Battle of the Books


The Stargate 2019-2020 Elementary School Battle of the Books competition wrapped up May 4 with an online faceoff between teams representing 4th and 5th grades.

2020 Elementary School Champions

The Speed Readers, a 5th grade team, claimed the school's top spot with Violet Ence-captain, Aesha Masand, Emma Brandmeyer, Eli Kapich, Charlie Maxson, and Willow Adaska. The winning 4th grade team, the Book-Eating Bookworms, finished second overall with captain Finley Houglum, Tillie Cox, Mason Gunn, Dalilia Berryman, Ruby Badertscher, and Havish Vatti.

Rita Stephenson and Donna McLeod led the 5th grade teams, and Jodi Ware and Craig VanPatten led the 4th grade teams.

About Battle of the Books

Stargate's Elementary School Battle of the Books started last November when approximately 80 students began reading a list of 10 highly acclaimed books. Teams met weekly until school buildings closed in March. Then, on April 8, Adams 12 advised that competition could continue online. About 70 of our students stepped up to continue their love of reading and participate. Watching the students’ excited faces and hearing them collaborate with their team members in the virtual battles was very special to witness by the teachers. It was a positive triumph for all who were involved.

The Battle of the Books Program

Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading program. The purpose is simply to encourage students to read good books and have fun while competing with peers. Students are assigned a book list and then form teams that battle, initially in practice sessions and, ultimately in a schoolwide tournament, earning points by answering questions about the books on the book list. In most years, the Stargate champion goes on to battle against other schools from the Adams 12 Five Star Schools District.

Space is limited in the Elementary School program and Stargate usually conducts sign up during the Fall semester. For more information, watch for school emails or contact the teacher sponsors.

2019-2020 Book List

The book list that elementary school students "battled" over this year included:

  • Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald

  • Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

  • I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

  • Lemons by Melissa Savage

  • Mac Undercover (Mac B., Kids Spy #1) by Mac Barnett

  • Magic Marks the Spot (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1) by Caroline Carlson

  • A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

  • Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

  • Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz