The first phase of Morse Pond School's popular Battle of the Books program is underway, with students expected to read at least two books from the reading list over summer vacation, in order to prepare for the battle, which will take place throughout the coming school year.
Designed to encourage kids to read interesting books they might not otherwise encounter, the Battle of the Books centers around teams of students, each of whom will read a different selection of books, then bring the knowledge they've accumulated to bear in a Jeopardy-style competition set to begin in the spring. The prize: a limo ride out to lunch and ice cream, and the chance to arrive home in a more stylish ride than a school bus.
Students will be able to form their groups shortly after the school year begins. Through periodic meetings over the course of the year, they'll divvy up the reading, and strategize for the coming competition. Kids are encouraged to get a jump on the year by reading two books of their choice from the reading list.
Kids have plenty of choices. The list includes 25 titles suitable for adolescents and young adults, from classics like Swiss Family Robinson (in graphic novel form) and Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, to modern favorites like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Invention of Hugo Cabret (on which the film Hugo is based).
Many of the books on the list are available at the Public Library's various branches, so there's nothing stopping kids from getting a head start on the 2012-13 school year. For the full reading list and rules, visit http://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/uploads/pdf/1district/summerreadinglist/MPbattle1213.pdf.