Divine Mercy took the honors winning the 2017 Battle of the Books. Winning team members from left are: Eli Stuart, Caden Tumblin, Kailyn Dienstberger, Kaitlin Slade, Maggie Cox, KatieAnna Baumle, and Raelyn Schweinsberg.
The team from Divine Mercy came from behind and fought a strong battle to win the 2017 Battle of the Books competition. The Battle of the Books is a literary competition between Paulding County schools and home-schooled children sponsored by the Paulding County Carnegie Library. Teams made up of 5th and 6th graders compete by answering questions about the fifty books on the Battle of the Books list. The list and books are supplied to each elementary school and library location at the beginning of the school year. This year’s list was very diverse, with genres including biography, fiction and non-fiction with storylines of immigration, special needs, diversity, fantasy, action and adventure, friendship and more. The winning school receives a trophy and each team in the finals receives special medals. This year’s competing teams represented Antwerp, Oakwood, Payne, Grover Hill, Paulding and Divine Mercy.
“The battle has been going on for over 25 years,” states Susan Pieper, Library Director. “The program has grown to be very competitive and exciting. It was great to see principals, teachers, family and friends rooting on their teams in this competition of brain-power.” This was the first year an additional bracket was added so each team had an opportunity to compete twice. The new bracket included the team who had lost the first round of competition, but had the highest points among the losing teams. Divine Mercy lost their first round, but since they had the highest points, they moved forward through this new bracket. “Adding the new bracket is the fairest way to go,” said Pieper. “In the past, one team always got a “bye” for a round and did not have to compete as much. This way, each team gets to compete at least twice.”
“We are so grateful for our sponsors who help make this program possible,” shares Sue Deatrick, Head of Youth Services. “Dr. Larry Tope and Dr. Jeffery Rhees, DDS make it possible for each finalist team to receive t-shirts and Lafarge provides funding for the Battle books to be placed in the elementary school libraries each year. We could not have a successful battle without their support.”
For more information about the Battle of the Books competition or if you would like to help sponsor the 2018 competition, contact the library at 419-399-2032.
