Battle of the Books

2025-2026 Battle of the Books list is Here!!

Click here for new list!

Click here for a condensed flyer of book summaries

Battle of the Books Parent Information Letter

St Luke School will again be offering Battle of the Books as an optional fun reading enrichment activity for the 2025-2026 School Year. Battle of the Books is a diocesan-wide competition held every May in which teams from participating schools compete in their knowledge of twelve books they have read over the course of the school year. This optional activity is limited to fifth and sixth grade students only.

Participants are asked to read a collection of books from a variety of genres chosen by the diocesan Battle of the Books committee. The team will meet every other week during lunch/recess to discuss the books, book club style, and to prepare for the competition meet. The competition is similar in style to a “College Bowl” in which teams answer questions posed by the committee about the books to earn points.  In April, Mrs. Manning will decide which participants on our school team will represent St. Luke School at the diocesan competition in May based on knowledge of the books and participation during meetings. Any students not selected for the table team will serve as alternates and are still expected to attend the competition. The winning diocesan team is presented with the Diocesan Battle of the Books Banner to display for the year at their school. The St Luke Library will have one copy of each book, but you can also visit the public libraries and bookstores. Participants may read print or e-book. We will also have some of these titles for sale at our book fair, Oct 2025. We hope your child will consider joining our group to have fun reading and sharing books! 

Hint: Get started on these over the summer (but take notes -- we have to remember them all the way to May 2026! Scroll down to bottom for hints) -- all books are included in the Summer 2025 reading program!

If you are interested, get started reading the books over the summer! The list is below. ANY BOOKS read from the Battle list may be used for the summer project in both fifth and sixth grades.  Take notes on the books you read, so you can remember the details. If you have any questions about the program, please email Mrs. Manning! The winning team for 2017 said they read ten books over the summer. They reread those and the additional five during the school year -- lightens your load!

Consider being a parent coach! Meetings are held every-other-week from 11:50am-12:35pm.

 We read about two books a month from August through March. This works out to about half a book per week. The parent volunteer has about 15 questions ready for each practice on the assigned book. The students sit in small groups and work on the writing the answers to the questions as a small group for about 10-15 min. Then we ask the questions orally and the students give answers similar to the way they would answer in the actual competition. We will also take some time to encourage some discussion with the questions as needed.  On the second or third week in May, we attend the competition. 

*******************Tentative September 2026 Reading Schedule********************

Yes, you can read ahead and do these, and others, over the summer!

Due September 2: The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

Due September 16: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Due September 30: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg 

Yeah! Two Done!

************************************************************

Diocese of Arlington

Battle of the Books

2025-2026 Reading List

Adventure 

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

Catholic Library Association (CLA)  

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Classic

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

Fantasy/Sci-Fi
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers

Historical Fiction 

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The Story that Cannot be Told by J Kasper Kramer

Mystery

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti

The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies

Nonfiction

The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix 

The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey by Louise W Borden

Realistic Fiction 

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps 

Diocese of Arlington

Battle of the Books

2024-2025 Reading List

Adventure

15 Secrets to Survival by Natalie Richards

The Verdigris Pawn by Alysa Wishingrad

Catholic Library Association (CLA) 

All He Knew by Helen Frost

Classic

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Fantasy 

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo

Sweep: A Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

Historical Fiction

Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus 

Mystery 

The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks

Nonfiction 

Breaker Boys: How a Photograph Helped End Child Labor by Michael Burgan

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day

Realistic Fiction 

Ginny Off the Map by Caroline Hickey 

Battle of the Books

2023-2024 Reading List

Realistic Fiction 

Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker

The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin

Adventure

The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss

City Spies (Book 1) by James Ponti

Classic

In The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

Nonfiction 

Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963 by Sharon Robinson

Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe

Historical Fiction

Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson

Fantasy 

Freddie vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua

Wildoak by C. C. Harrington

Mystery 

Malamander (Legends of Eerie-on-Sea, Book 1) by Thomas Taylor

CLA 

The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum

Battle of the Books

2022-2023 Title List

ADVENTURE

The Great Peach Experiment, Book 1: When Life 

Gives you Lemons, Make Peach Pie By: Erin Soderberg Downing

The Silver Arrow By: Lev Grossman

CLA

In the Shadows of Rome, Vol. 1: Phantom of the Colosseum

                                                                 By: Sophie de Mullenheim 

CLASSIC

The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain, 1) By: Lloyd Alexander

Ginger Pye By: Eleanor Estes

FANTASY/ SCI-FI

The Beatryce Prophecy By: Kate DiCamillo

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural

Investigations, 1) By: B.B. Alston 

HISTORICAL FICTION

Kizzy Ann Stamps By: Jeri Watts

Words on Fire         By: Jennifer Nielsen

MYSTERY

Premeditated Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle

Mystery, 1) By: Elizabeth C. Bunce 

Unplugged         By: Gordan Korman

NONFICTION

Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial                                                                           By: Linda Booth Sweeney

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued                                                                   By: Peter Sis 

REALISTIC FICTION

Before the Ever After By: Jaqueline Woodson

The Science of Breakable Things By: Tae Keller

 Battle of the Books

2021-22 Title List

Realistic Fiction

Things Seen from Above by: Shelley Pearsall

Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by: Rob Harrell

Historical Fiction

War Stories by: Gordon Korman

Prairie Lotus by: Linda Sue Park

Fantasy/SciFi/Dystopian

The Ickabog by: J.K. Rowling

The Last Human by: Lee Bacon

Classic

The View from Saturday by: E.L. Konigsburg

Catholic Choice

Keeper of the Grail (Youngest Templar, Book 1) by: Michael P. Spradlin

Adventure

A Wolf Called Wander by: Rosanne Parry

Mystery

The Wright 3 by: Blue Balliett

Mystery of Black Hollow Lane (Book 1) by: Julia Nobel

Nonfiction

When Stars are Scattered (graphic novel) by: Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

2020-2021 Battle of the Books

ADVENTURE

Page & Company: The Bookwanderers #1 By: Anna James

Song for a Whale By: Lynne Kelly

CLA

The Bridge Home By: Padma Venkatraman

CLASSIC

Door in the Wall By: Marguerite de Angeli

Five Children and It By: Edith Nesbit

FANTASY/ SCI-FI

The Beetle Boy By: M.J. Leonard

We’re Not From Here By: Geoff Rodkey

Historical Fiction

Lifeboat 12 By: Susan Hood

Queen of the Sea By: Dylan Meconis

MYSTERY

Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans #1 By: Russell Ginns

Wollstonecraft Detective Agency: The Case of the By: Jordan Stratford

Missing Stone #1

NONFICTION

The Fabled Life of Aesop By: Ian Lendler

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio By: Peg Kehret

***Marching for Freedom** NEWLY ADDED! by: Elizabeth Partridge

REALISTIC FICTION

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story By: Nora Raleigh Baskin

Pay Attention Carter Jones By: Gary D. Schmidt

2019-2020 Battle of the Books

Adventure

Lemons                                                                      by: Melissa Savage

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World         by: Shannon Hale

CLA

The Book of Boy                                                          by: Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Classic

Anne of Green Gables (Graphic Novel)                      by: Mariah Marsden

Sign of the Beaver                                                       by: Elizabeth George Speare

Fantasy

BOB                                                                              by: Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow                     by: Jessica Townsend

Historical Fiction

Finding Langston                                                           by: Lesa Cline-Ransome

Front Desk                                                                     by: Kelly Yang

Mystery

Framed!                                                                           by: James Ponti

Harlem Charade                                                              by: Natasha Tarpley

Nonfiction

Grand Canyon                                                                 by: Jason Chin

You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?                     by: Jean Fritz

Realistic Fiction

New Kid                                                                            by: Jerry Craft

Restart                                                                              by: Gordon Korman

Tentative Discussion Schedule 2019-2020

Aug-Sept: Front Desk, Restart

Oct: Grand Canyon, Sign of the Beaver

Nov: Nevermoor, Framed!

Dec: New Kid, You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?

Jan: The Book of Boy, Harlem Charade

Feb: BOB, Lemons

Mar: Finding Langston, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World, Ann of Green Gables

Past Lists

Battle of the Books Selections 2018-2019

MYSTERY

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

REALISTIC FICTION

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

NONFICTION

Finding Gobi, Young Readers' Edition by Aaron Rosenburg and Dion Leonard (must be this edition)

The Plot to Kill Hitler by Patricia McCormick

FANTASY

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

HISTORICAL FICTION

Bicycle Spy by Yona Zeldis McDonough

Refugee by Alan Gratz

ADVENTURE

Click Here to Start by Denis Markell

Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce

CLASSIC

Twenty One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

The Iliad by Gillian Cross (must be this edition)

CLA CHOICE

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Battle of the Books Reading List 2017-2018

MYSTERY

The London Eye Mystery by Dowd

The Blackthorn Key by Sands

REALISTIC FICTION

Save Me A Seat by Varadarajan and Weeks

Ghost by Reynolds

NONFICTION

Some Writer! by Sweet

Hidden Figures (Young Readers' Edition) by Shetterly

FANTASY

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Barnhill

Ghosts by Telgemeier

HISTORICAL FICTION

A Night Divided by Nielsen

Sweet Home Alaska by Dagg

ADVENTURE

The Wild Robot by Brown

The Doldrums by Gannon

CLASSIC

The Trumpet of the Swan by White

My Side of the Mountain by George

CLA CHOICE

The Staircase by Rinaldi

Battle of the Books Selections 2016-2017

Historical Fiction

Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper

Mystery

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Nonfiction

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Marching for Freedom: walk together, children, and don’t you grow weary by Elizabeth Partridge

Realistic Fiction

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fantasy

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Adventure

Moving Target by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Caroline Funke

Classic

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The BFG by Roald Dahl

CLA Choice

Any Small Goodness: a novel of the barrio by Tony Johnston

The 2015-2016 Battle of the Books Reading List

Click on those that are linked to see a book trailer!

NONFICTION

I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition only!) by Malala Yousafazai and Patricia McCormick

The Snow Baby by Katherine Kirkpatrick

MYSTERY

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

FANTASY

The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm

CLASSIC

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

The Family Under the Bridge by Nancy Savage Carlson

ADVENTURE

Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson

Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman

REALISTIC

Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

HISTORICAL

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky by Sandra Dallas

Catholic Library Association CHOICE

Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry

The complete 2014-2015 Battle of the Books List is below:

    HISTORICAL FICTION

Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War by Helen Frost

Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff

NONFICTION

Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba by Alma Flor Ada

Locomotive by Brian Floca

FANTASY

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

CLASSICS

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (please be sure to get the original unabridged version -- there should be no additional author listed. Here is a link to download the free eBook. or you can search Wind in the Willows in our library catalog to read the eBook)

The Odyssey by Gillian Cross (use only this edition)

MYSTERY

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

ADVENTURE

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

REALISTIC FICTION

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy Cavanaugh

Catholic Library Association CHOICE

Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg

The 2013-2014 Battle of the Books List is below:

Notetaking for Battle Books:

Be sure to note: 

Main Characters: who they are, a short description, what is their relation to other characters

Setting: where and when the story takes place

A short summary of the plot: Beginning (problem), Middle (conflict), and End (resolution)

Also note: interesting facts about characters and plot, moving quotes, favorite parts, something surprising, and any "I Wonder ..." questions.