![Westridge Wins Battle of the Books]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1674078789/smsdorg/ractbusymzr3ktvebzuc/2023BattleoftheBooks-5.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1674078789/smsdorg/ractbusymzr3ktvebzuc/2023BattleoftheBooks-5.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1674078789/smsdorg/ractbusymzr3ktvebzuc/2023BattleoftheBooks-5.jpg","width":700}])
It was a historic day at Hocker Grove Middle School as a new team was crowned winner of the districtwide Battle of the Books competition. For the first time, a team from Westridge Middle School claimed the championship title.
“We feel very proud,” shared Natalie Maloney, Westridge eighth-grader and team leader.
Battle of the Books is a book-based competition where readers from all Shawnee Mission middle schools put their book-related knowledge to the test by answering trivia questions.
Teams formed in the fall and began preparing for the competition by reading ten books from the 2022-2023 William Allen White Children’s Book Award Master List.
School librarians compiled the questions for the competition. The questions related to characters, plots, settings, and other facts about the selected books.
The trivia format helps to create interest and excitement for reading, while also encouraging good sportsmanship and teamwork, explained Westridge librarian Karen Dierks.
“I like the competition, but what I like most is that the kids get together to connect with other kids over books,” shared Dierks. “It’s a challenge to read 10 books in two or three months, and I am so proud of these students who have worked so hard,” she added.
The winning team included:
Abigail Buell (7th grade)
Carlie Fugate Reynolds (7th grade)
Emily Nelson (7th grade)
Polina Lyashenko (7th grade)
Audrey Whitaker (8th grade)
Natalie Maloney (8th grade)
