Mid-Hudson Library System Battle of the Books

The Battle is on! Teens + Books + Competition = Fun

Battle of the Books is a nationally recognized literature contest in which young people answer trivia questions based on specific books they have read. It encourages young people to get involved with great literature, work together as a team and then gather with other teens in the spirit of friendly competition to test their knowledge. The goal of this program is to foster a lifelong love of reading and to encourage library use among middle grade students.

The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) Battle of the Books involves teams of teens (grades 6-9) from throughout the MHLS service area. This program has expanded 300% since its inception in 2005! Teens work together in teams to perfect their trivia knowledge of 10 books. They work over the summer to test their skills, participate in mock battles and other activities related to the books and prepare to battle the other teams in the Big Battle held in the fall.

By offering teens a program that keeps them reading over the summer, libraries support the local education system. Battle of the Books provides an opportunity for teens to maintain their literacy skills while working together with other young people on a common goal in a spirit of friendly competition. Studies show that students who read for pleasure over the summer return to school in the fall having maintained or improved their literacy competence. A reading competition program also offers teens with little interest in organized athletic activities a chance to increase their self-esteem and be successful in another arena of competition.

2008 Battle of the Books Titles

• All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
• The Boggart by Susan Cooper
• Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
• Downsiders by Neal Shusterman
• Hero by S. L. Rottman
• The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
• Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach
• Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
• The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

2008 Battle of the Books Teams

• Beacon (Howland Library)
• Clinton Community Library
• Cold Spring (Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library)
• Coxsackie (Heermance Memorial Library)
• Hyde Park Free Library
• Kinderhook Memorial Library
• Millbrook Public Library
• Plattekill Public Library
• Poughkeepsie Public Library District
• Red Hook Public Library
• Staatsburg Library Society
• Stone Ridge Public Library
• Town of Esopus Library
• Valatie Free Library
• Wappingers Falls (Grinnell Library Association)

  
  

  
  

   

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