Welcome to Cal Young’s Battle of the Books Blog!

Announcing the 2013-2014 OBOB titles!
Watch this Animoto video that introduces eight of these books: OBOB 2014.

Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder, Realistic Fiction/Magic

Magyk by Angie Sage, Fantasy

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson, Humor

Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica, Sports Fiction

Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg, Humor

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Regan Barnhill, Fantasy

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury, Historical Fiction

Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin, Nonfiction

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Realistic Fiction

Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French, Realistic Fiction

Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry, Historical Fiction

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, Realistic Fiction

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow, Science Fiction

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, Historical Fiction

Uglies by Scott Westerfield, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Wildwood by Colin Meloy, Fantasy

Tournament Results:

School Champions – Bookworm Ninjas
BookwormNinjasWin

1st lunch champions – Raspberry Lemonade
 

2nd lunch champions – Bookworm Ninjas
 

Congratulations to these teams and to ALL the awesome battlers!

Follow the BOOKS links above and to the right to read about the books. Login to your WordPress ePortfolio account to add your comments about the books. Here’s a video introduction to the books that Sam made using Animoto:

Want to submit a question for a book? Login with the link above and use the Comment box on the QUESTIONS page.

Curious about Cal Young’s OBOB news? Check the NEWS page.

OBOB puts the thrilling into reading!

What is the “Battle of the Books”?

  • Oregon Battle of the Books is a statewide event that promotes good books, reading as a social activity, and fun!
  • Participants will form teams composed of approximately 5 members with a teacher/staff/volunteer coach.
  • Each team will prepare for the Battle by reading the Battle books, discussing them, and answering questions about them. (Not every member needs to read every book! You can divide and conquer!)
  • “Mini-battles,” drawings, and incentives will be given as participants work toward their goals.
  • Battles consist of two types of questions about the books.
  • Teams compete in February, and the top two teams will battle in a forum which we will decide in September.
  • Our top team wins the honor of competing at the regional and possibly state level. Fame awaits a hard-working team! The Regional Tournament is usually the second Saturday in March at a local high school.
  • All participants celebrate at the end of the Battle season with an exclusive Ice Cream Sundae party.
  • Sign up with Sam Arnold-Boyd in the Cal Young Library in September or October! We will get acquainted with the books and each other during September and gel into teams in October.
  • Get readin’ and get battlin’!
Guidelines for the Battles:
  • Each Battle will consist of 16 questions.
  • The questions will be read by a moderator.
  • Teams will have 15 seconds to ring in and answer each question.
  • 5 points for each correct answer.
  • 2 points deducted for an incorrect answer.
  • If the first team misses the answer, the other team can pick up 3 points.
  • “In which book” questions are answered with the book’s title and author.
  • Content questions are answered with specific information from the designated book.
  • Cal Young Battles will take place in the Library during lunch.
  • A bracket of competing teams will be posted in the Library in late January.
  • Students can refer to the OBOB bookmark. No other notes, papers, or pencils are allowed.

Good Sportsmanship is the goal at all times!

If you lose,

it’s not the end of the world!

If you win,

enjoy your victory but don’t gloat!

Support each other and have fun!

 

Go to the Battle of the Books wiki for 2011-2012

Go to the Battle of the Books wiki for 2010-2011 and earlier

Announcing eight of the 2013-2014 OBOB titles: OBOB 2014.