Regional battle takes place in Carmel Sept. 12
On Saturday, Sept. 12, six middle school students from Philipstown travel to the George Fischer Middle School in Carmel to compete in the 11th Annual Battle of the Books against over 20 libraries from the Mid-Hudson Library System.
“Awol Cyborgs,” as the Butterfield Library’s team is called, is made up of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders and includes Owen Carmicino, Daniel McElroy, Aurora McKee, Luke Parella, Patrick Reinhardt and Andrew Silhavy. High school student Aidan Cimino — a former B.O.B. team member — has been the assistant coach, and the program has been overseen by Maureen McGrath, head of youth services for the library.
The Battle of the Books is a national summer reading program for middle school students that requires participants to read eight books during the spring and summer and then compete in trivia battles based on the titles. The program aims to introduce children to books and authors they might not otherwise encounter and to allow students to experience good sportsmanship and friendly competition.
The 2015 titles include The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford, Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin, Catch Rider by Jennifer Lyne, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Unwind by Neal Schusterman and Code of Silence by Tim Shoemaker.
Butterfield’s team has met weekly since March to read, discuss and quiz themselves with practice questions based on the books. When possible, they have met with area libraries for practice battles to hone their skills for the upcoming competition.
I am delighted to see Catch Rider among your selections. I am [past] mature, read it, thought it a wonderful read especially for younger readers — certainly for those who ride horses, and equally for those who don’t as a lesson in how to persist in achieving your goals.