Want to win prizes? Join Maricopa County’s summer reading challenge

(Unsplash Photo/Seven Shooter)

By Jessica Swarner

July 21, 2025

This story was first published in The Copper Courier’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.

One thing I look forward to every summer is my library’s summer reading challenge. I’m signed up through Maricopa County Reads.

For the adult version of the program, you log your reading minutes and receive prizes along the way. The goal is to read 20 minutes a day, hitting 1,000 minutes by the end of the challenge.

For Maricopa County, the prizes include:

restaurant coupons
a state parks pass
Phoenix Mercury tickets
a free book

I’m already a big reader, but the prizes—the Mercury tickets, especially—motivate me to log my minutes and contribute to the county’s goal of hitting 103 million minutes read.

If logging minutes isn’t your thing, you can try out Changing Hands’ summer reading bingo. It’s technically for kids, but it can inspire readers of any age to read outside of their typical choices.

So far this summer, I’ve read “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens and “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett, both five-star reads for me.

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Author

Jessica Swarner

Jessica Swarner is The Copper Courier’s newsletter editor. She is an Arizona State University alumna and previously worked at KTAR News 92.3 FM in Phoenix.

Have a story tip? Reach Jessica at [email protected]. For local reporting in Arizona that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for The Copper Courier's daily newsletter. For Phoenix housing news, renter-friendly design inspo, and real talk about renting, sign up for Rent Check PHX.

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CATEGORIES: THINGS TO DO

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