WAR GAMES: preparing for the Battle of the Books

From Spring Hill to St. Pete, students all over the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the 2008 Battle of the Books competition. Right now, students are reading and rereading the Sunshine State Young Readers and Florida Teens Read nominated books and talking about them at the Times Book Battle Blog. In a couple of months, participating schools will give a qualifying test to determine which students are the most familiar with all the stories from the books on the list. Next, participating schools have their own battle and winning school teams will move on to participate in area battles then district battles. It is exciting as any game show you will find on television and the competition is fierce!

Starting today, Times Book Battle Blog has a new discussion category that is focused on preparing for the battles ahead. We are looking for your ideas and tips on how to get ready for the big event. If you have book battled before, send a study skill or game strategy that helped you get in fighting shape to jwilson@sptimes.com. We will be awarding string backpacks and Subway coupons for the best ideas, so be sure to include your name, grade and school along with your submission.

Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Black and White by Paul Volponi

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Sleeping Freshman Never Lie by David Lubar

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?

By Melissa Kanter
Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Rash by Pete Hautman

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!