Battle of the Books 2010

Gillian Chan is our guest author for the Junior round robins. Passionate about fantasy and history, one or both of these elements have worked their way into many of her novels. An Ocean Apart: the Gold Mountain Diary of Chin Mei-ling is part of the popular Dear Canada series. Gillian lives in Dundas, Ontario.

Mahtab Narsimhan is the author of The Third Eye winner of the Silver Birch Fiction Award, 2009. Born in Mumbai, India, she has made Canada her home for the past 12 years. The Third Eye is a fantasy adventure set in India, spiced up with its rich culture and mythology.

---

• Who can play?
• How is it organized?
• Rules of the game
• Scorekeeping
• Past Winners
• Sample questions, authors, award winners for juniors
• Sample questions, authors, award winners for seniors

---

Who Plays?

Students from Milton schools in grades 3 to 5 (juniors) and grades 6 to 8 (seniors) play at the Main Library of Milton Public Library. Please use the rear entrance (opposite seniors' apartments).

---

How is it organized?

Teams of six students in Junior (grades 3-5) or Senior (grades 6-8) levels are alternately asked a set of questions based on books. The team has 30 seconds in which to give the correct author, title or character.  If the question cannot be answered by the team then the opposing team has the chance to respond immediately. 

Points are accumulated, and the team with the highest number of points goes on to the next round, called the Grand Battle. Champions of the Grand Battle will then play the champions from other areas in Halton, such as Oakville, Burlington and Halton Hills. 

---

Rules of the game

Teams

Each team will consist of six players composed of pairs of students from grades 3,4,5 (Junior level) or grades 6,7,8 (Senior level). In the event that two students in a particular grade are not available, students of a lower, not higher, grade may be substituted.

One team member should be chosen to be the spokesperson. While the team is encouraged to quietly discuss the possible answers, all answers will be given through that person only.

One substitute per grade will be allowed to a maximum of three. One time-out per battle between questions may be called to substitute team members.

Questions

After a warm-up practice question with no point value, each team will be asked seven questions per round from the following categories:

• 1 Canadian
• 1 Award Winner
• 1 Classic
• 1 New Title (published within the last 3 years)
• 1 Folk/Fairy Tale for Junior level
• 1 Myth/Legend for Senior level
• 2 Favourites

Each team will be asked an equal number of questions. The questions will be addressed to the teams alternately, regardless of which team gave the last correct answer. A pause for substitutions will take place after the fourth pair of questions. During the Grand Battle there will be 10 questions per round.

Answers

The team has 30 seconds to give the title/or author's surname. You do not have to know the title in order to try for author points. The question will be asked once and then the timing will start. During this time, the team may have the question repeated as well as giving as many guesses as it wishes through their spokesperson.

If at the end of the 30 seconds, the team is unable to answer the question correctly, the opposing team will be allowed the opportunity to give the title/or author and will receive bonus points if correctly answered. The answer must be immediate.

---

Scorekeeping

• Five (5) points are scored for a correct title
• Three (3) points are scored for a correct surname of author
• Two (2) points are scored when the opposing team answers the correct title
• One (1) point is scored when the opposing team answers the correct author's surname
• Author surname is sufficient, and in the case of joint authorship, only one surname is required
• Titles must be exact. The adjudicator's decision will be final in the case of any team answers which may be questionable
• A cumulative score will be kept for each team with the final score announced at the end of the round robins
• The two Junior teams, and similarly, the two Senior teams with the highest cumulative scores will proceed to the Grand Battle
• The winning Grand Battle Junior and Senior teams will represent Milton in the regional battles between Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Halton Hills

In the event of a tie, teams will be asked alternate sets of uestions until the tie is broken.

---

2009 Winners

Battle of the Books 2009 Milton winners (Photos)

• Junior Battle & Halton Grand Battle winners - Guardian Angels
• Senior Battle winners - St. Anthony of Padua

Past Winners

Battle of the Books 2008 Milton winners (Photos)

• Junior Battle winners - E. W. Foster
• Senior Battle winners - Holy Rosary

Battle of the Books 2007 Milton winners

• Junior Battle winners - Guardian Angels
• Senior Battle winners - W. I. Dick

Battle of the Books 2006 Milton winners

• Junior Battle winners - E. W. Foster
• Senior Battle winners - W. I. Dick

Battle of the Books 2005 Milton winners

• Junior Battle winners - Guardian Angels
• Senior Battle winners - Our Lady of Victory

Battle of the Books 2004 Milton winners

• Junior Battle of the Books - Our Lady of Victory
• Senior Battle of the Books - Our Lady of Victory

Battle of the Books 2003 Halton winners

• Milton Grand Battle Junior winner -- Our Lady of Victory
• Milton Grand Battle Senior winner -- W.I. Dick

---

---

© Milton Public Library, Ontario, Canada 1998-2010
Contact Us / Copyright & Disclaimer / MPL on Facebook / MPL on Flickr / Site Map