2026 Middle School Battle of the Books: A Tournament Recap 

On February 19, 2026, the bright minds of Brunswick County’s middle schools gathered at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College for the annual Battle of the Books competition.

It was a day of intense intellectual competition, showcasing months of hard work, dedication, and a love for literature! Students were tested on their knowledge of 20 diverse titles, ranging from historical fiction to contemporary graphic novels. In a fast-paced, "quiz-bowl" style setting, teams went head-to-head to identify the correct book titles and authors based on specific, detailed plot points.

Our students demonstrated incredible teamwork and :grace under pressure" on the big stage. Competing in a venue as grand as the Odell Williamson Auditorium adds a level of excitement (and nerves), but our readers rose to the occasion.

Battle of the Books isn't just about memorizing facts; it's about building a community of readers who challenge each other to think deeper about the stories they consume.

Cedar Grove Middle School placed first, while Town Creek Middle School took second place. 

Hear more from Town Creek Middle School Battle of the Books Coach and Media Coordinator, Cortni Lemon, below. 

Copyright Corner

From a Reader:  Are books that are recorded and already on YouTube safe to post in Google Classroom? 

Publishers have been incredibly lenient during this recent pandemic about teachers using and posting recordings of texts.  First, I don't expect this leniency to last forever.  Second, you can link these in your Google Classroom, but just be aware that they may disappear without warning should a publisher file a copyright claim with YouTube.

Essentially, the Google Classroom or Canvas is an extension of your classroom and fair use applies as it would there.  That does not give you free reign to digitally create a book copy and hand it out to your students via Google Classroom and not purchase the readily available digital copies, but it does mean that read alouds can be conducted as they would in the regular classroom.  Be mindful of distribution and any loss of revenue that may result.   These are measuring points for fair use.

-Jeannie Timken, Director of Digital Learning and School Library Services

Reflect

Looking to reflect on your current teaching practices? Want to learn and grow? Below are some professional learning opportunities as well as links to some of the many resources BCS Digital Learning & School Library Services provide!