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100 Books Before Graduation

Welcome to LCPL's 100 Books before Graduation reading challenge! Here's how to join.

The goal of this program is for students in grades 6-12 to read 100 books before graduating high school.

Students who participate in the program will receive prizes as they read. Prizes will be awarded after reading 25, 50, 75, and 100 books.

Most importantly, it is our hope that you will expand your critical thinking, vocabulary, and empathy, and increase test scores along the way!

Looking for a good read? Our teen librarians recommend:

Punching Bag
Defiant
Redemptor
Lights
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Fence, Vol. 4: Rivals

How to Participate

Just like our Summer Reading Program, you will register and keep track of your books using ReadSquared.

Register for 100 Books before Graduation

Prefer to keep track on your phone?

Books can be from home, the library, or wherever you get your books! Fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, audiobooks, it all counts!

May we suggest a lovely read from our digital collection? It's easy to access with the digital access card you got from your school!

Not sure what to read? Check out our list of librarian-recommended books!

You can also send in a Surprise Bag request and receive a stack of personalized recommendations from one of our Teen Librarians.

Any questions? Ask us!

Prizes!

You get a prize every 25 books you log, up to 100.

25 Books: A bookmark, a sticker, and a free book coupon

50 Books: Exclusive 100 Books Club pin and a free book coupon

75 Books: A small prize (ex: a keychain or fidget toy) and a free book coupon

100 Books: The coveted 100 Books Before Graduation graduate pin, $5 3D print voucher for use in the Libratory, and - you guessed it - a free book coupon

Examples of the buttons, small prizes, and bookmarks that say things like Boom, Nailed it, and ON point

Upcoming Teen Events
Skip Upcoming Teen Events widget
Cancelled
Teen & Tween Open Play Chess: Ages 6-18
Sat, Oct 25, 10:00am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville
Children are welcome to come and play chess in our meeting room. This is an open play session, no instruction will be given. Chess boards will be provided if you don't have one!
Bingo at the Library!
Sat, Oct 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
Join us at the library to play Bingo! All ages are welcome to play. Winners will be able to choose from a variety of small prizes. Please register.
Teen Advisory Board & Game Night
Mon, Oct 27, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
The Library is YOUR library. Help your local library create programs and initiatives that help and interest you, all while earning volunteer hours!
Teen Spooky Treats
Mon, Oct 27, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Teens will decorate some spooky cookies and enjoy a zombie themed punch! Registration required. Ages 12-18.
Teen Advisory Board, LEGO®, and Board Game Night
Mon, Oct 27, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Inviting teens, ages 12-18, to TAB, LEGO®, and Board Game Night. Play games and help plan upcoming teen programs for the Highland branch. Registration required. Snacks will be provided. 
Homeschool Hangout (Grades K-12)
Tue, Oct 28, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Large Meeting Room
Homeschoolers, come hang with your peers! Educational and social opportunities will be available.
Teen: Adventurers Wanted!
Tue, Oct 28, 4:00pm - 5:15pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A
Have you seen people playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and want to try it yourself? We will be playing the fantasy RPG "Dragonbane", a game similar to D&D. Beginners are welcome. For ages 12-18. 
Teen StarFinder
Tue, Oct 28, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Have you ever thought Dungeons & Dragons seemed like a cool game, but it should take place in space? If so, StarFinder is the game for you! Come and enjoy Paizo's ttrpg space adventure game!
Livestream Author Talk with Philippa Gregory - Author of Boleyn Traitor
Wed, Oct 29, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
LCPL Virtual Branch - Public Virtual Mtg Rm 1
Join other readers for a livestream conversation with Philippa Gregory about Boleyn Traitor.
Halloween Spooktacular
Wed, Oct 29, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room,Large Meeting Room,Programming Room
Families can drop in for a fun and spooky time. Enjoy some music, activities, light refreshments, and more. And don’t forget to wear your costume!
Halloween Party: All Ages
Wed, Oct 29, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
Join us at the Lake Station-New Chicago branch for a Halloween party with snacks, crafts, games, and green screen photos. All ages are welcome!
Stitch'n Time
Sat, Nov 01, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room
Adults and teens, please join us with your projects (knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, etc.) to chat and stitch! Bring your supplies, and other attendees can instruct on crochet as needed.
Cancelled
Yoga & Breathing
Sat, Nov 01, 10:00am - 11:00am
Munster
Each session includes a series of asanas (postures) & sequences of pranayam (breathing exercises) for good health. Please bring your own mat to class.
Teen Craft: Gratitude Journal
Mon, Nov 03, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Create and decorate your own gratitude journal just in time for the holidays. There will be snacks. Supplies will be provided. Ages 12-18. Space is limited. Registration required.
Teen Tuesday - Pixel Art
Tue, Nov 04, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Munster - Children's Program Room
Come in to the library and enjoy some crafting!
Livestream Author Talk with Joseph Lee - Author of Nothing More of This Land
Wed, Nov 05, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
LCPL Virtual Branch - Public Virtual Mtg Rm 1
Join other readers for a livestream conversation with Joseph Lee about his book Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.
That's Pretty Clever Tournament!
Wed, Nov 05, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Come and play in our That's Pretty Clever! Tournament. Win prizes for the highest score and for beating the bracket.
Teens Volunteer: Holiday Display
Wed, Nov 05, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Teens can earn volunteer hours by decorating our display case for the holidays! Light refreshments will be served. Grades 6-12. Registration required.
Fun with Food
Wed, Nov 05, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
Teens & Tweens (ages 10-17) will be taken on a Food Adventure. We will be making no-bake pumpkin bars. To ensure there is enough supplies and to address food allergies, registration is required.
This event is full
Teen Homeschool Hangout
Thu, Nov 06, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room
Teens (ages 11-17) are invited to register and attend this event where we will be doing various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. Time to visit and snacks will be provided.
Teen Cooking: Mini Pumpkin Pies
Thu, Nov 06, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Celebrate fall with these mini pumpkin pies! Participants will learn the basics of making pie dough, mixing pie filling, and checking to see if a pie is done. For ages 12-18. Registration required.
This event is full
Craft Saturday: Holiday Ornaments
Sat, Nov 08, 10:00am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Use a variety of materials to make a set of ornaments! All materials will be provided. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Teen: Writing Workshop
Mon, Nov 10, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Working on a story? Want to share your poem? Or just want to be with other writers? Participants will work together on writing games to get inspired and then have time for writing sprints and sharing!
Tween & Teen: Minecraft Meetup
Tue, Nov 11, 3:30pm - 4:35pm
Hobart - Programming Room
Come play Minecraft, uninterrupted, on our Raspberry Pi computers! For ages 8-18.
Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Tue, Nov 11, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
Come and play in a game with one of our librarians as GM.
Teen Alphabet Club - GSA & LGBTQ+ Discussion Group
Tue, Nov 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
We are proud to be hosting a support, education, & social space for LGBTQIA teens & their allies. Teens (12-18) are welcome.
Teen Gaming
Wed, Nov 12, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
Come hang out at the library and play the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii and board games! All games are provided or you can bring your own games to play. Ages 12-18.
Teen Cartoon School
Wed, Nov 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Like to draw? Like comics and cartoons? Then this is the program for you! Join us on the second Wednesday of every month to learn new drawing techniques and make friends with your fellow cartoonists!
Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Thu, Nov 13, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
New venue Merrillville - Meeting Room A
Teens are invited to play in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with one of our librarians as game master!
This event is full
Livestream Author Talk with Amanda Peters - Bestselling Author of The Berry Pickers
Thu, Nov 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
LCPL Virtual Branch - Public Virtual Mtg Rm 1
Join other readers for a livestream conversation with Amanda Peters about her book The Berry Pickers.
Teen and Tween Speedcubing: Ages 8-17 - Advanced Rubik's Cube
Fri, Nov 14, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room
Join us as we speed-solve the Rubik's Cube. Rubik's Cubes will be supplied at the program. Feel free to bring your own!
Cancelled
Yoga & Breathing
Sat, Nov 15, 10:00am - 11:00am
Munster
Each session includes a series of asanas (postures) & sequences of pranayam (breathing exercises) for good health. Please bring your own mat to class.
Collect 'em All: Collectable Card Game Trading
Sat, Nov 15, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)
Bring your tradable card games such as Pokémon, Magic the Gathering & Lorcana to trade with other players.
Registration opens Friday, October 31 2025 at 9:00am
Teen Craft: Pom Pom Wreath
Mon, Nov 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Teens will learn to make their own pom poms using yarn and turn them into a decorative wreath! Registration required. Ages 12-18.
Teen Advisory Board, LEGO®, and Board Game Night
Mon, Nov 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
Inviting teens, ages 12-18, to TAB, LEGO®, and Board Game Night. Play games and help plan upcoming teen programs for the Highland branch. Registration required. Snacks will be provided. 
Livestream Author Talk with Charles Duhigg - Author of Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
Tue, Nov 18, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
LCPL Virtual Branch - Public Virtual Mtg Rm 1
Join other readers for a livestream conversation with Charles Duhigg about his book Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.
Teen Gamefest 
Tue, Nov 18, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Cedar Lake - Meeting Room A
Join us for video and board games! 
Teen: Monster of the Week - Tabletop Game
Tue, Nov 18, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Munster - Children's Program Room
Come in and play Monster of the week with us!
Teen Artsy Evenings
Tue, Nov 18, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Join us to learn about the selected art style/movement, and make your own artwork. All materials provided. Please register.
Teen Chef Academy
Wed, Nov 19, 4:00pm - 5:05pm
Hobart - Programming Room
Join us at the library for a cooking program that teaches kitchen skills, nutrition, and sustainability through interactive lessons and tasty food while promoting healthy eating and food science.
Teen Ice Cream Sandwiches
Wed, Nov 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room
Teens will learn to make their own ice cream sandwiches! Registration required. Ages 12-18.
Teen and Tween Meet the Cube - Ages 7-15
Fri, Nov 21, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room
Join us as we explore the exciting world of Rubik's Cubes! In this fun hour-long session, you'll get the chance to learn how to solve the first layer of the Rubik's Cube.
Cancelled
Teen & Tween Open Play Chess: Ages 6-18
Sat, Nov 22, 10:00am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville
Children are welcome to come and play chess in our meeting room. This is an open play session, no instruction will be given. Chess boards will be provided if you don't have one!
Bingo at the Library!
Sat, Nov 22, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
Join us at the library to play Bingo! All ages are welcome to play. Winners will be able to choose from a variety of small prizes. Please register.
See all events