EVENTS
| 7th Annual Battle of the Books Great Titles * Superior Questions * Fantastic Fun |
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Battle of the Books Team Competition |
Another extremely successful Battle of the Books competition was held this Saturday! Twenty-six teams, totaling 252 students, from 23 libraries participated. Congratulations to this year's winning team -- Grand Island! Eden was the runner-up. Rounding out the top 10 were: Clarence, Depew/Lancaster, Newstead, Angola, Orchard Park, Marilla, Julia Boyer Reinstein, and West Seneca. Thank you to all participants! Battle of the Books is a popular summer reading program that offers students the chance to answer trivia questions and compete with teams from accross Erie County. Students entering 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th grades in the fall of 2005 were eligible to participate. Participating libraries included Akron, Angola, Boston, Clarence, City of Tonawanda, Concord, Depew/Lancaster, East Clinton, Eden, Elma, Fairfield/North Park, Grand Island, Julia Boyer Reinstein, Kensington, Lackawanna, Marilla, Mead, North Cheektowaga, North Collins, Orchard Park, Riverside and West Seneca. The program was sponsored by the Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County through the generous funding support of the Beverly Worth Janish Memorial Fund and the New York State 2005 Statewide Summer Reading Program. |
Battle of the Books Team Competition 2005
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The Titles
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City of Ember |
In the year 241, 12-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger, running to new places in her decaying, but beloved city. Perhaps, she will even glimpse Unknown Regions in the hopes of saving her city. |
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Artemis Fowl |
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is one of the most ingenious criminal masterminds in history and heir to the Fowl family empire -- a clan of underworld figures and con artists. Convinced that he will uncover vast hidden stores of gold, he decides to steal a magic book and decode it. When he realizes he can't interpret it, he kidnaps Holly Short, part of a Fairy commando unit, to help him. Then the battle really begins! |
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Surviving the Applewhites |
Jake, a budding juvenile delinquent, is sent to the artsy and eccentric Applewhite family's Creative Academy, where he discovers talents and interests he never knew he had. |
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The Shadow Club Rising |
Even though he has disbanded his Shadow Club, formed to play mean-spirited tricks on his enemies, 14-year-old Jared finds himself suspected when a popular boy at school becomes the target of new pranks. |
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Sing Down the Moon |
In the spring of 1864, life in the Canyon de Chelly was abundant and beautiful. Bright Morning, a young Navaho girl, watched the sheep which would soon be her own and chatted with her friends about Tall Boy whom she expects to marry. All this is shattered when the Long Knives, the U.S. soldiers, come and burn their village and drive them on the Long March. Based on historical fact. |
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Hoot |
The first time Roy saw Dana Matherson he was running away from the school bus. Noting that the boy had no books and wore no shoes, Roy's curiosity was aroused. He decided to follow him. As the chase proceeded, Roy was introduced to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion, some burrowing owls, a renegade eco-avenger and several extremely poisonous snakes. |
Rules of Play
Teams
- Each team will consist of at least 5 players, but not more than 9 players. Six alternates will be accepted and listed on the official registration form. Alternates will be used at the discretion of the coach.
- If on the day of the event, a registered team does not have the minimum number of players (5), they may still participate.
- Team members must be entering grades 6-9.
- All team members will participate in each round.
Game/Set-up
- There will be 6 rounds in which each team will participate.
- Each round will last approximately 10 minutes, with a 5-minute break between each round.
- In each round, 2 teams "battle" against each other. Multiple "battles" will be taking place during each round.
- In case of an odd number of teams, 1 team may not have an opposing team during one particular round. That team will vary from round to round.
Questions
- 26 alternating questions will be posed to the teams during each round. 13 questions per team.
- The questions asked during the individual rounds will always be the same no matter what room your group is located in.
- In case of an odd number of teams, 1 team will be asked only 13 questions.
- The questions will be based on the 6 titles that the participants have read.
- Questions will not be ambiguous. Answers will be straightforward and specific as they relate to characters, setting, plot, detail or quote identification.
- Questions will be read in their entirety unless interrupted by the team.
- Interrupted questions will not be finished and the play begins at the end of the interruption.
- Questions will be posed to the individual teams and then given 20 seconds to complete the answer; 1 point for correct answer, 0 points for incorrect or incomplete answers.
- Clock starts at the end of the question. If a team requests a rereading of the question the clock continues to run.
- The opposing team does not have an opportunity to answer a question that was incorrectly answered.
- Any prompting from the audience will disqualify the question.
- There will be no challenge to questions by coaches, player or parents.
Playoff Round
- Should more than 2 teams qualify for the championship round playoff rounds will occur simultaneously.
- Teams will answer as many questions as possible during the 3-minute playoff round.
- An interrupted question will not be repeated; response must be given within 10 seconds.
- Questions can be passed.
- 1 point will be awarded for correct responses, a 1 point deduction will be taken for incorrect responses, and 0 points for passed or unanswered responses.
- If additional playoff rounds are necessary each successive round will be reduced by 1 minute.
Championship Round
- Two top scoring teams!
- This will be a 10-minute "thunder" round.
- Opposing teams will try to answer as many questions as possible during the specified time period.
- Quickest individual to "buzz in" using the "Quizzer" will answer the question.
- Response must be given immediately following recognition of 1st individual to "buzz in."
- 1 point will be awarded for correct responses and a 1 point deduction will be taken for incorrect response or no response.
- If after 5 seconds no team is recognized to answer the given question, the next question will be read