DoWEA Pacific hosts middle school Book Battle
PACIFIC REGION – Dozens of middle school students across the Pacific logged into their Chromebooks on Thursday, March 19, for the DoWEA Pacific Book Battle. The virtual event challenged teams to tackle 50 rapid‑fire questions covering characters, settings, themes, and plotlines from a slate of ten selected books.
For many participants, the competition is about much more than answering questions.
“Book Battle creates a family for you to be a part of,” said Olivia Aleckson of Yokosuka Middle School.
Yokosuka Middle School’s Branna Kelleher described the mental intensity of the contest with humor.
“Book Battle is like The Hunger Games—you’re mentally challenged and physically hungry.”
This year’s reading list transported students across eras, continents, and extraordinary circumstances. Competitors encountered American and Japanese soldiers in World War II, refugees fleeing Africa, a boy battling cancer, and even a railroad worker who survived a 13‑pound iron rod blasting through his skull. The books also included tales of a girl with cerebral palsy and a photographic memory, a Jewish girl hidden in Nazi‑occupied France, and a boy grounded for a summer after a hilariously regrettable mistake. Despite all that literary exploration, some mysteries remained unsolved—EJ King MHS student Jonathan Choi admitted with a shrug, “I still don’t know what a Twinkie is.”
Students embraced both the challenge and the preparations leading up to the competition.
“Patience and hard work brings glory,” said Victoria Maldonado‑Vargas of Osan Middle High School—words that proved true for this year's champions.
For the second consecutive year, Yokosuka Middle School claimed the Book Battle trophy. Humphreys Middle School earned second place, followed by Iwakuni Middle School in third. The highest individual score was achieved by Sofia Lewandowski of Kadena Middle School, who earned an impressive 86 points.
For many competitors, though, the event’s true value lies beyond trophies or rankings.
“Book Battle not only surrounds you with books and nerds, but makes a unique once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience,” said Yokosuka’s Ian Coleman. “It lets you really enjoy what you love: BOOKS!”
Classmate Madeline Overton echoed the sentiment.
“I love books, and Book Battle is a dream for me,” Overton shared.
The Pacific Library Information Specialists are already preparing next year’s reading list, and students across the region are eager to dive in.
With enthusiasm high and literary passion fueling students across the Pacific, the Book Battle tradition is set to continue inspiring readers and scholars for years to come.
