Bearden's Battle of the Books

The Battle of the Books is a reading competition designed to improve reading and comprehension while building enthusiasm for reading using a fun and unique competition format. Students will compete in teams to demonstrate their knowledge of ten preselected books.

Students in 4th and 5th grade are eligible to compete. Students need to read a minimum of three of the "Battle" books by January 16, 2025 to be eligible to serve on a team. Students are encouraged to read as many of these books as possible.  Students may find books in the school library, in the public library(both physical and digital), at the book fair, in a teacher's classroom, and at bookstores.  The PTSO generously donated enough books so that every student has the opportunity to read them.  The school competitions will begin in late February or early March and end the week before Spring Break.

The librarian and ELA teachers will help students find a team. Students are expected to choose a team name and elect a team captain.  Students may practice with their team before, during and after school hours. However, most of the work can be done individually.  

This year’s books were selected from the 2024-2025 Volunteer State Book Award Nominee list and older VSBA lists. These books include a variety of genres, reading levels, and themes. This year’s list includes:  

1. One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
2. Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen
3. Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
4. Squished Megan Lloyd and Michelle Nutter
5. Just Gus by McCall Hoyle
6. Nugly by M.C. Ross
7. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
8. Wild Robot by Peter Brown
9. My Life as a Potato by Arianne Costner
10. Linked by Gordon Korman

Donations of these books are appreciated.

Battle of the Books Rules:

The Battle will consist of 20 questions.

The answer to all questions will be the title of the book.  Bonus points will be given for the author’s name/authors’ names.

The moderator will read each question twice.

After the question is read, both teams will have 20 seconds to discuss and determine the answer.

Team members may only communicate (talk or gesture) with one another only after the question has been read twice.  If a team member speaks during the second reading of the question, or another inappropriate time, the team will first be given a warning.  For a second offense and additional offenses, the team will be given a 2 point penalty.

Teams may huddle while deciding upon an answer.

Each team will designate one member as the spokesperson for the team.  Only the spokesperson for the team may respond to the question. While that person is talking, everyone else must be silent.

Once the spokesperson begins to respond with a title and author, only that title and author will be accepted as the team’s answer.  If the spokesperson attempts to change the team’s answer after beginning, the answer will be judged incorrect and no points will be awarded.

Four (4) points will be awarded for each correct book title.  One (1) bonus point will be awarded for the author’s last name or authors’ last names.   

If a team fails to answer the question correctly within the allotted time, the opposing team who will then have 10 seconds in which to confer and answer.  The question will not be read again, so teams need to pay attention the first time.