Battle of the Books Program
The Battle of the Books is a statewide Alaskan reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Alaska Association of School Librarians. The goals of the program are to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, broaden reading interests, increase reading comprehension and promote academic excellence.
Lists of books are chosen and questions are written for all grade levels. Students read the books, discuss them, quiz each other on the contents, and then compete in teams of not more than three students to correctly answer questions based on the books in a "quiz show" format. Questions begin with the words "In which book...." so that the answer will always be a title and author. Teams may participate at the school, district and state levels of competition.
Recommended titles for each level are compiled each year by a committee of librarians and teachers and are based on specific program criteria. An attempt is made to vary the titles chosen according to genre and difficulty so that readers may encounter a broad range of books. At the annual Alaska Library Association conference, the tentative booklist is created and school librarians choose books from the list for which they will read and write questions. The booklists are finalized in August and become the official lists at that time. Participating schools and public libraries purchase the books for students to borrow and read.
The statewide program involves a cooperative effort by many groups. It is popular with students and has provided new opportunities for academic competition. Battle of the Books has also proven effective in its specified purpose--to stimulate an interest in reading. To find out more about this successful reading incentive program, go to http://www.akla.org/akasl/bb/bbhome.html
Email Ms. Reyes if you are interested in participating the JDHS Battle of the Books Program!
Lists of books are chosen and questions are written for all grade levels. Students read the books, discuss them, quiz each other on the contents, and then compete in teams of not more than three students to correctly answer questions based on the books in a "quiz show" format. Questions begin with the words "In which book...." so that the answer will always be a title and author. Teams may participate at the school, district and state levels of competition.
Recommended titles for each level are compiled each year by a committee of librarians and teachers and are based on specific program criteria. An attempt is made to vary the titles chosen according to genre and difficulty so that readers may encounter a broad range of books. At the annual Alaska Library Association conference, the tentative booklist is created and school librarians choose books from the list for which they will read and write questions. The booklists are finalized in August and become the official lists at that time. Participating schools and public libraries purchase the books for students to borrow and read.
The statewide program involves a cooperative effort by many groups. It is popular with students and has provided new opportunities for academic competition. Battle of the Books has also proven effective in its specified purpose--to stimulate an interest in reading. To find out more about this successful reading incentive program, go to http://www.akla.org/akasl/bb/bbhome.html
Email Ms. Reyes if you are interested in participating the JDHS Battle of the Books Program!
2024-2025 BotB titles (tentative as of 8/2024)
Crying Laughing Rubin, Lance. 9780525644705323. YAHumor, Realistic, Arts
Every falling star: true story of how I survived and escaped North Korea by Lee, Sungji 9781419727610328. YABiography, Survival
Fighter in Velvet gloves: Alaska civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich by Boochever, Annie. 9781602233706101YA. Previous, Alaska, History
I must betray you. by Sepetys, Ruta. 9781984836045336. YAHistorical, World History
Lake by Preston, Natasha. 9780593124970356. YAMystery
Let the sky fall by Messenger, Shannon. 9781442450424404. YARomance, Supernatural
Monument 14 by Laybourne, Emmy. 9781250027382344. YAPrevious, Sci Fi
Old man and the sea by Hemingway, Ernest 9780684801223127. YAprevious, classic
Star splitter by Kirby, Matthew 9780735231351320 YASci Fi12.99April Pub
Sunrise over Fallujah by Myers, Walter 9780439916257290 YAHistorical, military previous
alt - Burn down, rise up by Tirado, Vincent 9781728268644355 YAThriller, Supernatural
alt - Global by Colfer, Eoin 9781728262192144 YAClimate, graphic novel
alt - My name is not easy by Edwardson, Debby Dahl 9781477816295248 YAHistorical, previous
alt - Unbroken: an olympian's journey from airman to castaway to captive Hillenbrand, Laura 9780385742528307 YANonfiction
Crying Laughing Rubin, Lance. 9780525644705323. YAHumor, Realistic, Arts
Every falling star: true story of how I survived and escaped North Korea by Lee, Sungji 9781419727610328. YABiography, Survival
Fighter in Velvet gloves: Alaska civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich by Boochever, Annie. 9781602233706101YA. Previous, Alaska, History
I must betray you. by Sepetys, Ruta. 9781984836045336. YAHistorical, World History
Lake by Preston, Natasha. 9780593124970356. YAMystery
Let the sky fall by Messenger, Shannon. 9781442450424404. YARomance, Supernatural
Monument 14 by Laybourne, Emmy. 9781250027382344. YAPrevious, Sci Fi
Old man and the sea by Hemingway, Ernest 9780684801223127. YAprevious, classic
Star splitter by Kirby, Matthew 9780735231351320 YASci Fi12.99April Pub
Sunrise over Fallujah by Myers, Walter 9780439916257290 YAHistorical, military previous
alt - Burn down, rise up by Tirado, Vincent 9781728268644355 YAThriller, Supernatural
alt - Global by Colfer, Eoin 9781728262192144 YAClimate, graphic novel
alt - My name is not easy by Edwardson, Debby Dahl 9781477816295248 YAHistorical, previous
alt - Unbroken: an olympian's journey from airman to castaway to captive Hillenbrand, Laura 9780385742528307 YANonfiction
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS FOR 2023-2024
Boy and his dog at the end of the world by Fletcher, CA
Clap When You Land by Acevedo, Elizabeth
Darkest Minds by Bracken, Alexandra
Firekeeper's Daughter by Boulley, Angeline
Gallant by Schwab, Victoria
Hidden Figures: untold true story of four African-American women who helped launch our nation into space by Shetterly, Margot
Lore by Bracken, Alexandra
Luck of the Titanic by Lee, Stacey
Scythe by Shusterman, Neal
Stranded by Daniels, Sarah
Boy and his dog at the end of the world by Fletcher, CA
Clap When You Land by Acevedo, Elizabeth
Darkest Minds by Bracken, Alexandra
Firekeeper's Daughter by Boulley, Angeline
Gallant by Schwab, Victoria
Hidden Figures: untold true story of four African-American women who helped launch our nation into space by Shetterly, Margot
Lore by Bracken, Alexandra
Luck of the Titanic by Lee, Stacey
Scythe by Shusterman, Neal
Stranded by Daniels, Sarah
Battle of the Books for 2022-2023
Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Dry by Neal Shusterman
Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes
Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Thirteen Doorways: Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
Wild Lands by Paul Greci
CONGRATULATIONS TO BATTLE READERS: Bella Reyes-Boyer, Neva Kuzakin, Zoe Lessard, Lydia Heideman -- they represented Juneau School District in the State BotB Competition
Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Dry by Neal Shusterman
Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes
Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Thirteen Doorways: Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
Wild Lands by Paul Greci
CONGRATULATIONS TO BATTLE READERS: Bella Reyes-Boyer, Neva Kuzakin, Zoe Lessard, Lydia Heideman -- they represented Juneau School District in the State BotB Competition
Battle books for 2021-2022
Be Not Far from Me: a Novel by McGinnis, Mindy
Boy who Harnessed the Wind by Kamkwamba, William
Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Philippe, Ben
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Anderson
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Warcross Marie Lu
We are Not from Here Jenny Sanchez
White Rose Kip Wilson
Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans
Book trailers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_6BMch24FX16HLdU3-cOjlvjFLJFkDH
Be Not Far from Me: a Novel by McGinnis, Mindy
Boy who Harnessed the Wind by Kamkwamba, William
Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Philippe, Ben
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Anderson
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Warcross Marie Lu
We are Not from Here Jenny Sanchez
White Rose Kip Wilson
Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans
Book trailers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_6BMch24FX16HLdU3-cOjlvjFLJFkDH
Titles for 2020-2021
Almost American Girl: an Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Hooper by Geoff Herbach
I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
Sherwood by Megan Spooner
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
Almost American Girl: an Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Hooper by Geoff Herbach
I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
Sherwood by Megan Spooner
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
The Battle of the Books is a statewide Alaskan reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Alaska Association of School Librarians. The goals of the program are to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, broaden reading interests, increase reading comprehension and promote academic excellence.
Lists of books are chosen and questions are written for all grade levels. Students read the books, discuss them, quiz each other on the contents, and then compete in teams of not more than three students to correctly answer questions based on the books in a "quiz show" format. Questions begin with the words "In which book...." so that the answer will always be a title and author. Teams may participate at the school, district and state levels of competition.
Recommended titles for each level are compiled each year by a committee of librarians and teachers and are based on specific program criteria. An attempt is made to vary the titles chosen according to genre and difficulty so that readers may encounter a broad range of books. At the annual Alaska Library Association conference, the tentative booklist is created and school librarians choose books from the list for which they will read and write questions. The booklists are finalized in August and become the official lists at that time. Participating schools and public libraries purchase the books for students to borrow and read.
The statewide program involves a cooperative effort by many groups. It is popular with students and has provided new opportunities for academic competition. Battle of the Books has also proven effective in its specified purpose--to stimulate an interest in reading. To find out more about this successful reading incentive program, go to http://www.akla.org/akasl/bb/bbhome.html
Email Ms. Reyes if you are interested in participating the JDHS Battle of the Books Program!
2020-2021
Almost American Girl: an Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Boy in the Black Suit by Jason ReynoldsGilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Hooper by Geoff Herbach
I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
Sherwood by Megan Spooner
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Vincent and Theo: the Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
2019-2020 READING LIST
Fighter in Velvet Gloves by Annie Boocheever
Frankenstein (Graphic Novel) by Mary Shelley
Genius the Game by Leopoldo Gout
Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
Hunger Gamers by Suzanne Collins
Outrun the Moon by Stacy Lee
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Took: a Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
You're Welcome Universe by Whitney Gardner
2018-2019 READING LIST
All American Boys BY Jason Reynolds
Caraval BY Stephanie Garber
Evil Librarian BY Michelle Knudsen
Farewell to Manzanar BY Jeanne Houston
Leaving BY Tara Altebrando
March Book One BY John Lewis
Ready Player One BY Ernest Cline
Scythe BY Neal Shusterman
Two Old Women BY Velma Wallis
The Walk On BY John Feinstein
2017-2018 READING LIST
1984 By George Orwell
Everything, Everything By Nichola Yoon
Eye of Minds By James Dashner
Hidden Figures By Margot Lee Shetterly
Monument 14 By Emmy Laybourne
Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard
Smell of Other People’s Houses By Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
These Shallow Graves By Jennifer Donnelly
Ties that Bind, Ties that Break By Lensey Namioka
Zero Day By Jan Gangsei
2016-17 High School List of Battle Books
2015-2016 BofB reading list
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz
Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
George Washington’s Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Living by Matt Dela Pena
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Peak by Roland Smith
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Submerged by Dani Pettrey
2014-2015 READING LIST
