What is Tome Society?

The short answer:
Tome Society is a book club for students in grades 2-12. Students in club chapters read and discuss great books, create items to enter in literacy-based competitions, and participate in virtual and in-person literacy events. 

The official answer:
Tome Student Literacy Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Georgia. Tome Society serves students in grades 2-12 by providing a diverse menu of digital student competitions; an annual book award list of new, PG, fun-to-read children's and young adult literature titles; student book club activities; curriculum materials for educators; and the TomeCon annual conference for both students and educators. All activities promote self-esteem, leadership skills, character ethics, and nurture critical thinking, creativity, and imagination in the digital age.

Who can participate?

Students in grades 2-12 who are members of a local chapter at their public, private, or homeschool, public library, or other civic organization (such as 4H) may participate in Tome Society. When a group registers a Tome Society chapter, all of the students in their organization (school, library, etc) become eligible to participate in Tome activities and competitions. Tome is for all students, not just a Reading Bowl team!!
Tome Society chapters are divided into 3 levels:

• Club Tome - Elementary School - grades 2-5
• Jr Tome - Middle School - grades 6-8
• Tome Society - High School - grades 9-12

Groups serving students in mixed grade levels will need to create separate chapters for each level wishing to participate (e.g. a school with grades 2-8 would need to register a Club Tome and Jr Tome chapter). 

How do I start a chapter?

Starting a Tome Society chapter is very easy. Simply submit the Annual Chapter Registration Form found on the Chapters page. You will receive an email with a digital invoice for dues. Once you have paid your annual dues - which are based on school/organization size - you are all set! Repeat these steps each year for your chapter to remain active and eligible for competition participation and chapter-only perks. 

What are the Chapter-Only Perks?

Only registered, active chapters receive these benefits:

• Competition eligibility, including Reading Bowl competition
• Exclusive Tome Society Discussion Guide for each It List book
• Early-registration eligibility for TomeCon
• Exclusive It List author content and events, such as Tome Exclusive videos, virtual chats and interviews

What is the Tome Society book award list?

The It List is Tome Society's annual book award list, released each February.  The books selected for the annual Tome Society Book Award serve as content for most of our competitions, including the Reading Bowl. Tome Society Book Award nominees are recently published children's, middle grades, and young adult titles that are free from excessive profanity and blush-worthy scenes. See the current nominees and explore our archives on the Books page. 
The Tome Book Award list is divided into 3 levels:

• Club Tome - Elementary School - 10 titles 
  • 3 titles are selected as "Primary Picks" - best for our 2nd grade students 
• Jr Tome - Middle School - 10 titles
• Tome Society - High School - 20 titles

What are the competitions?

Students in active Tome Society chapters may compete in as many competitions as they like at the local level; however, chapters may only submit 1 entry per category per year on the national level.  Entries are submitted digitally twice a school year by the chapter adviser for national judging. Students in grades 2-12 may compete in all competitions, with the exception of Reading Bowl (grades 3-12 only). See the full rules and details on the Competitions page.
The competition categories are:

• ​Individual/team competitions, based on Tome Society Book Award books:
  • Reading Bowl team competition (grades 3-12)
  • Book Trailer video
  • Book Talk, public speaking live event 
  • Fan Fiction
  • Promotional Book Flyer
  • Fan Art
  • Book Review Blog Article
  • Like-Try-Why social media graphic
  • Poem
  • Book Review Vlog video
  • Annual Theme Essay
• Individual/team competitions, no parameters:
  • Library Commercial video
  • Current Issues Portfolio & Presentation
  • Historical Fiction Infographic
  • Infographic, any topic
  • Book Print video
  • Digital Book Cover Redesign 
  • Character to Author Letter
• Chapter competitions:
  • Chapter Service Project Newsletter
  • Chapter of the Year portfolio
• Awards:
  • Tome Service Award
  • Tau Omicron Mu Epsilon Honor Society initiation (grades 11 & 12)

What is Reading Bowl?

The Tome Society Reading Bowl is a digital competition in which students take 3 multiple-choice online exams during the school year based on the books on their chapter level's Tome Book Award list. See the Reading Bowl page for full rules, exam book lists, and dates. 

• Chapters may have up to 15 members on their Reading Bowl Team. 
• Students in grades 3-12 may participate in Reading Bowl.
• Members of the Reading Bowl team will read all of the books on their chapter level's Tome Book Award list.
  • Elementary teams will be tested on 7 of the 10 books on their list. 
• Books are divided amongst 3 multiple-choice digital exams taken during pre-determined testing windows.
• Exams are proctored and timed.
• Questions are based on content from the Tome Book Award books.
• Students compete individually, but team score is based on average of top 5 individual scores. 
• The top 4 teams in each chapter level advance to the in-person, quiz-bowl style championship round in person at TomeCon.

What is TomeCon?

TomeCon is our end-of-year conference where chapters from across the country come together to meet each other and celebrate their accomplishments from the year. TomeCon is a one day, full day event that takes place in North Georgia in mid-March.
Each year we invite your favorite current and past Tome Society Book Award Authors to attend the event and teach classes on writing and other literacy topics. We also invite other guests to lead sessions on various topics, some of which include: art, health, animals, comic books, anime, journalism, technology, STEM, poetry, video games, and more!
Tome Society publishes a Session Guide before each TomeCon listing all of the classes and events offered. Students may select a class or event to attend during each session throughout the day (typically 8 sessions). Chapters are highly encouraged to attend, and to bring parents/chaperones. Only active chapters are eligible for early registration. Tickets do sell out! Visit the TomeCon page for more info. 
What to expect at TomeCon:

• Reading Bowl Championship in-person competition
• Book Talk in-person competition
• Award Ceremonies
• Meet-and-Greets with Tome Book Award-winning Authors
• Concurrent teaching sessions with authors and other guests
• Shopping for Tome Book Award Books, Tome Swag, and other bookish merchandise

How can I help?

Tome Society is a non-profit run by a board of volunteers and 1 employee (our amazing Office Manager, Caroline). Volunteers are the magic that makes Tome possible!
Here are a few areas where we always need new volunteers & support:

• Readers to review titles to consider for the Tome Society Book Award
• TomeCon volunteers
• TomeCon raffle gift baskets  - this is our biggest fund raiser of the year!

Find out more on the Volunteer page. 

Need more info?

We'd love to talk to you personally or schedule a meeting with your organization!
​Email us at [email protected].