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Battle of the Books
The Battle of the Books is an annual reading competition that encourages quality reading, team spirit and friendly competition. Sponsored by local public libraries in conjunction with the Williamsburg Regional Library, this exciting contest has students in fourth through eighth grades reading and answering questions about books representing a variety of genres of children's literature. Four person teams from participating York County elementary and middle schools compete against each other for the opportunity to represent York County in the regional contest against schools from Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester, Poquoson and Williamsburg.
Congratulations to our 2020 Battle of the Books York County winners: Coventry Elementary School and Tabb Middle School. These teams would have represented York County in the Regional Battle of the Books which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 Battle of the Books competition was also canceled due to Covid-19.
Follow the book title link to check for availability and to request the title through the library catalog. Most titles are also available in the Library's OverDrive digital collection.
Battle of the Books 2022 List for Grades 4-5 (PDF)
Battle of the Books 2022 List for Grades 6-8 (PDF)
Congratulations to our 2020 Battle of the Books York County winners: Coventry Elementary School and Tabb Middle School. These teams would have represented York County in the Regional Battle of the Books which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 Battle of the Books competition was also canceled due to Covid-19.
2022 Battle of the Books
Follow the book title link to check for availability and to request the title through the library catalog. Most titles are also available in the Library's OverDrive digital collection.
2022 Grades 4-5 Titles
Battle of the Books 2022 List for Grades 4-5 (PDF)
- One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko
- Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
- Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans
- The Lincoln Project by Dan Gutman
- Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
- Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord
- Pilfer Academy: A School So Bad It's Criminal by Lauren Magaziner
- Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
- Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker
- Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
2022 Grades 6-8 Titles
Battle of the Books 2022 List for Grades 6-8 (PDF)
- Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams
- The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker
- Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks
- See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
- Refugee by Alan Gratz
- Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
- Ungifted by Gordon Korman
- I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
- The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Battle of the Books Practices and Battles
Tabb Library Practices
Tuesday, January 11
Thursdays, January 13 & 20
Wednesday, January 26
Grades 6-8 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Grades 4-5 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
School Battles
Individual school battles may be scheduled during February 2022. If you would like the library's Youth Services staff to conduct your school's battle, please call 757-890-5110.
County Battles
Tabb Library
Grades 4-5: March 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Grades 6-8: March 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Regional Battle
Williamsburg Regional Library
Grades 4-5: March 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Grades 6-8: March 19 at 1:30 p.m.