Battle of the Books 2026

The Basics:

This summer we invite students entering 5th-7th grade to enter our Battle of the Books Trivia competition!  Each team will be given a set of 8 books. The trivia will cover the content of the books. Each member of the winning teams will earn a $25 gift card to Park Street Books, PLUS major bragging rights.

Students can join the competition in teams of 1-4. Youth Librarian Rachel will provide each team with a full set of books.  The more people on the team, the less books for each student to cover.

A Few Details:

-Please feel free to read to your child or to access the books in an audio format if that works better for your family.

-The competitions will take place on a date TBD AFTER Labor Day to avoid running it while families may be on vacation.

Picking Up Books:

Below you will find a list of our Battle Books. Each team should contact youth librarian Rachel at rsilverman@minlib.net to arrange pick up of a set of books for your team.  Rachel also needs the name of each team member and an email contact for each students parent.  Pass them back and forth all summer!  It always helps to have more than one team member read each book.  Books will be available for pick up by July 1st, but feel free to reach out earlier, we may be able to get them to you a before that.

Questions? Email Rachel at rsilverman@minlib.net

The Books

 

Novel in Verse/Animal Story

 A young, adventurous sea otter named Odder has a life-altering encounter with a great white shark, leading to her rescue and rehabilitation at an aquarium, where she becomes a surrogate mother to other pups. 

Novel in Verse/Historical Fiction

Henry, a deaf boy, is sent to a harsh institution where he is misunderstood. Victor, a conscientious objector, arrives as an attendant and forms a bond with Henry, helping him to flourish.

Graphic Novel/Realistic Fiction

For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid’s life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship.

Graphic Novel/Fantasy

Cardboard is about a boy named Cam whose down-on-his-luck father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday, which they magically bring to life as a man.  The story follows their adventures as they use the cardboard creation to stand up to a neighborhood bully, leading to chaos as the bully warps the cardboard into evil monsters that threaten the town.

Novel/Realistic Fiction

One for the Murphys is about 12-year-old Carley Connors, a tough foster child who is placed with the loving, bustling Murphy family, challenging her emotional walls as she learns what a stable home feels like,

Novel/Science Fiction

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Now, she and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues to keep the lights on.

 

Novel/Science Fiction

When You Reach Me is a novel that blends mystery, science fiction, and a coming-of-age story, set in 1970s New York City.  It follows sixth-grader Miranda as she receives mysterious notes that predict future events, including a death, and must follow their instructions to save her friend and herself, all while navigating a falling out with her best friend and the complexities of friendship and family. 

Novel/Fantasy

Savvy by Ingrid Law is a fantasy novel about the Beaumont family, who each develop a unique magical power, or “savvy,” on their thirteenth birthday. The story follows Mibs Beaumont as she turns thirteen and her father has a terrible accident, leading her to embark on an adventure to reach the hospital and discover her own power, which she hopes can save him.