Battle of the Books 2021

BoB_325x200.jpg

Compete in a game show-style reading challenge for the chance to read great books, have fun with friends and win exciting prizes. Create a team of up to five students, register at your local library and read the Battle of the Books titles.

This year, we have designed a fully virtual competition. If it becomes possible to safely transition to an in-person event, this will be communicated to all registrants at that time. 


 Kids (5th Grade)
BoB-5th-Grade-Logo.png​

Inkedbrainfires BOB_LI.jpg

March 6 marked the finale of this year's Battle of the Books: 5th Grade edition.


Congratulations to the 2021 winners - The Brainfires, an independent group of students who competed in this year's virtual game show-style reading challenge! This year's events saw almost 300 participants from 27 Virginia Beach schools!





Preliminary battles will take place between February 1-24 and will be scheduled with a youth librarian. Winners of the preliminary events will compete virtually in the Semi-Finals on March 1 and 2, 2021. The Grand Finale will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021.

Team registration forms will be accepted from October 1, 2020 – January 16, 2021. Contact your local library for preliminary event dates and more information.

2021 BOB 5th Grade Registration Fillable Form with Model Release.pdf

2021 Battle of the Books 5th Grade Titles

  • Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker
  • Rat Rule 79 by Rivka Galchen
  • Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
  • Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford
  • Stargazing by Jen Wang
  • Throwback by Peter Lerangis
  • The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
  • When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller


 Middle School (6th - 8th grade)
​BoB-Middle-School-Logo.png


thumbnail_IMG_2891.jpg

Pictured: Vikram G., Sam S., Alex S., Bennett V., Eeshan D. 

January 30 marked the finale of this year's Battle of the Books: Middle School Edition.

Congratulations to the 2021 winners- The Riptides (five students from Old Donation School)! Overall, 193 students participated and 45 teams competed. Staff members hosted 67 virtual events, which included runoffs, preliminaries, semi-finals and the finale.




Winners of the preliminary events will compete at the Semi-Finals virtually on January 26 and January 27 at 6 p.m. The Grand Finale will be held virtually on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 6p.m.

Team registration forms will be accepted from October 1, 2020 - December 5, 2020. Contact your local library for preliminary event dates and more information. 


2021 Battle of the Books Middle School Titles

  • The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcarcel
  • Spooked!  How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow
  • Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
  • The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
  • The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
Contact Information