1. J.L. Simpson’s BATTLE OF THE BOOKS Program Information 2016-2017

2. What is BATTLE OF THE BOOKS?
America's Battle of the Books is a reading incentive program for students in 3rd thru 12th grades. Students read books and come together in groups to demonstrate their abilities and to test their knowledge of the books they have read. The student competitions are similar to the TV series Family Feud or Whiz Kids styles of competitions. However, the structure, format, and rules of the competitions may vary depending on the educational goals, student needs, local resources, and personal preferences at various school sites, school districts, county libraries, or offices of education. ~

3. LCPS’s Battle of the Books program for Middle School students –
Our Regional Group
JL Simpson Middle School Belmont Ridge Middle School Smarts Mill Middle School
Competition will be held on Wednesday, March 15th – Location TBA – Transportation will be provided
One winning team from each Regional Group moves on to the District Level
4 teams compete for the District title – Competition will be held after school on Wednesday, March 29th at Trailside Middle School

4. What interested students need to know –
Interested students need to see Mrs. Kennedy to receive a “BoB” (Battle of the Books) Book Club Permission Slip.
Fill-in all information on the form and return to Mrs. Kennedy.
Our first “BoB” Book Club meeting will be October 19th.
We will meet after school in the library. We will finish by 4:28 so students can take an Activity Bus home.
Students will receive a copy of each book we read for the program.
Students will commit to read each book independently (in the time frame given), and participate fully in follow-up “Book Club” style meetings to discuss books and enjoy activities for each book.
Students will attend both the Regional Competition and the County Competition - transportation will be provided to the final competition.

5. Some benefits of participating in the Battle of the Books program –
Supports students in their love of reading
Helps to develop friendships between students
Demonstrates healthy competition and mutual respect
Students will have F*U*N

6. And the books for the competition are …

7. From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A
From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west. With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city. But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

8. My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange
My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story. To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers. Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.

9. It was a bitterly cold day when Arthur T
It was a bitterly cold day when Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie for the foreseeable future. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service working for him. Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton.

10. Eel has troubles of his own: As an orphan and a “mudlark,” he spends his days in the filthy River Thames, searching for bits of things to sell. He’s being hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler, and a nastier man never walked the streets of London. And he’s got a secret that costs him four precious shillings a week to keep safe. But even for Eel, things aren’t so bad until that fateful August day in 1854—the day the deadly cholera (“blue death”) comes to Broad Street. Everyone believes that cholera is spread through poisonous air. But one man, Dr. John Snow, has a different theory. As the epidemic surges, it’s up to Eel and his best friend, Florrie, to gather evidence to prove Dr. Snow’s theory—before the entire neighborhood is wiped out.

11. Battle of the Books I’m excited to be sponsoring Simpson's
team this year! I’m looking forward to working with as many J.L. Simpson Mustangs that are interested in participating. Make sure you see
me if you have any questions or need a Book Club Permission Slip!
Happy Reading, Mrs. Kennedy