SanLee Middle School captures varsity title after dramatic sudden-death finish in Lee County’s annual reading competition.
Lee County Schools’ annual Battle of the Books competition brought middle school students from across the district together to put their reading knowledge to the test. Teams of students in grades six through eight showcased months of preparation, proving they knew every chapter, character and plot twist by heart.
The Middle School Battle of the Books program is based on a statewide program created by the North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA). Each year, literacy specialists in Lee County provide a curated selection of titles from the NCSLMA reading list for middle school students to read. They also develop trivia-style questions that challenge students’ knowledge and comprehension for the local competition. Teams compete in a fast-paced academic showdown, racing to identify the correct title and author before the 20-second timer sounds.
Amy Davis, a Battle of the Books coach at East Lee Middle School, said the competition helps students develop excitement about reading while encouraging thoughtful discussions with peers they may not normally interact with. She added that the event gives students across the school a chance to step up and take pride in their accomplishments.
Middle school varsity and junior varsity teams from East Lee Middle School, SanLee Middle School and West Lee Middle School gathered for this year’s district battle, demonstrating strong literacy skills along with teamwork, strategy and quick thinking under pressure.
In the varsity competition, West Lee Middle School finished first in the regular rounds, with SanLee Middle School close behind, as the two teams advanced to the championship match. After two intense rounds in which both teams answered every question correctly, the competition moved into sudden death to determine the winner. In the final moments of the day, SanLee Middle School claimed victory by correctly answering both sudden-death questions, earning the district’s top middle school title.
SanLee Middle School team members bringing home the varsity trophy for the fourth consecutive year include Aurora Melpolder, Carson Thompson, Jaymee Crabtree, Indria Wood, Aziyah Caroway, Molly Bauer, Cayson Stinson, Luke Windmeyer, Maddie Moore and Allison Alvarez. The team is coached by Kayle Hanson.
For Molly Bauer, one of SanLee’s winning team members, the most exciting moment came during the tense championship round that ended in sudden death.
“Waiting to hear if we answered the question correctly was the most exciting part,” Bauer said. “Battle of the Books is a lot of fun, but you have to be a good sport and a good teammate. It’s a commitment, but it’s definitely worth the effort.”
In the junior varsity competition, West Lee Middle School delivered a plot twist of its own, edging out SanLee Middle School to capture the trophy. West Lee’s junior varsity team members are Jackson Faulk, Thomas Michael, Adlin Chapman, Hailey Blackmon and Dorothy Sadler. The team is coached by Catherine Sweeney.
Ciji Burnham, adolescent literacy specialist for grades 3-8, praised the dedication of the teams and the months of preparation leading up to the event. Students and coaches devote significant time to reading and reviewing the selected titles, practicing with sample questions and developing strategies to ensure they are ready when competition day arrives.
Burnham said the dedication and preparation shown by students throughout the competition reflect the impact of reading and academic teamwork.
“The Battle of the Books teams remind us that when students read widely and think deeply, they don’t just succeed — they thrive,” Burnham said. “We are incredibly proud of the dedication shown by all of our middle school teams.”
Submitted by Avery M. Tart
Lee Early College Class of 2024
B.A. English Candidate North Carolina State University, Class of 2026