‘Battle of the Books’ Back at North Center Elementary Schools

The Battle of the Books is a Chicago Public School contest aimed at encouraging younger students to read by teaming them up and challenging them to enjoy a classic book.

“Classroom teachers, reading specialists and library media specialists spend many hours choosing books and writing questions for each year's battles,” read a CPS statement on the program. “Books are carefully selected so that classics, award-winners and new favorites are all considered. Kids are encouraged to join the Battle of the Books teams at their schools, where they can read and study the books together.“

The competition is centered on students in fourth through eighth grade. Each school is allowed to register one team per grade level, and each team is tasked with reading a list of 20 books and one eBook. At the battle, students score points by answering questions about the books they read throughout the year.

More than 200 students representing 81 Chicago schools participated during the 2011-2012 school year, with Andrew Jackson Language Academy in the West Loop winning first place in every category.

Now that this year’s reading lists have been posted, local CPS schools have though October to register student teams.

Grades 4 – 6

Buyea, Rob Because of Mr. Terupt 2010 Ferrari, Michael Born to Fly 2009 Pitchford, Dean Captain Nobody 2009 Close, Chuck Chuck Close: Face Book 2012 O’Connell, Caitlin The Elephant Scientist 2011 Nelson, Kadir Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African-Americans 2011 Gephart, Donna How to Survive Middle School 2010 Lai, Thanhha Inside Out and Back Again 2011 LaFleur, Suzanne Love, Aubrey 2009 Garza, Xavier Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller 2011 Rhodes, Jewell Parker Ninth Ward 2010 Horowitz, Anthony Raven’s Gate 2005 Adoff, Arnold Roots and Blues 2011 Telgemeier, Raina Smile 2010 Resau, Laura Star in the Forest 2010 Angleberger, Tom The Strange Case of Origami Yoda 2010 Conkling, Winifred Sylvia and Aki 2011 Holm, Jennifer Turtle in Paradise 2010 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors 2012 Palacio, R. J. Wonder 2012 Curtis, Christopher Paul Chicago Public Library Partner 
Digital Title (E-Book)*
The Mighty Miss Malone 2012

Grades 7 and 8

Perkins, Lynne Rae As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth 2010 Meyer, Susan Black Radishes 2010 Walker, Sally Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 2011 Friend, Natasha Bounce 2007 Shusterman, Neal Bruiser 2010 Magoon, Kekla Camo Girl 2011 Falls, Kat Dark Life 2010 Gantos, Jack Dead End in Norvelt Engle, Margarita The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba 2010 Bragg, Georgia How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous 2011 McKissack, Patricia Never Forgotten 2011 Wooding, Chris Pandemonium 2012 House, Silas Same Sun Here 2012 Senzai, N. H. Shooting Kabul 2010 Jones, Traci Silhouetted by the Blue 2011 Scieszka, Jon (editor) Thriller (Guys Read) 2011 Aronson, Marc Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert 2011 McCall, Guadalupe Garcia Under the Mesquite Hawkins, Aaron The Year Money Grew on Trees 2010 Levy, Debbie The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family, and Farewells 2010 Schmatz, Pat Chicago Public Library Partner 
Digital Title (E-Book)*
Bluefish 2011