Hocus Pocus Readathon: Rules and Prompts

Amok, Amok, Amok! It is finally time for the Hocus Pocus Readathon and I couldn’t be more excited! This will be the third year that this readathon is being held and I always have a blast while doing so. I love that we can celebrate Halloween through reading.

If you participated in this readathon for the past 2 years, welcome back! If you are new, welcome! I am going to explain everything down below, from all the rules, teams, and prompts. Feel free to comment with any questions you have, or you can message my Twitter, @coffee_bookish.

Rules!

‘TIS TIME! October is only a week away, and it is finally time to talk about this year’s Hocus Pocus Readathon! You will find the general rules below, with info on how to earn points and survive the night against the Sanderson sisters.

Here is the general idea of the Hocus Pocus Readathon

1. Choose a team: There are three teams that wil be listed below! Choose wisely!
2. Read books based on the prompts: Each team has a list of 7 prompts that you can choose from. You do not have to read a book for each prompt, unless you want to! Just read as much as you can or want to.
3. No doubling up on prompts: I promise, even if you read one book, you are earning points for your team! Every point counts and team work makes the dream work.
4. Have fun: This is supposed to be a fun way to celebrate Halloween through reading, so enjoy yourself and enjoy the spooky!

The Teams!

There are three teams you can choose from for this readathon!

1. Team Sanderson Sisters

2. Team Undead

3. Team Trick or Treaters

Prompts

Now time for the prompts! So you can finally select your books and create your TBR for the month of October!

Team Sanderson Sisters!

1. Sisters that stick together: Read a book that features sisters (10 points)
2. Sold your soul to Satan for a book: Read a book featuring readers, bookstores, or more books! (10 points)
3. Waiting for the black candle to be lit: Read one book by candle light (with a real candle or a virtual one from Youtube) (10 points)
4. We are all fabulous witches: Read a book featuring LGBTQIA+ characters (10 points)
5. Come little children: Read a middle grade book (10 points)
6. I put a spell on you: Read a witchy/magical book (10 points)
7. Amok, Amok, Amok: Watch the movie (25 points)

Strength: Witches steal the souls of children! You can switch one of your prompts with one from Team Trick or Treaters

Weakness: Witches only come out at night! Read one book under moonlight (only read it during nighttime hours)

Team Undead!

1. Hang on to your head: Read a book that you think will blow your mind! (10 points)
2. Waiting for you: Read a book where a character has a vendetta to fulfill (10 points)
3. Emily: Read a middle grade book (10 points) 
4. I had to wait 300 years for a virgin to light a candle: Read a book set in a different time period (future or past) 
5. Billy, Emily, and Binx: Read a book with either ghosts, zombies, or talking animals (10 points) 
6. All Hallows Eve: Read a book set on or around Halloween (10 points) 
7. Hocus Pocus: Watch the movie (25 points)

Strength: Cats have nine lives! Use one of yours to switch one of your prompts with one from another team.

Weakness: You’re stuck in the graveyard! You have to read an entire book in one spot. 

Team Trick or Treaters!

1. Well, it says to form as circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends: Read a romance book (10 points)
2. Couldn’t you forget about being a cool teeneger just for one night? Max is brave: Read a book featuring brave characters (10 points)
3. It’s all just a bunch of hocus pocus: Read a book about witches (10 points)
4. It’s a full moon tonight, that’s why all the weirdos are out: Dress up in a Halloween costume and read a scary book (10 points)
5. Welcome to Highschool Hell: Read a book set in high school, or that featured high school students (10 points)
6. Everyone here knows that Halloween was invented by the candy companies. It’s a conspiracy: Read a book set during the month of October (10 points)
7. Halloween party: Watch the movie (25 points)

Strength: Teamwork is the only way you will get through this night! Steal a prompt from Team Undead

Weakness: You can’t break curfew! You have to read one book in sunlight (read only during daylight hours).

Group Book

We are also going to have a group book, and reading this book will earn you 25 points! The group book for this year is…

The Devouring Gray by Christina Lynn Herman!

This book has been on our TBR forever and we can’t wait to read it!

Note: If you can’t access this book, feel free to read another spooky book about a dark force! You will still get the points.

Bonus Points

For every 100 pages you read for this readathon, you will earn 2 extra bonus points for your team!

Scoring

If there are points, someone has to win right?!

Of course! There is a google spreadsheet to track all your points, which you can access here! It is posted on the Hocus Pocus Readathon Twitter as well. (Note: This spreadsheet only works on a computer. If you don’t have access to a computer, please message me on Twitter, and I will put your points into the spreadsheet!)

Then, at the end of the month, we average out the points for each team so it’s fair and we get a score!

In 2020 the winner was Team Undead!

And in 2019 the winner was… TEAM UNDEAD!

Looks like Team Sanderson Sisters and Team Trick or Treaters need to step up there game if they want to win this year! But the scores are always super close, and we have a lot of fun. So does the winner really matter?

So there you have it! You can finally start putting together your TBRs for this year’s Hocus Pocus Readathon! I have a lot of fun books planned for my own TBR, so stay tuned for that post coming in the first week of October.

Click here if you want to check out my TBR from last year!

Please comment below if you have any questions!

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s TBR for the month!