompts picked, so probably only 2/3 more polls left until we have a full list.

I like this selection[and not just because my suggestion made it :)]. I don't know anything about Tournament of Books, but it looks interesting.

People are really going for the wordiest prompts this year. I'm happy with underground getting in.

I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case wording. The prompt is fine, I just don't want us to call people basket cases due to their mental health.

Naomi Novik fans, Buried Deep and Other Stories is an excellent collection. One of the few times I've loved every story!

ToB isn't my thing but hopefully I'm sure I'll make do.

NancyJ wrote: "My only disappointment is that our list so far is very light on science related topics".

You could certainly make underground or under sea science related, also a collection of essays.

Ellie wrote: "I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case wording. The prompt is fine, I just don't want us to call people basket cases due to their mental health."

The wording is a direct reference to the movie. The students have to write an essay about who they think they are. Brian writes one essay for the entire group, which he reads in a voiceover as the movie is ending.

‘You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... ...and an athlete... ...and a basket case... ...a princess... and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.��

(Can you tell that I watched the movie about a hundred times as a teenager? Ha.)

Ho hum. Two of the winners were up for me and two down.

Never quite got my head around the ToB, and I've seen it in other challenges, but hopefully I'll find one I like.

dalex wrote: "The wording is a direct reference to the movie. The students have to write an essay about who they think they are. Brian writes one essay for the entire group, which he reads in a voiceover as the movie is ending.

‘You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... ...and an athlete... ...and a basket case... ...a princess... and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.��"

I wondered where that had come from, as it wasn't familiar - I don't think I've ever seen the movie.

Maybe another year we could do the Leverage ones - mastermind, hacker, hitter, grifter and thief.

Tracy, in regards to the categories, I wanted to make it easy for people who wanted to BIO a winner or a book that actually competed in the tournament (short list or play-in). But yes, every book on this list was also on the longlist for the year, so all of the books listed are options for the prompt.

I'm so excited y'all like this prompt. I've read the short list for the last three years, and Megan read it with me this year. It's SO FUN (and often infuriating) to watch the tournament unfold in March. I think the 2012 year was the most palatable, in terms of popular fiction that made the list (the one year it was sponsored by Barnes and Noble...). Last year had some wild books on it, but it was so fun to read, and I found some of my favorite books (like Open Throat, Monstrilio, and Boys Weekend) which I never would have read if not for the tournament!

I am thrilled that we got five prompts today- and much earlier in the day than expected. And i love that the collection/short story prompt got in!

I’m very happy with these results! The Tournament of Books is new to me, I’m looking forward to checking it out.

dalex wrote: "The wording is a direct reference to the movie. The students have to write an essay about who they think they a..."

I am aware of that. I just don't like it out of context.

I downvoted Breakfast Club because it seemed too much like read any book. Though Nancy, the brain part would let you read about a scientist.

I didn’t vote for the first 2 prompts but will probably read non-fiction for both of them. Like Ellie, the term “basket case�� turned me off.

NancyJ wrote: "My only disappointment is that our list so far is very light on science related topics."

We don’t have to have a prompt that specifically states “science.�� Any of these prompts could be used for science themed books. (It’s almost the entire list of prompts so far.) Also, the 2016 prompt gives you another 52 prompts and the reject prompt gives you many more options.

A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
A book with a serpentine element on the cover
A book published in 2025
A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
A book by an author with a common noun in their name
A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
2 Weeks: Two books with a connection from different genres
2 Weeks: Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles
A book with waves on the cover
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025
A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
A book of secrets, lies, or deception
A book by an author that uses 3 names
A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
A book title that could be a country song
A book set primarily in nature
A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
A book with a coastal setting
A book with a sunset vibes on the cover
A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
A book with a character dealing with death
A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
A book relating to fire
A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
A book from the NPR “Books We Love�� lists
A translated novel from Asia
A book set in the winter
A book that involves digging up the past
A book by an Irish author
A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year


THE ANNIVERSARY LIST
2016: A book originally written in a language other than English
2017: A book whose title doesn't contain the letter "E"
2018: An author's debut book
2019: A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements
2020: A book with an emotion in the title
2021: A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
2022: A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
2023: A book whose author has published more than 7 books
2024: A book that has been on your TBR for over a year

Pam wrote: "I didn’t vote for the first 2 prompts but will probably read non-fiction for both of them. Like Ellie, the term “basket case�� turned me off."

I agree that it’s not a very comfortable term but it is an almost direct quote from the movie.

What I find problematic is that Allison, the character referred to as a basket case, is not (in my opinion) mentally ill. Unconventional and odd, yes, but not diagnosable as mentally ill. And this leads to what I find problematic about the prompt. Just because someone doesn’t fit into society’s neat little boxes does not mean they’re crazy. But people are going to read books with characters who are mentally ill when that really doesn’t align with Allison’s character. Just like Claire is not really a princess but reading a fantasy novel with a princess fills the prompt.

dalex wrote: "Pam wrote: "I didn’t vote for the first 2 prompts but will probably read non-fiction for both of them. Like Ellie, the term “basket case�� turned me off."

I agree that it’s not a very comfortable t..."

I don't consider "basket case" to mean mentally ill at all. I consider it to be someone who is struggling to get or keep their life together, like any parent of a toddler! A frazzled person, someone is overwhelming them, not a mentally ill person. There are lots of books about people like that, many of them humorous. That is the angle I'm going for with the prompt, anyway.

/shelf/show/...

I agree, I don’t think basket case equates to mental illness more likely an outcast or someone who feels like they don’t belong to the “norm�� or like the movie someone as seen as an outcast from the “norm��.

But am I missing something where I thought it said our last vote (the close call ones) will be posted tomorrow. We need 7 still for 52 prompts. Do we have to get 7 books from this close call vote or will we have another if we don’t hit it this week?

Anthony wrote: "I agree, I don’t think basket case equates to mental illness more likely an outcast or someone who feels like they don’t belong to the “norm�� or like the movie someone as seen as an outcast from th..."

I believe Emily is referring to the close call list. There are currently 9 known prompts in the list and there will be 6 more that had a significant amount of votes but were not close calls for the poll the were in. So it is be the “final�� 15 suggestions for poll 16. I’m guessing we will have 18 or 19 total polls.

Emily did say there would be one or two more polls after the close call poll.

Am I missing something. I count only 43 selected prompts. So, we would need another 9 to make 52.

I love the ToB category!! Every year I tell myself I'm NOT going to follow the ToB this year because I have too many other books to read, and every year I end up getting sucked in. But there are still SO MANY books on the long lists that I want to read. It's an embarrassment of riches for me!!

I'm sad about wheels, though.

@Katherine - did you remember to count the multiweek prompts as 2 books each?

Nadine in NY wrote: "I'm sad about wheels, though."

Me too. It was a really great prompt. Really happy with these results otherwise, and I have a shelf for TOB Roosters, so that's a great prompt, too.

All of my upvotes ended up in the bottom. :(

Ellie wrote: "People are really going for the wordiest prompts this year. I'm happy with underground getting in.

I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case wording. The prompt is fine, I ..."

I agree with you totally, it feels so unworthy to call people with mental health problems Basket Cases and therefore I don't like this prompt. I thought we had come much further.

And it doesn't matter that it's a quote from the movie. The movie is from the 80's I believe and it wouldn't harm to rephrase it.
And eve if it refers to people being different, like people with ADHD for example it's still a condescending word.

I voted for three of the four prompts, didn't like the Breakfast Club prompt, not only because of the word Basket Case, but also because I never liked that movie much.

I like the Tournament of Books-idea and when I searched through the list above I discovered that I 've got one book from it, recently bought and still not yet so it will be perfect. (Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward)

It's a pity the Wheels-prompt didn't make it, I like that one.

Nike wrote: "Ellie wrote: "People are really going for the wordiest prompts this year. I'm happy with underground getting in.

I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case wording. The prom..."

I know. I’m only looking for books that fit “brain.��

I have affection for the concept because I liked the film when I was young, but the stereotypes bug me too. Princess was a stronger insult where I went to college, especially when preceded by ethnic or religious affiliations.

NancyJ wrote: "Nike wrote: "Ellie wrote: "People are really going for the wordiest prompts this year. I'm happy with underground getting in.

I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case word..."

Yes, I don't like the Princess word either. And I 'm not interested in the athletes so I'll probably go for the Criminal. But Brain is also an option.

Once prompts are voted it, we're stuck with the wording unless it's correcting obvious mistakes. I'm still hoping Emily corrects my "a sunset vibes," wording so I don't have to look at my typo all year!

@Tracy - Thanks! That would be my problem. DUH!!

I don't care for basket case either, but I'm interpreting it as someone with good mental health, whose behaviour might be seen as rather wild/eccentric.

NancyJ wrote: "Nike wrote: "Ellie wrote: "People are really going for the wordiest prompts this year. I'm happy with underground getting in.

I downvoted Breakfast Club archetypes because of the basket case word...


have affection for the concept because I liked the film when I was young, but the stereotypes bug me too. Princess was a stronger insult where I went to college, especially when preceded by ethnic or religious affiliations"


Yeah, that's the thing, EVERY single one of those words was an insult back then. "Brain" was not a good thing to be called, either, and athletes were seen as not intelligent. Taken out of context like this, it's just a list of insults.

For the Breakfast Club prompt, I might read Sunny (Track #3) by Jason Reynolds. The series is about a kids�� track team. That seems fitting.

Trish wrote: "Maybe another year we could do the Leverage ones - mastermind, hacker, hitter, grifter and thief."

I'm not sure what Leverage is, but I like the suggestion. It reminds me of the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy prompt that is probably my favorite prompt.

Jette wrote: "Trish wrote: "Maybe another year we could do the Leverage ones - mastermind, hacker, hitter, grifter and thief."

I'm not sure what Leverage is."

Oh Leverage! I thought we were making a prompt that was nostalgic for the 90's film Hackers.