BattleoftheBooks

20142015
BattleoftheBooksisafastpacedtriviacontestopentoLevel3students.Studentsmay
readanyofthebooksonthislistoverthesummer,butteamselectionandpracticewillnotbegin
untillatefall/earlywinter.Eachstudenttypicallyreadsthreetofiveofthebookstopreparefor
workingwithateam.
BecausemanystudentswhoenjoyBattleoftheBooksalsochallengethemselvestoread
theRebeccaCaudillAwardnominees,severaloftheBattlebookshavebeenchosenfromthose
nominees.
Thesebookshavebeenchosenbasedonrecommendationsfromstudents,librarians,and
literacyspecialists.Rememberthatnoteverybookisappropriateorenjoyableforeveryone.
Choosethetitlesthatworkbestforyourtastesandsensibilities.

Adventure

Hatchet
Gary Paulsen
BrianRobeson,13,istheonlypassengeronasmallplaneflyinghimtovisithisfatherintheCanadian
wildernesswhenthepilothasaheartattackanddies.Theplanedriftsoffcourseandfinallycrashesinto
asmalllake.MiraculouslyBrianisabletoswimfreeoftheplane,arrivingonasandytreelinedshore
withonlyhisclothing,atatteredwindbreaker,andthehatchethismotherhadgivenhimasapresent.
ThenovelchroniclesingrittydetailBrian'smistakes,setbacks,andsmalltriumphsas,withthehelpof
thehatchet,hemanagestosurvivethe54daysaloneinthewilderness.Paulsenemphasizescharacter
growththroughacarefulbalancingofspecificdetailsofsurvivalwiththeprotagonist'sthoughtsand
emotions.

Far North
Will Hobbs
Fromthewindowofthesmallfloatplane,fifteenyearoldGabeRogersisgettinghisfirstlookat
Canada'smagnificentNorthwestTerritorieswithRaymondProvidence,hisroommatefromboarding
school.BelowisthespectacularNahanniRiverwalltowallwhitewaterracingbetweensheercliffs
andplungingoverVirginiaFalls.Thepilotsetstheplanedownonthelakelikesurfaceoftheupperriver
foracloserlookatthethunderingfalls.Suddenlytheenginequits.Theonlysoundisadullroar
downstream,astheCessnadriftshelplesslytowardthefalls.Withthebrutalsubarcticwinterfast
approaching,GabeandRaymondsoonfindthemselvesstrandedinDeadmenValley.Trappedina
frozenworldofmoose,wolves,andbears,twoboysfromvastlydifferentculturescometodependon
eachotherfortheirverysurvival.

Mystery

Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock (1959 edition)
Carolyn Keene
EighteenyearoldNancyDrewliveswithherfather,aprominentlawyer,andHannahGruen,the
housekeeperwhohascaredforNancysincehermother'sdeathyearsearlier.Nancy'sintuitivenature
makesheranassettoherfather'scases.AsNancydrivesthroughthecountry,sheseesalittlegirlrun
intotheroadandnearlygethitbyamovingvan.Thevanspeedsaway,andNancyrushestothechild's
rescue.Shetakesthechildhomeandmeetsthegirl'sauntswhohavebeenherguardianssinceher
parents'deaths.TheyadmittoNancythatmoneyisgettingtight.Theirwealthycousin,JosiahCrowley,
hadpromisedtoprovidefortheminhiswill.ButwhenJosiahdiedafewmonthsearlier,allhismoney
wenttoothercousins,theTophams.Knownintownfortheirwealthandarrogance,theTophamstook
Josiahinneartheendofhislife.Still,hewasn'tespeciallyclosetothefamily.TheTurnersandother
relativeswonderifJosiahwrotealaterwillthatincludedthem.

Vanishing Acts: A Madison Kincaid Mystery

Philip Margolin & Ami Margolin Rome
Fromtrackingdownherbestfriend,whosnowheretobefound,tosecretlyhelpingherattorneyfather
solveamissingpersoncase,MadisonKincaidisabusyseventhgradesleuth.Teamingupwithnew
classmateJake,shehitsthesidewalksofPortland,Oregon,determinedtofindoutwhatsbehindtwo
mysteriousvanishingacts.Inhisfirstbookforyoungreaders,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorPhillip
Margolinandhisdaughter,AmiMargolinRome,deliverafastpaced,compellingmysterythatsperfect
forreluctantreadersandsuretoappealtofansofMasterpiece,TheCalderGame,andTheodore
Boone:KidLawyer.

Sports

Unstoppable (2015 Caudill Nominee)
Tim Green
Inspiredbyinterviewswithreallifecancersurvivorsandinsidersportsexperience,this
unforgettableNewYorkTimesbestsellershowsabraveboywholearnswhatittrulymeanstobe
unstoppable.Ifanyoneunderstandsthephrase"toughluck,"it'sHarrison.Asafosterkidinacruel
home,heknowshisdreamofonedayplayingintheNFLisalongshot.ThenHarrisonisbroughtintoa
newhomewithkind,lovingparentshisnewdadisevenafootballcoach.Harrison'sbigbuildandhis
incredibledeterminationquicklymakehimastarrunningbackonthejuniorhighschoolteam.Onthe
field,he'spracticallyunstoppable.ButHarrison'sgoodluckcan'tlastforever.Whenaroutinesports
injuryleadstoadevastatingdiagnosis,itwilltakeeveryounceofHarrison'sdeterminationnottogiveup
forgood.

The Running Dream
Wendelin Van Draanen
Jessicathinksherlifeisoverwhenshelosesaleginacaraccident.She'snotcomfortedbythenews
thatshe'llbeabletowalkwiththehelpofaprostheticleg.Whocaresaboutwalkingwhenyouliveto
run?Asshestrugglestocopewithcrutchesandafirstcyborglikeprosthetic,Jessicafeelsoddlybothin
thespotlightandinvisible.Peoplewhodon'tknowwhattosay,actlikeshe'snotthere.Whichshecould
handlebetterifsheweren'tnowkeenlyawarethatshe'ddonethesamethingherselftoagirlwithCP
namedRosa.Agirlwhoisgoingtotutorherthroughallthemathshe'smissed.Agirlwhoseesrightinto
theheartofher.Withthesupportoffamily,friends,acoach,andhertrackteammates,Jessicamay
actuallybeabletorunagain.Butthat'snotenoughforhernow.Shedoesn'tjustwanttocrossfinish
linesherselfshewantstotakeRosawithher.

Realistic Fiction

One for the Murphys (2015 Caudill Nominee)

Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Carleyuseshumorandstreetsmartstokeepheremotionalwallshighandthick.Butthedayshe
becomesafosterchild,andmovesinwiththeMurphys,she'sblindsided.Thisloving,bustlingfamily
showsCarleythestablefamilylifesheneverthoughtexisted,andshefeelslikeanalienintheir
cookiecutterperfecthousehold.Despiteherresistance,theMurphyseventuallyshowherwhatitfeels
liketobelonguntilhermotherwantsherbackandCarleyhastodecidewhereandhowtolive.She's
notreallyaMurphy,butthegiftsthey'vegivenherhaveopenedupanewfuture.

Almost Home (2015 Caudill Nominee)

Joan Bauer
WhentwelveyearoldSugar'sgrandfatherdiesandhergamblingfathertakesoffyetagain,Sugarand
hermotherlosetheirhomeinMissouri.TheyheadtoChicagoforafreshstart,onlytodiscoverthat
freshstartsaren'tsoeasytocomebyforthehomeless.Nevertheless,Sugar'smotherhastaughtherto
begratefulnomatterwhat,soSugardoesherbest.Withthehelpofarescuedog,Shushafoster
familyasupportiveteacheraloveofpoetryandherowngraceandgoodhumor,Sugarcomesto
understandthatwhileshecan'tcontrolthehandlifedealsher,shecancontrolhowsheresponds.

Historical Fiction

Saving Zasha (2015 Caudill Nominee)
Randi Barrow
WorldWarIIhasjustendedwhenthirteenyearoldMikhailfindsadyingmanandhisGerman
shepherd,Zasha,inthewoods.It'sdangeroussomesaytraitoroustoownaGermandogafter
GermanyattackedRussia,soMikhailmustkeepZashaasecrettokeepheralive.ButMikhail'srival,
Katia,isdeterminedtofindthedogsheissurehe'shiding.Atthesametime,asoldiernamedDimitriis
breedinganewRussiandogatanearbyfarm.Somanydogswerelostincombat,tostarvation,andin
theslaughterofGermandogsthatthecountryisindireneedofeverykindofdog.Dimitri,too,has
suspicionsofZasha'sexistence,andwouldlikenothingmorethantoaddhertohisbreedingprogram.
He'llhavetocompetewiththearmeddogthieveswhoarealsoonhertrail.Mikhail'sinspiringjourney
tosavehisbestfriend,thelastGermanshepherdinRussia,forceshimtofacesomeoflife'shardest
lessonsaboutwar,hate,forgiveness,hope,love,andman'sbestfriend.

Soldier Dog
Sam Angus
WithhisolderbrothergonetofightintheGreatWar,andhisfatherpronetosuddenrages,14yearold
Stanleydevoteshimselftotakingcareofthefamilysgreyhoundandpuppies.UntilthemorningStanley
wakestofindthepuppiesgone.Determinedtofindhisbrother,Stanleyrunsawaytojoinan
increasinglydesperatearmy.AssignedtotheexperimentalWarDogSchool,Stanleyisgivena
problematicGreatDanenamedBonestotrain.Againstallodds,thepairexcels,andStanleyissentto
France.ButinSoldierDogbySamAngus,thewarinFranceislargerandmorebrutalthanStanley
everimagined.Howcanoneyoungboysurviveandfindhisbrotherwithonlyadogtohelp?

Fairy Tale Adaptations

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives
Michael Buckley
Inbookoneofthisbestsellingseries,sistersSabrinaandDaphnearesenttolivewiththeirmysterious
grandmother,ReldaGrimm.ThesisterslearntheyaredescendantsoftheBrothersGrimm,whose
famousbookoffairytalesisactuallyacollectionofcasefiles.Thegirlsarethelatestinalonglineof
fairytaledetectives,andtheirnewhometownisfilledwithEverafters(asmagicalfolksliketobecalled)
somegoodandsomevery,verybad.WhenamysteriousEveraftersetsagiantlooseonthetown,its
uptotheSistersGrimmtosavetheday.

A Tale Dark and Grimm

Adam Gidwitz
HanselandGretelwalkoutoftheirownstoryandintoeightotherclassicGrimm(andGrimminspired)
fairytales.Anirreverent,wittynarratorleadsusthroughencounterswithwitches,warlocks,dragons,
andthedevilhimself.Asthesiblingsroamaforestbrimmingwithmenacingfoes,theylearnthetrue
storybehindthefamoustales,aswellashowtotakechargeoftheirdestiniesandcreatetheirown
happilyeverafter.Becauseonceuponatime,fairytaleswereawesome

Fantasy

The False Prince (2015 Caudill Nominee)
Jennifer A. Nielsen
Inadiscontentkingdom,civilwarisbrewing.Tounifythedividedpeople,Conner,anoblemanofthe
court,devisesacunningplantofindanimpersonatoroftheking'slonglostsonandinstallhimasa
puppetprince.Fourorphansarerecruitedtocompetefortherole,includingadefiantboynamedSage.
SageknowsthatConner'smotivesaremorethanquestionable,yethislifebalancesonasword'spoint
hemustbechosentoplaytheprinceorhewillcertainlybekilled.ButSage'srivalshavetheirown
agendasaswell.Anextraordinaryadventurefilledwithdangerandaction,liesanddeadlytruthsthatwill
havereadersclingingtotheedgeoftheirseats.

Tuesdays at the Castle (2015 Caudill Nominee)

Jessica Day George
TuesdaysatCastleGlowerarePrincessCelia'sfavoritedays.That'sbecauseonTuesdaysthecastle
addsanewroom,aturret,orsometimesevenanentirewingtoitself.Nooneeverknowswhatthe
castlewilldonext,andnooneotherthanCelia,thatistakestimetomapoutthenewadditions.But
whenKingandQueenGlowerareambushedandreportedlykilled,it'suptoCeliawithhersecret
knowledgeoftheCastle'smanytwistsandturns,toprotecttheirhomeandsavetheirkingdom.

Informational

George Washington, Spymaster
Thomas B. Allen
ThisawardwinningNationalGeographicbookpresentstheuntoldstoryoftheinvisiblewarbehindthe
AmericanRevolution.Arivetingtaleofintrigue,spies,counterspiesandsecretagents,George
Washington,Spymasterisauniqueandentertainingaccountofoneofthemostimportantchaptersin
ournation'shistory.Thecompellingnarrativerevealsthesurprisingroleplayedbythefirst
commanderinchief,GeneralGeorgeWashingtonintheWarofIndependence.Followtheactionas
1775dawns,andWashingtonfindshimselfinserioustrouble.AtwarwithBritain,theworld'smost
powerfulempire,hisragtagarmypossessesonlyafewmuskets,somecannons,andnomoney.The
Americans'onlyhopeistowageaninvisiblewarawarofspies,intelligencenetworks,and
deception.

Nathan Hales Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy

Nathan Hale
NathanHale,theauthor'shistoricalnamesake,wasAmerica'sfirstspy,aRevolutionaryWarherowho
famouslysaidIonlyregretthatIhavebutonelifetoloseformycountrybeforebeinghangedbythe
British.IntheNathanHale'sHazardousTalesseries,authorNathanHalechannelshisnamesaketo
presenthistory'sroughest,toughest,andcrazieststoriesinthegraphicnovelformat.OneDeadSpy
tacklesthestoryofHalehimself,whowasanofficerandspyfortheAmericanrebelsduringthe
RevolutionaryWar.AuthorHalehighlightstheunusual,gruesome,andjustplainunbelievabletruthof
historicalNathanHalefromhisearlyunluckydaysatYaletohislaterunluckydaysasanofficerand
AmericaduringtheRevolutionaryWar.

Science Fiction

City of Ember
Jeanne DuPrau
Ember,a241yearold,ruineddomedcitysurroundedbyadarkunknown,wasbuilttoensurethat
humanswouldcontinuetoexistonEarth,andtheinstructionsforgettingouthavebeenlostand
forgotten.OnAssignmentDay,12yearoldsleaveschoolandreceivetheirlifetimejobassignments.
LinaMayfleetbecomesamessenger,andherfriendDoonHarrowendsupinthePipeworksbeneath
thecity,wherethefailingelectricgeneratorhasbeenineffectuallypatchedtogether.BothLinaandDoon
areconvincedthattheirsurvivalmeansfindingawayoutofthecity,andafterLinadiscoverspiecesof
theinstructions,sheandDoonworktogethertointerpretthefragmenteddocument.Lifeinthis
postholocaustcityiswelllimnedthefrequentblackouts,thefoodshortage,thepublicpanic,thesearch
foranswers,andtheactionsofthepowerful,whoaretakingselfishadvantageofthesituation.Readers
willrelatetoLinaandDoon'sresourcefulnessandcourageinthefaceofominousodds.

Memory Boy
Will Weaver
Ashisstillfallingfromtheskytwoyearsafteraseriesofgloballydevastatingvolcaniceruptions.Sunlight
isasscarceasfood,andcitiesarebecomingincreasinglyviolentaspeoplelootandkillinorderto
maintaintheirexistence.SixteenyearoldMilesNewellknowsthattheonlychancehisfamilyhasof
survivingistoescapefromtheirMinneapolissuburbanhometotheircabininthewoods,Asthe
NewellstravelthehighwaysonMiles'supremeinvention,theAliPrincess,theyhavehighhopesfor
safetyandpeace.Butastheyventuredeeperintothewilderness,theybegintorealizethatit'snotonly
cityfolkwhohavechangedfortheworse.