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Congratulations to the 11th Annual Battle of the Books Winners:
1st Place: City of Tonawanda Library - Team 1
2nd Place: Lancaster Library - Team 1
Other Competing Libraries included (in alphabetical order):
Amherst, Angola, Boston, Central, City Branches, Clarence 1, 2 and 3, Concord 1 and 2, Eden, Elma 1, 2 and 3, Grand Island 1 and 2, Hamburg, JBR 1 and 2, Kenmore1 and 2, Lackawanna, Lancaster 2 and 3, Marilla 1 and 2, Newstead 1 and 2, North Collins, Orchard Park 1, 2 and 3, Reinstein
Tonawanda 2, and West Seneca 1 and 2.
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2009 Titles
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Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
Rick, a young soldier in Vietnam, bonds with one of the United States Army's most valuable weapons: Cracker, his German shepherd bomb- sniffing dog. Rick is planning to whip the world and prove everyone wrong that said he wasn't tough enough for war, but first he and Cracker have to be a team if they want to make it home alive. |
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Killing Sea by Richard Lewis
In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra, two teenagers, American Sarah and Acehnese Ruslan, meet and continue together their arduous climb inland, where Ruslan hopes to find his father and Sarah seeks a doctor for her brother. |
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Wanderer by Sharon Creech
Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a forty-five foot sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England. |
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Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Dylan and his sisters have some ideas about how to make Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel into a more profitable business, but it is not until some strange men arrive in their small town of Manod, Wales with valuable paintings, and their father disappears, that they consider turning to crime. |
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Sisters Grimm Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead. |
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Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
Just before his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a keyless locked box--set aside by his father before his death five years earlier--that purportedly contains the meaning of life. |
Battle Stories
From Orchard Park: Jacob was 12 years old and a first time Battle participant last year. Jacob was always smiling... he really liked being part of a “team”. He will be back to compete for Orchard Park in 2008.
From Lackawanna: Lackawanna has fielded a battle team since 2001. Nick joined the team in 2005 at age 11. He is a bright boy with a great memory for details. The Battle of the Books is an activity where children like Nick can shine. He reads all 6 books, writes many questions and acted as the team's spokesperson in 2007. Nick is a great asset to the Lackawanna team!
From Newstead: Jason joined the Newstead team in 2006 as a 6th grader. He had always had difficulty reading because of an eye condition. He was working with a behavioral ophthalmologist to who worked with him to train his eyes to "work together". Participating in Battle in 2006 was a struggle, but 2007 was a much better year and Jason really enjoyed it. He is looking forward to helping the team in 2008!
Behind the Scenes
The success of the Battle of the Books program is vitally dependent on the many dedicated volunteers. The question writers and readers are a major component to the success of the competition. Many of the volunteers return year after year because they enjoy the experience and enthusiasm of the participants and their families! They are current and former library employees, teachers, and school and college librarians.
How Battle Changed My Life
When I put my name on the piece of paper ten years ago for Battle of the Books, I had no clue how it would come to change my life. I had always loved to read books, and that summer when I had the chance to enter into a contest that revolved around reading, I leapt at the chance. Over the next two years, I came to know Mrs. Forsberg, one of the librarians at Orchard Park. I had reached the age limit for doing Battle, but continued to spend y time devouring different books. Four years later, when I applied for a job at the Orchard Park Library, it was her who hired me because she remembered me from my time doing Battle. Working at Orchard Park was a wonderful experience that opened the door for me to work downtown in the bookstore. Last summer I wished to go back where it all began, and I decided to be an assistant coach to one of the teams from Orchard Park for Battle of the Books. I spent my Tuesday nights helping the students answer questions and understand the books. However, it was while I was working at Orchard Park that I came to realize that I wished to always work in a library. It was this realization that inspired me to apply to library school at the University at Buffalo. I am now currently finishing up my first semester of grad school, and when I look back, I realize that had I not signed up for Battle of the Books ten years ago. I would not be where I am today.
~Sara
History of Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books 2007
Year: 2007
Date: Aug. 4
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 25
#teams: 36
#participants: 273
#spectators: 350
#volunteers: 81
Sponsor: B&ECPL Development Office, LSTA funds through NYS Library
Libraries: ANG BOS CLA CFD CON DUD ECL EDN ELM GRI HAM JBR
KNM LCW LNC MAR MRW NPK NST NCO OPK REI RIV TON WSE
Winner: Marilla
Titles:
- Al Capone Does My Shirts - Choldenko
- Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator - Allison
- Ruins of Gorlan - Flanagan
- Running Out of Time - Haddix
- Star of Kazan - Ibbotson
- Tangerine - Bloor
Battle of the Books 2006
Year: 2006
Date: Jul. 29
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 20
#teams: 24
#participants: 242
#spectators: 450
#volunteers: 78
Sponsor: B&ECPL Development Office, LSTA funds through NYS Library
Libraries: ANG BOS CLA CON EDN ELM GRI JBR KNM LCW LNC MAR MRW ECL EDL NST NCO OPK REI RIV WSE
Winner: Clarence
Titles:
- Becoming Naomi Leon - Ryan
- Chu Ju's House - Whelan
- Lionboy - Corder
- Skellig - Almond
- Things Not Seen - Clements
- Time Stops for No Mouse - Hoeye
Battle of the Books 2005
Year: 2005
Date: Aug. 6
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 23
#teams: 26
#participants: 252
#spectators: 500-600
#volunteers: 60
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. through Beverly Worth Janish
Memorial Fund and New York State 2005 Statewide Summer Reading Program
Libraries: AKR ANG BOS CLA CON DEP ECL EDN ELM FFD GRI JBR KNS LCW LNC MAR
NCK NCO NPK OPK RIV TON WSE
Winner: Grand Island
Titles:
- City of Ember - DuPrau
- Artemis Fowl - Colfer
- Surviving the Applewhites - Tolan
- The Shadow Club Rising - Shusterman
- Sing Down the Moon - O'Dell
- Hoot - Hiaasen
Battle of the Books 2004
Year: 2004
Date: Aug. 7
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 25
#teams: 32
#participants: 350+
#spectators: 700+
#volunteers: 100
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.
Libraries: AKR ANG BOS CLA CON DEP ECL EDN ELM FFD GRI JBR KNS LCW LNC MAR
MEA NCK NCO NPK OPK RIV TON WSE
Winner: Riverside
Titles:
- Woodsong - Paulsen
- Stuck in Neutral - Trueman
- A Single Shard - Park
- The Thief Lord - Funke
- Jorney to Nowhere - Auch
- Swords for Hire - Allen
Battle of the Books 2003
Year: 2003
Date: Aug. 2
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 30
#teams: 35
#participants: 356
#spectators: 700+
#volunteers: 79
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. Harold C. Brown & Co. Inc., Wendy's
Libraries: AKR ANG BLA BOS CLA CON CRA DEP EAU ECL EDN ELM FFD GRI HAM JBR KNM
LCW LSH LNC MAR MEA NCK NCO NPK OPK REI RIV SCK TON
Winner: Lancaster/Depew
Titles:
- A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle
- Shakespeare Stealer - Blackwood
- The Wreckers - Iain
- Stargirl - Spinelli
- In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson - Lord
- The Secret of Platform 13 - Ibbotson
Battle of the Books 2002
Year: 2002
Date: Aug. 3
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 30
#teams: 39
#participants: 393
#spectators: 750 (includes contestants, workers etc.)
#volunteers: 175
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. Harold C. Brown & Co. Inc., Wendy's
Libraries: AKR ANG AUD BLA BOS CLA COL CRA DEP EAU EDN ELM FFD FRO GRI HAM JBR KNM
KNS LCW LSH LNC MAR MEA NCK NCO OPK REI RIV TON
Winner: Lancaster/Depew
Titles:
- Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo
- The Black Cauldron - Alexander
- Homeless Bird - Whelan
- Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key - Gantos
- The Lost Years of Merlin - Barron
- When Zachary Beaver Came to Town - Holt
Battle of the Books 2001
Year: 2001
Date: Aug. 4
Location: Erie Community College - South Campus
#Libraries: 28
#teams: 36
#participants: 300
#spectators: 500
#volunteers: 62
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. Wendy's
Libraries: AKR ANG AUD BLA BOS CEN COL CRA DEP EAU EDN ELM GRI HAM JBR KNM KNS LCW
LSH LNC MAR MEA NCK NCO OPK REI RIV TON
Winner: Eden
Titles:
- Rules of the Road - Bauer
- Year of Impossible Goodbyes - Choi
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham - Curtis
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling
- The Dark Side of Nowhere - Shusterman
- Armageddon Summer - Yolen
Battle of the Books 2000
Year: 2000
Date: Aug. 5
Location: Erie Community College - North Campus
#Libraries: 14
#teams: 20
#participants: 180
#spectators: 375
#volunteers: 33
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc. Harold C. Brown & Co. Inc.
Libraries: AUD BOS COL DEP EDN ELM JBR KNL KNM LNC MEA NCK OPK REI
Winner: Eden
Titles:
- Walk Two Moons - Creech
- Whirligig - Fleischman
- The View from Saturday - Konigsburg
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Rowling
- Hole - Sachar
- Belle Prater's - White
Battle of the Books 1999
Year: 1999
Date: Aug. 7
Location: Julia Boyer Reinstein Library
#Libraries: 6
#teams: 6
#participants: 75
#spectators: 150
#volunteers: 10
Sponsor: Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.
Libraries: AUD DEP ELM JBR LNC OPK
Winner: Elma
Titles:
- SOS Titanic - Bunting
- The Face on the Milk Carton - Cooney
- Catherine, Called Birdy - Cushman
- The Giver - Lowry
- Z for Zachariah - O'Brien
- Canyons - Paulsen
Rules of Play
Teams
- Each team will consist of at least 5 players, but not more than 9 players.
- If on the day of the event, a registered team does not have the minimum number of players (5), they may still participate.
- Team members must be entering grades 6-9.
- All team members will participate in each round.
Game/Set-up
- There will be 6 rounds in which each team will participate.
- Each round will last approximately 10 minutes, with a 5-minute break between each round.
- In each round, 2 teams "battle" against each other. Multiple "battles" will be taking place during each round.
- In case of an odd number of teams, 1 team may not have an opposing team during one particular round. That team will vary from round to round.
Questions
- 26 alternating questions will be posed to the teams during each round. 13 questions per team.
- The questions asked during the individual rounds will always be the same no matter what room your group is located in.
- In case of an odd number of teams, 1 team will be asked only 13 questions.
- The questions will be based on the 6 titles that the participants have read.
- Questions will not be ambiguous. Answers will be straightforward and specific as they relate to characters, setting, plot, detail or quote identification.
- Questions will be read in their entirety unless interrupted by the team.
- Interrupted questions will not be finished and the play begins at the end of the interruption.
- Questions will be posed to the individual teams and then given 20 seconds to complete the answer; 1 point for correct answer, 0 points for incorrect or incomplete answers.
- Clock starts at the end of the question. If a team requests a rereading of the question the clock continues to run.
- The opposing team does not have an opportunity to answer a question that was incorrectly answered.
- Any prompting from the audience will disqualify the question.
- There will be no challenge to questions by coaches, player or parents.
Playoff Round
- Should more than 2 teams qualify for the championship round playoff rounds will occur simultaneously.
- Teams will answer as many questions as possible during the 3-minute playoff round.
- An interrupted question will not be repeated; response must be given within 10 seconds.
- Questions can be passed.
- 1 point will be awarded for correct responses, a 1 point deduction will be taken for incorrect responses, and 0 points for passed or unanswered responses.
- If additional playoff rounds are necessary each successive round will be reduced by 1 minute.
Championship Round
- Two top scoring teams!
- This will be a 10-minute "thunder" round.
- Opposing teams will try to answer as many questions as possible during the specified time period.
- Quickest individual to "buzz in" using the "Quizzer" will answer the question.
- Response must be given immediately following recognition of 1st individual to "buzz in."
- 1 point will be awarded for correct responses and a 1 point deduction will be taken for incorrect response or no response.
- If after 5 seconds no team is recognized to answer the given question, the next question will be read
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