NEWTS Magical Readathon | 2020 TBR

Here we are barreling into August with the coronavirus still hot on our tail. If you’re like me, you’re tired and depressed by the negative news cycle that seems to become more bleak each day. The Magical Readathon is one of the most fun reading events I participate in each year, so I was especially looking forward to doing the NEWTs this August.

However, this will be the end of the Magical Readathon — or, at least, the end of the readathon while it’s heavily influenced by the Harry Potter books. The host, booktuber Book Roast, has decided to discontinue the readathon for now due to negative comments J.K. Rowling made concerning the transgender community. She plans to relaunch the readathon using her own ideas instead of Harry Potter as the inspiration. The NEWTs that will be held this August will be the last of its kind, and there are a few minor changes in how it will run; so check out Book Roast’s video for more details and for the NEWTs prompts.

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Here are a few facts about the readathon, if you’re new to it and would like to participate.

• The Magical Readathon is based on the exams in the Harry Potter books.
• The first part of the readathon is called the OWLs. It took place April 1-30.
  • However, you can do your OWLs now and the NEWTs later, if you like… something like that. Visit the readathon’s website for those details.
• The second part of the readathon is called the NEWTs. It will take place August 1-31.
  • However, since this is the last iteration of this event, Book Roast has altered the rules so that you can do the readathon whenever you like and for as long as you like.
• You get to choose a wizarding career to pursue and this year extra training was introduced, which you can also partake in.

Due to the flexibility to the NEWT readathon rules this year, I’ve decided to start my NEWTs now (because I have so much free time) and hopefully wrap up by the end of August.

Back in April when I did the OWLs, I was indecisive about whether to pursue Mind Medic (requires 12 books read for NEWTs) or Trader of Magical Tomes (requires 5 books read for NEWTs) as a career. Since I have a lot of free time and nothing better to do right now, I’ve decided to pursue Mind Medic. Surely, I should be able to get through the required reading between now and the end of August.

I’ve also decided to pursue two of the extra training options — Animagus training and Magical Shop Management — because why not.

Only Passing Grades Are Noted for NEWTs

O = Outstanding
E = Exceeds Expectations
A = Acceptable

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NEWTs TBR

I managed to complete my OWLs early, so hopefully I’ll do the same with the NEWTs. The TBR below are the books I might read. Since I often read based on my mood, it’s possible that I might read some or none of them, lol!

Arithmancy
(required for Animagus Training & Magic Shop MGMT)

A = Precision is key: Read a nonfiction book.

Every Tree Has a Story by Cécile Benoist, illus. by Charlotte Gastaut, transl. by Sylvia Rucker
Trees: A Rooted History by Wojciech Grajkowski, illus. by Piotr Socha, transl. by Anna Burgess
The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems by Rachel Ignotofsky (illus.)

E = Book that ends on an uneven number

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus

O = Book that is between 260-299 pages long

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
The Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich
Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus

Charms
(required for Mind Medic)

A = Cheering Charm: Read a humorous book.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (illus.)
The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner, illus. by Jeremy Holmes
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson, illus. by Eugene Yelchin

E = Glacius – Freezing Charm: Read a book set in winter.

Klaus by Grant Morrison, illus. by Dan Mora
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit
Rasputin, Vol. 1 by Alex Grecian, illus. by Riley Rossmo

O = Finite Incantatem – Reverse Spell: Read a manga.

How to Treat Magical Beasts: Mine and Master’s Medical Journal, Vol. 1 by Kaziya (illus.)
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vols. 13-15 by Hiromu Arakawa (illus.)

Defense Against the Dark Arts
(required for Mind Medic)

A = Boggart: Read a horror/thriller.

Feed by Mira Grant
The Dunwich Horro by H.P. Lovecraft
Psycho by Robert Bloch

E = Kappas – Water Demon: Book with demons or water theme

Watersnakes by Tony Sandoval (illus.)
A Tear in the Ocean by H.M. Bouwman, illus. by Yuko Shimizu

O = Red Caps: Read an epic fantasy.

Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Muggle Studies
(required for Mind Medic)

A = Read a comic.

The Wicked & the Divine, Vol. 5 by by Kieron Gillen, illus. by Jamie McKelvie
Relay, Vol. 1 by Zac Thompson, Eric Bromberg, Donny Cates, illus. by Andy Clarke
Klaus by Grant Morrison, illus. by Dan Mora

E = Read a book written by an author of a different race than yourself.

The Witch’s Marketby Mingmei Yip
Boxers by Gene Luen Yang (illus.)
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

O = Read a contemporary.

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Potions
(required for Mind Medic & Animagus Training)

A = Ingredient – Flying Seahorse: Book with the word “sky” in the title or has the sky on the cover

Rocket Says Look Up! by Bryon Nathan, illus. by Dapo Adeola
Ocean Meets Sky by Terry & Eric Fan (illus.)
Megalopolis: And the Visitor from Outer Space by Clea Diuedonne (illus.)

E = Doxycide: Author name starts with D

Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for Their Freedom by Marcelo D’Salete (illus.)
One of Us by Craig DiLouie
Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods by Tania del Rio & Will Stehle (illus.)

O = Girding Potion for Endurance: Book with over 450 pages

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan
The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker

Transfiguration
(required for Mind Medic & Animagus Training)

A = Lapifors Spell: Animal on the cover or in the title

The Worm and the Bird by Coralie Bickford-Smith (illus.)
Ocean Meets Sky by Terry & Eric Fan (illus.)
The Fox and the Star by Coralie Bickford-Smith (illus.)

E = Draconifors Spell: Book with dragons or fire in the title or on the cover

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

O = Duro – Hardening Spell: Read a hardcover book or a book you thought would be hard to read.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Well. That’s a lot of books.

Of course, I’ll only read one book from each subcategory and will only read up to the level indicated for the career or extra training I am pursing.

DO YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE? IF SO, WHICH CAREER DID YOU CHOOSE?
SHARE A LINK TO YOUR POST/VIDEO BELOW. 🙂

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