Ossining Competes Oct. 15 in the 3rd Annual Battle of the Books

The third annual Westchester Library System Battle of the Books, sponsored by the HOPE for Youth Foundation, is right around the corner! Close to 250 participants have been working hard in preparation for the event to be held from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday at Ossining High School.

This fast-paced trivia competition, using buzzer systems and with a heavy emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, is for avid readers entering Grades 4-10. Public libraries who are members of the Westchester Library System are sponsoring teams in the competition.

There will be two separate competitions on the same day: a Children’s (Grades 4 – 6) and a Teens’ (Grades 6 – 10) tournament. While similar programs are offered for teens in other library systems around New York State and the country, the Westchester Library System Battle of the Books is distinctive in its inclusion of a children’s tournament.

The defending champions are the Bedford Free Library for Children and the Briarcliff Manor Public Library for Teens.

“Winning last year made the whole experience even better than it usually is, and this year, I hope that our team effort will help us keep the trophy at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library for another year!” said Mathena Chan, an 8th grader at Briarcliff Middle School who is gearing up for her third Battle of the Books.

Liz Anastasi, Teen Services Librarian at the Greenburgh Public Library, initiated and organized the first Battle of the Books in 2014. “Battle of the Books promotes a love of reading in kids and teens, and inspires teamwork and good sportsmanship in an atmosphere of friendly competition,” Anastasi says.

Across Westchester County, there have been outcomes that could have never been imagined. For example, several members of the Eastchester Public Library’s 2015 team so enjoyed reading Suzanne Collins’s "Gregor the Overlander," they decided to create and perform an original play based on the book. The play, called "Into the Underland," was performed for the public twice in June and involved a total of 17 children. Parents were appreciative of the opportunity for their children to gain confidence at public speaking! Plans are already in the works for another play to be created and performed next spring.

Elizabeth Portillo, Young Adult Librarian at the Eastchester Public Library and current president of the planning committee, added “Watching this event grow each year is a great feeling. I would have loved this event when I was a teenager!”

A special thanks to two authors, Scott Mebus ("Gods of Manhattan") who made a video for the children participating, and Stacey Lee ("Under a Painted Sky") who provided signed bookmarks for the winners of the Teens tournament.

The event at Ossining High School is ticketed and open to registered teams and their friends and families only.

Children’s Tournament

Participants in the Children’s Battle of the Books will read the following works:

· Blizzard! The Storm that Changed America (Jim Murphy, 2006)

· Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Avi, 2002)

· The Fourteenth Goldfish (Jennifer L. Holm, 2014)

· Gods of Manhattan (Scott Mebus, 2008)

· Rules (Cynthia Lord, 2006)

Teens’ Tournament:

Participants in the Teens Battle of the Books will read the following novels:

· Counting by 7’s (Holly Goldberg Sloan, 2013)

· Every Day (David Levithan, 2012)

· Dead End in Norvelt (Jack Gantos, 2011)

· Life As We Knew It (Susan Beth Pfeiffer, 2006)

· Under A Painted Sky (Stacey Lee, 2015)

The following libraries are scheduled to participate:

Ardsley Public Library

Bedford Free Library

Briarcliff Manor Public Library

Bronxville Public Library

Dobbs Ferry Public Library

Eastchester Public Library

Greenburgh Public Library

Hendrick Hudson Free Library (Montrose)

John C. Hart Memorial Library (Shrub Oak)

Larchmont Public Library

Mount Pleasant Public Library

Ossining Public Library

Ruth Keeler Memorial Library (North Salem)

Rye Free Reading Room

Somers Library

Town of Pelham Public Library

White Plains Public Library

Image via Westchester Library System