The event, coordinated by the WSWHE BOCES School Library Systems, gathered 82 teams of students in grades 3-6, all eager to demonstrate their knowledge of 10 selected books, both fiction and non-fiction.
For months, the participants read and studied the titles in preparation for the competition, diving deep into every detail from character names to plot twists, and even authors' notes. During the battle, teams had just 15 seconds to answer a recall question, naming the book’s title and author. With 31 questions per round, students tested their memory, teamwork, and love of reading to the limit. Teams had the option to switch players mid-round, adding to the dynamic nature of the contest.
“Seeing students share their passion for reading with each other at the Battle of the Books is exciting. It’s great to see their time and effort preparing for the big day rewarded when they participate in this event.” said Kerrie Burch, WSWHE BOCES School Library System Coordinator.
The competition isn’t just about winning - it’s about encouraging students to explore new genres and authors, helping them discover books they might not have chosen on their own. "The Battle engages students in a way that opens up a whole new world of reading for them," Burch stated.
“We are incredibly grateful to SUNY Adirondack for continuing to partner with us to make this event possible each year.” Burch added.
Congratulations to all the participants in the 2025 Battle of the Books - every student is a winner for their dedication to reading!
Final results:
GRADE 3
1st Place - Johnsburg CSD
2nd Place - Big Cross Elementary
3rd Place - Lake Avenue Elementary
GRADE 4
1st Place - Hudson Falls Intermediate
2nd Place - St. Clement’s
3rd Place - Greenfield Elementary
GRADE 5
1st Place - Dorothy Nolan Elementary
2nd Place - Ballard Road Elementary
3rd Place - Warrensburg Elementary
GRADE 6
1st Place - Queensbury Middle
2nd Place - Argyle CSD
3rd Place - Ballston Spa Middle
For more photos, click here for a Google Drive folder.