Fourth and fifth grade students from across Lee County Schools gathered Thursday and Friday for the district’s annual Battle of the Books competition. The event showcased months of preparation and proved that great stories and great readers are alive and well in Lee County.
After months of reading, studying, and practicing questions, students brought their literary knowledge to the competition floor, ready to turn the page on another exciting Battle of the Books event.
Battle of the Books is a statewide academic competition organized through the North Carolina School Library Media Association. Students read from a curated list of books and then compete in a quiz-style format by answering questions about the titles.
Students spent weeks reading and studying the books, often meeting for practice sessions before and after school to review key details from each title.
After a competitive and page-turning series of rounds, Deep River's fourth-grade team and Tramway's fifth-grade team turned the final page with a victory and claimed the district title for their respective grade level.
Deep River’s fourth-grade team members include Azra Erdim, Caritina Hernandez Vega, Emerson Shover, Gregory Bryant, Hassan Abou Awad, Jaily Sanchez Candelario, Oliver Connell and Shanessa Ramos. The team is coached by Ashley Matsik, Jo Ann Lawler and Laura Maultsby.
Tramway’s fifth-grade team members include Abigail Graham, Blair Bullard, Buddy Hernandez, Caladin Hunter, Clara Myers, Cole Lyerly, Cooper Brown, Everett Ancona, Fiana Garrett, Margaret Spivey, Mary Cole Brown and Max Hassinger. The team is coached by Angela Spurlin.
For many students, Battle of the Books is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity to discover new authors and genres they may not have explored before.
Fourth-Grade student Cash Hawes, from Tramway Elementary, said his favorite book from the list was Willa of the Wood because the author is from North Carolina, and it was chosen for the BOB by another student.
Coach Heidi Brown, representing Greenwood, said the team worked diligently to prepare for the competition.
“Reading and studying for the BOB competition with an 'end goal' in mind truly changes students' attitudes about reading. They aren't reading merely for pleasure or for a grade but to represent their school and to make everyone proud," Brown said.
One of Brown's students, Finleigh Braxton of Greenwood Elementary said the team practiced two to three times a week, often using station rotations to review questions about the books. One favorite activity was a game called “Beat Ms. Brown,” where students tried to answer more questions correctly than their coach.
“My advice would be to start reading the books over the summer so you don’t have as much to read during the school year,” Braxton said.
The Fifth-Grade winning team will go on to represent Lee County Schools at the regional Battle of the Books competition in Zebulon, North Carolina, later this spring; however, the plot will thicken as the Fourth-Grade team participates in next year's local competition.
Director of Secondary Curriculum and Advanced Learning Dillon Crockett is part of the team that helps organize and host the district event. He said, “Battle of the Books is one of the most engaging ways we celebrate students’ commitment to reading, and we hope through this encouragement they never close the chapter on reading as adults.”
Submitted by Avery M. Tart
Lee Early College Class of 2024
B.A. English Candidate North Carolina State University, Class of 2026