High School Battle Books

Battle of the Books 2012

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan - Told in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two sixteen-year-olds carry on a wintry scavenger hunt at Christmas-time in New York, neither knowing quite what--or who--they will find.

Fire by Kristin Cashore - In a kingdom called the Dells, Fire is the last human-shaped monster, with unimaginable beauty and the ability to control the minds of those around her, but even with these gifts she cannot escape the strife that overcomes her world.

Hold Still by Nina LeCour - As she reads the journal left by her best friend, who committed suicide, Caitlin struggles with powerful feelings of loss, sadness, and guilt, but friends and a first love help her to cope with her negative emotions.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - Pursued by power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron, young Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's true past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - A portrait of the immigrant experience follows the Ganguli family from their traditional life in India through their arrival in Massachusetts in the late 1960s and their difficult melding into an American way of life.

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum - The untold story of how poison rocked Jazz Age New York City. A pair of forensic scientists began their trailblazing chemical detective work, fighting to end an era when untraceable poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan - When two teens, one gay and one straight, meet accidentally and discover that they share the same name, their lives become intertwined as one begins dating the other's best friend, who produces a play revealing his relationship with them both.

A Note to Parents and Team Managers

Choosing titles for B.O.B. can be a challenging task! The selected books for 2012 were chosen based on their student appeal, diverse subject matter and characters, representation of a wide variety of genres, and their literary merit. The books were each read, reviewed, and discussed by a team of school and public librarians. Should you have a concern about one of the titles, please feel free to contact Moon or Sewickley libraries.

Thank you,
Heather Panella, Moon Township Public Library
Kelly Rottmund, Sewickley Public Library

*Plot summaries are from the NoveList database.

7th & 8th Grade Battle Books!

Battle of the Books 2012

Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwood - When Harry Fogg undertakes a race against time to win a wager with a member of his famous father's club, he puts to good use the recklessness and fascination with all things mechanical that have caused him trouble in Victorian England.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman - New York high school student Elizabeth gets an after-

school job as a page at the "New-York Circulating Material Repository," and when she gains coveted

access to its Grimm Collection of magical objects, she and the other pages are drawn into a series of frightening adventures involving mythical creatures and stolen goods.

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus - In 1841, rescued by an American whaler after a terrible shipwreck leaves him and his four companions castaways on a remote island Manjiro, who dreams of

becoming a samurai, learns new laws and customs as he becomes the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.

Incarceron by Catherine Fischer - To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and fiance, takes a job at a summer inn where

she discovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on a true story.

Pop by Gordon Korman - Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry - In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

Smile by Rania Telgemeier - From sixth through tenth grade, Rania copes with a variety of dental problems that affect her appearance and how she feels about herself.

8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perovich - After half-heartedly joining his church youth group's project at a homeless shelter near his Brooklyn middle school, eighth-grade "loser" Reggie McKnight is inspired to run for school office on a platform of making a real difference in the community.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han - Belly spends the summer at the beach just like every other summer of her life, but this time things are very different.

A Note to Parents and Team Managers

Choosing titles for B.O.B. can be a challenging task! The selected books for 2012 were chosen based on their student appeal, diverse subject matter and characters, representation of a wide variety of genres, and their literary merit. The books were each read, reviewed, and discussed by a team of school and public librarians. Should you have a concern about one of the titles, please feel free to contact Moon or Sewickley libraries.

Thank you,
Heather Panella, Moon Township Public Library
Kelly Rottmund, Sewickley Public Library

*Plot summaries are from the NoveList database.

6th Grade Battle Books!

Battle of the Books 2012

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs - Teddy investigates when a popular Texas zoo's star attraction--Henry the hippopotamus--is murdered.

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass - When four twelve-year-olds, including Logan, who has

grown up never leaving his parents' Life Is Sweet candy factory, compete in the Confectionary Association's annual contest, they unexpectedly become friends and uncover secrets about themselves

during the process.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles - The fearful events of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis are witnessed by Franny, who finds her life and perspectives changing throughout the course of a week that is also marked by difficult family issues.

Cruisers Book 1 by Walter Dean Myers - Friends Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi,

caught in the middle of a mock Civil War at DaVinci Academy, learn the true cost of freedom of speech

when they use their alternative newspaper, The Cruiser, to try to make peace.

Dark Life by Kat Falls - When Ty, who has always lived on the ocean floor, joins Topside girl Gemma in the frontier's underworld to seek and stop outlaws who threaten his home, they learn that the

government may pose an even greater threat.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine - Caitlin, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggles to understand emotions, show empathy, and make friends at school, while at home she seeks closure by working on a project with her father.

The Shadows by Jacqueline West - When Olive and her distracted parents move into an old Victorian mansion, she finds herself ensnared in a dark plan involving some mysterious paintings, a

trapped and angry nine-year-old boy, and three talking cats.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan - Facing his share of ordinary challenges, from local bullies to his father's failed expectations, eleven-year-old Jack Clark must also deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas, including the rising tensions in his small town and the spread of a shadowy illness.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger - Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz - This book follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms' fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The Seven Ravens, Brother and Sister, The Robber Bridegroom, and The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs.

A Note to Parents and Team Managers

Choosing titles for B.O.B. can be a challenging task! The selected books for 2012 were chosen based on their student appeal, diverse subject matter and characters, representation of a wide variety of genres, and their literary merit. The books were each read, reviewed, and discussed by a team of school and public librarians. Should you have a concern about one of the titles, please feel free to contact Moon or Sewickley libraries.

Thank you,
Heather Panella, Moon Township Public Library
Kelly Rottmund, Sewickley Public Library

*Plot summaries are from the NoveList database.

Tips for Teen Managers 2012

Here are some tips for Team Managers. Of course you want your team to do well, but more important than that is that they all have fun. Here are some guidelines and tips to help you help them do well and have fun.

• Make sure that each team member understands which books on the reading list he/she is expected to read.


• Meet with the team regularly to offer encouragement, check on reading progress, foster team cohesiveness and to help team members learn author’s names and facts from books.


• Act as communication link between the library and team members and parents with all information regarding the Battle of the Books. Please keep us informed of any problems or changes. You may email Kelly at Sewickley at rottmunk@einetwork.net or Heather at Moon at panellah@einetwork.net


• Make sure your team demonstrates sportsmanlike behavior before and during the battle.
  
  
• Make sure you as a team manager demonstrate sportsmanlike behavior before and during the battle.
  
  
• Make sure your team members and their families understand the rules of the Battle and expectations the evening of the Battle.


• Possibly provide transportation for your team members.


• Make sure they arrive on time at Sewickley Academy's Hansen Library (6th, 7th & 8th grade battles: 6:45, High School Battle: 6:30.)


• During the Battle each Team Manager will act as scorekeeper for another team. You will be asked to:


• Ensure that the team you are monitoring stops writing at the end of the 20-second time limit(whether answer is complete or not).


• Record the number of points earned for each question.


• Remain focused on the team you are monitoring (Please do not talk to the team you are scoring while they are coming up with their answers).


• Build Team Spirit


• Help your team come up with a descriptive Team Name.


• Decorate team t-shirts.


• Have your team wear the same color or item of clothing to the Battle.


• Practice, Practice, Practice


• Decide who will read each book. You will probably want more than one person to read each title.


• Decide how often you will meet to discuss the books.


• Hold “mock” battles or “Jeopardy”-style games based on the books.


• Have kids make up some of their own practice questions to quiz each other during the meetings.


• Coaches may want to read all the books.


• Seek to understand the characters and the setting of the books. Then, if the children have to guess on an answer they may be correct.


• Encourage and Reward


• Give words of praise and encouragement.


• Serve snacks at the meetings.


• Play a game before your meetings.


• Have a pizza party or ice cream outing at the completion of the Battle.


• Keep it fun and make happy memories!

What About BOB? Everything You Need to Know!

The Battle of the Books is a competition where teams made up of (four or) five teens read the chosen books and then participate in a trivia contest about those books. It’s a fun way to get some recreational reading done and actually get rewarded for it with some great prizes.

As a team, you need to assign the books to be read by the various team members. You can have each team member read two books, have all team members read all of the books, or some combination between. It’s up to you.

You will need to have a responsible person who’s 18 years of age or older to be your Team Manager. The Team Manager is there to help you get organized and provide transportation on the night of the event. Many teams ask a teacher, a parent, or their school librarian to be their team manager.

Here are some of the Rules about checking out Battle Books

1. Sewickley & Moon's battle books may be borrowed for 1 week and renewed once.
2. Only 2 battle books are allowed on a team member’s card at any given time.
3. The books can only be borrowed on a library card belonging to a team member. Team managers should not check out books for their team members. Copies may be available through your school libraries, Sewickley Public Library, Moon Public Library, or other Allegheny County Libraries.
4. Overdue Fines are $.25 per day for Battle Books.
5. If the library doesn’t have the book because they’ve all been checked out, ask a librarian to order one for you from another library. (This service is free all the time.)

So what actually happens on the night of the battle you ask? Well here it is in a nutshell: You will need to arrive at Sewickley Academy's Hansen Library 15 minutes early so that you can sign in and set up your team's table. Each team will have a pad of paper and a pencil. Your Team Manager will actually be a Team Scorekeeper for another team to be named that night.

The Battle Moderator will begin by asking the first question twice. At the end of the second time, the Timekeeper will allow 20 seconds for teams to deliberate and write down their answers. After 20 seconds, one team will have the chance to answer out loud (the answering team will vary every question.) The Battle Moderator will announce the correct answer and the Team Scorekeepers will mark how many points were won. If your team answers correctly you get 4 points plus a bonus point if you can give the last name of the author. This means that each question is potentially worth 5 points. Answers must be specific. The moderator and judges will decide if an answer given is correct, and that decision is final. If time permits, there will be three rounds with one question from each book per round.

At the end of each round, scorecards will be collected and verified. At the end of the third round, the Judges will tally all of the scores. If there is a tie, a special lightning round will take place between the tied teams. Once a clear winner has been made, the Battle Moderator will announce the winners. The top three teams will win prizes.

So, are you interested? To get started:

• Grab a booklist and a registration form. Both will be available online and in the Teen Area on Monday, November 28.
  
• You’ll need to find four friends in your grade group (6th grade, 7th & 8th grade, or High School)
  
• Find a responsible adult to be a Team Manager
  
• Create a name for your team
• And start reading!!!
  
• All final registration forms are due at Sewickley or Moon Library on Monday, January 23, by 8PM.

2011 Battle of the Books Winners!

Our 6th grade Battle was the largest Battle we have ever hosted! 28 teams showed up to participate. I couldn’t even count the number of parents and grandparents that came to support these teams.

We know everyone worked hard. And we are thankful to the teams for signing up, showing up, and being excited. Everyone was so awesome! However, there can only be three 6th Grade prize-winning teams and they were:

1st Place: The Newbery Readers
2nd Place: The Nerds
3rd Place: The Bookinators

7th/8th Grade Prize-Winning Teams

1st Place: Bob the Beaver

2nd Place: Reading Dragons V
3rd Place: The Reading Dragon Slayers II

High School Prize-Winning Teams

1st Place: Nerds with Words

2nd Place: Knights Who Say Ni
3rd Place: Feather Followers

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Battles and everyone who supported the team members during these last three months!

6th Grade Battle: LOCATION CHANGE

6th Grade Battle: Monday, February 28, 2011 at 7pm

Because of this year's record-setting number of teams, the 6th grade Battle of the Books will take place at Edgeworth Elementary School. Edgeworth is located at 200 Meadow Lane, Sewickley, PA 15143.

Teams and team managers are asked to arrive 10 minutes early. Please enter through Edgeworth's Main Entrance and proceed straight ahead into their gym/all-purpose room. Teams will sit in circles of chairs on the floor and the bleachers will be open for spectator seating.

Contact Kelly at Sewickley (412-741-6920 or rottmundk@einetwork.net) or Heather at Moon (412-269-0334 or panellah@einetwork.net) with any questions.