Open Books Challenge 2026: Purple Cover or Purple in the Title or Subject

The Open Books Reading Challenge is a year-long reading challenge for people interested in pushing the boundaries of their reading. For full details of the program, please check-out our page at: https://www.rplmn.org/books-more/discover-more/open-books-reading-challenge

These are some ideas that fit the 2026 category "Purple cover or purple in the title or subject, to mark the 10th anniversary of Prince's death."

Happy Reading!

Updated December 31, 2025
RPL Staff
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Purple Hibiscus : a novel
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
Paper Book
"One of the most vital and original novelists of her generation." --Larissa MacFarquhar, The New Yorker From the bestselling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her...
The only purple house in town
Aguirre, Ann
Ebook
The Singular Life of Aria Patel
Ahmed, Samira.
Paper Book
'Hilarious and heart-wrenching, romantic and searching... a poetic, deeply profound exploration of the multiverses we inhabit' - Libba Bray, New York Times bestselling author of the DIVINERS series 'Addictive, inventive, and sometimes chilling......
Djinn patrol on the purple line
Anappara, Deepa
Paper Book
'Anappara creates an endearing and highly engaging narrator to navigate us through the dark underbelly of modern India' Observer We children are not just stories. We live. Come and see. Nine-year-old Jai watches too many reality cop...
Displeasure Island
Bell, Alice (Gaming website editor)
Paper Book
The delightful follow-up to Grave Expectations. Another playful contemporary cosy mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Ben Aaronovitch.
The purple puffy coat
Boelts, Maribeth
Paper Book
Beetle gives Stick Bug an attention-grabbing coat for his birthday--but is that what Stick Bug really wants? A delightful story about friends learning to understand each other. It's almost Stick Bug's birthday, and his fashionable friend Beetle can't wait to give him his present-...
Perkin's perfect purple : how a boy created color with chemistry
Brown, Tami Lewis
Paper Book
The fascinating true story of groundbreaking chemist William Perkin, who used the scientific method to invent a new way for creating the color purple. Many years ago, the color purple was available only to a privileged few. Making purple was tricky. The dye...
Purple Cane Road
Burke, James Lee
Paper Book
'When James Lee Burke writes, the little birdies sing, the sun comes out and old men learn to dance again. That's how good he is. And now he's back . . . Purple Cane Road may be the finest novel Burke has written' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'At times Burke's writing and...
Eat your superpowers! : how colorful foods keep you healthy and strong
Buzzeo, Toni
Paper Book
Twenty-five different foods, grouped by color, are nutritionally decoded in this reference book for the preschool set. From grapes to beets and oatmeal to cashews, this reference book highlights and explains the benefits of 25 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, each grouped...
Recommended reading
Coccia, Paul
Paper Book
'Recommended Reading is swoon-worthy in every possible way! Bobby's story is a sheer delight and an ode to book lovers everywhere who believe that the magic of stories reaches beyond the page.' Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author. In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma,...
Sarahland : stories
Cohen, Sam
Paper Book
"Queer, dirty, insightful, and so funny" (Andrea Lawlor), this coyly revolutionary debut story collection imagines new origins and futures for its cast of unforgettable protagonists--almost all of whom are named Sarah. FINALIST FOR THE GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FOR...
Sunrise on the reaping
Collins, Suzanne
Paper Book
The unforgettable fifth book in the Hunger Games series: Haymitch's story. Feature film scheduled for November 2026. #1 USA Today Bestseller * #1 New York Times Bestseller * #1 Indie Bestseller * #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller * A New York Times Editors'...
Nightshade (Detective Stilwell, 1)
Connelly, Michael.
Paper Book
No. 1 internationally bestselling author Michael Connelly introduces Detective Stilwell: a determined cop on a purgatory beat in paradise.
The one hundred years of Lenni and Margot : a novel
Cronin, Marianne
Paper Book
"A beautiful debut, funny, tender, and animated by a willingness to confront life's obstacles and find a way to survive. . . . It celebrates friendship, finds meaning in difficulty and lets the reader explore dark places while always allowing for the possibility of light. Lenni and Margot are...
The Smeds and the Smoos
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
  Soar into space with this glorious love story of alien folk, from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo and Stick Man. 'By a loobular lake on a far-off planet There lived a young Smed, and her name was Janet. Not far...
Prunella
Ferry, Beth
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry comes a fantastical and unforgettable picture book about an unusual girl whose purple thumb helps her cultivate a truly macabre garden. When Prunella is born with a purple thumb...
The colours of history
Gifford, Clive
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD BEST BOOK WITH FACTS 2019! A truly unique approach to history and a fascinating read that is guaranteed to keep boredom at bay, The Colours of History studies the shades, hues and pigments which have shaped the...
Act your age, Eve Brown
Hibbert, Talia
Paper Book
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! 'Talia Hibbert is a rockstar! Her writing is smart, funny, and sexy' Meg Cabot In New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert's newest romcom, the flightiest Brown sister crashes...
King of pride
Huang, Ana
Paper Book
A diverse and steamy, forbidden billionaire romance from New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Ana Huang! She's his opposite in every way...and the greatest temptation he's ever known. Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor...
Braiding sweetgrass for young adults : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants
Kimmerer, Robin Wall
Paper Book
Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things provide us with gifts and lessons in her book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how ecological understanding stems from...
Purple swamp hen and other stories
Lively, Penelope
Paper Book
In this new and varied collection of short stories, Penelope Lively shows that she remains a master of her craft, and one of our finest English writers. 'You are in the hands of a master' Daily Mail 'Thoughtful, intelligent and light of touch... Lively has...
Lost talismans and a tequila
Marie, Annette
Ebook
Secrets of the Purple Pearl
McKinnon, Kate.
Paper Book
From here : a memoir
Mufleh, Luma
Paper Book
In her coming-of-age memoir, refugee advocate Luma Mufleh writes of her tumultuous journey to reconcile her identity as a gay Muslim woman and a proud Arab-turned-American refugee. With no word for "gay" in Arabic, Luma may not have known what to call the feelings she had...
Heir of storms
Murray, Lauryn Hamilton
Paper Book
A #1 Sunday Times Bestseller! This deluxe edition features lush purple sprayed edges, foiled jacket, printed endpapers, and a stunning world map Red Queen meets Shadow and Bone in this captivating romantasy about an outcast...
Captain Underpants and the preposterous plight of the Purple Potty People [full color edition] : the eighth epic novel
Pilkey, Dav
Paper Book
George and Harold's time-traveling Purple Potty lands them in a crazy place in the eighth book in this #1 New York Times bestselling series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of Dog Man!The teachers are nice, the cafeteria serves delicious food, and the school principal, Mr....
Before colors : where pigments and dyes come from
Pimentel, Annette Bay
Paper Book
Colors don't come out of nothing. They always start somewhere . . . With something . . . With someone.
Fancy pants
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
Filled with lots of glitter, raised pinkies, and humorous misunderstandings, this second book in the Jo Jo Makoons series--written by Dawn Quigley and illustrated by Tara Audibert--is filled with the joy of a young Ojibwe girl discovering her very own special shine from the inside...
Creepy crayon!
Reynolds, Aaron
Paper Book
Once upon a crime
Stevens, Robin
Paper Book
Featuring six marvellous mini-mysteries, including four original, brand-new and never-seen-before stories! Discover The Case of the Second Scream, set aboard the ship carrying Daisy and Hazel back from Hong Kong, and The Case of the Uninvited Guest, where Uncle...
Wicked darlings
Taylor, Jordyn.
Ebook
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * From the author of The Revenge Game comes a twisty YA thriller about the underbelly of Manhattan's high society, where nothing is off-limits--not even murder. Aspiring journalist Noa has a secret she's been keeping. Ever since her sister's tragic...
Hawkeye
Thompson, Kelly
Paper Book
Remember Hawkeye? No, not that Hawkeye - your favorite Hawkeye, the former Young Avenger, the butt-kicking hero who had to save that other Hawkguy all the time and basically keep his life in some semblance of order. Yup, you know her, it's the dazzling Kate Bishop - making her solo comics debut!...
A tale of mirth & magic
Vale, Kristen
Paper Book
An elf jewelry maker finds herself on the run with a gentle half-giant in this spicy and cozy fantasy romance--perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Spellshop. Elikki may not have a family, but she has her fierce independence, boundless charm,...
Sweaterweather : & other short stories
Varon, Sara
Paper Book
Back before Odd Duck, before Robot Dreams, Sara Varon created Sweaterweather. This endearing, quirky volume is a captivating look into Varon's creative process. It combines short comics stories, essays, and journal entries, and invites the reader into the world of Sara Varon:...
The color purple
Walker, Alice
Paper Book
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that tells the story of two sisters through their correspondence. With a new Preface by the author.
Music Mavens : 15 Women of Note in the Industry
Walker, Ashley/ Charles, Maureen.
Paper Book
Nothing moves us like music.  Music Mavens transports readers around the world (and beyond)--to a jazz performance in Genoa, an instrument lab in London, a Tokyo taiko dojo, a New York City beatbox battle, and even a film scoring session aboard the starship...

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