I've always loved the number 24.
It has all kinds of factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24.
There are 24 hours in a day.
Twenty-four was the number I always chose for my volleyball and basketball uniforms.
And now ---- I dare you to read 24 books in the seventh grade.
I dare you to choose any books you'd like.
I dare you to explore the 12 different genres on the list I will give you.
I dare you to read poetry and memoir and science fiction and graphic novels and science.
I dare you to re-read a book you loved from elementary school.
I dare you to abandon any book at any time for any reason (but you must have a reason).
I dare you to keep a list of books you've read, and books you want to read.
I dare you to read a book with a character who is different than you (race, gender, ability, etc...)
I dare you to read more than 24 books.
I dare you to make a reading goal of your own that has nothing to do with the number 24.
I dare you to read at least 2 hours every week.
I dare you to read the back of the cereal box, instructions for games, and the sub-titles of movies.
I dare you to dare someone else to read a book that you recommend.
I dare you to put your phone far away from you while you read (or keep it handy for looking up vocabulary words! Or if you get curious about something you are reading, and want to look it up, you can - that's what I do.)
I dare you to read a magazine in the doctor's office.
I dare you to steal reading minutes: the car, the waiting room, after school, before school.
I dare you to read bedtime stories to your younger siblings - it's one of the best things in the world you can do.
I dare you to read for the joy of reading -- there are no grades attached to this dare. There are stickers though. Yep, Stickers. You can try for the "12 Genre" sticker, or the "24 Book Dare" sticker, or both.
I dare you to get together with a friend and read the same book at the same time.
I dare you to get together with several friends and make a book club.
I dare you to go to the library on the weekend and bring back books to recommend to me.
I dare you to read a book in another language.
I dare you to order books from Scholastic (see sidebar for info).
I dare you to listen to audiobooks or ask a parent to read to you.
I dare you to read really fat books (books over 300 pages = 2 books, books over 500 pages = 3 books)
Above all else, I dare you to try. I dare you to discover a new favorite author, to realize you love poetry, to get lost in a story, to laugh out loud, to cry in your bedroom, to stay up past your bedtime reading, and to learn something new about this marvelous world we live in.
You will not need to take a test about your book, or do a book report or a book project to get credit for reading the 24 books. But you will need to keep an accurate list of the books you read, and turn it in to me. So remember to record each new book on your list as you start it.
Good Luck! Keep Reading!
