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.

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 eCollection.

2020 Grades 4-5 Titles

Battle of the Books 2020 List for Grades 4-5 (PDF)
 

• A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
• A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildner
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
• No Talking by Andrew Clements
• Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans
• Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year by Bill Harley
• Dash by Kirby Larson
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
• Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
• The Doublecross by Jackson Pearce
• Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon
• The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods

2020 Grades 6-8 Titles

Battle of the Books 2020 List for Grades 6-8 (PDF)
 

• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
• The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker
• Greetings From Witness Protection! by Jake Burt
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1) by Kazu Kibuishi
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
• Ghost by Jason Reynolds
• Holes by Louis Sachar
• The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick
• The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Battle of the Books Practices and Battles