For students in 3rd to 12th grade, and students at OHS, Battle of the Books is a prodigious learning opportunity. But what exactly is Battle of the Books?
Battle of the Books is a nationwide reading competition. The competition consists of individual student-groups from various schools who showcase their abilities and are tested on their familiarity, understanding, and overall memorization of the books they have read from the Battle of the Books reading list.
According to Ms. McDougal, the librarian at Osceola High School, “Battle of the Books is a reading program that encourages young students to read all 15 different books from the reading list created by a company known as FAME.”
Ms. McDougal has witnessed many Battle of the Books groups assemble and practice within the palliative confines of Osceola’s library. Unfortunately, last year, Battle of the Books was canceled for the reading-lovers of Osceola.
“Last year I had a team, but we couldn’t participate because the battle schedule was moved to the evening. We really had problems with afterschool meets for the students, also, due to their extracurricular activities, so we were unable to compete.”
But last year’s debacle does not saturate the high spirits of new contestants in this year’s Battle of the Books.

“If it gets advertised around the school better, I think we’ll be alright,” says Phoebe Carrazco, sophomore at OHS and one of last year’s Battle of the Books participants.
“I was the only member at first in last year’s Battle of the Books, and the day I took the qualifying test to be on the team, I was the only person who showed up,” says Phoebe.
According to the Battle of the Books participant, the school was disqualified from last year’s competition only because the program itself was under advertised.
“It might not happen again this year because I feel like high-schoolers aren’t motivated to read all those required books, and then get quizzed on them,” Phoebe explained. “I mean, I only knew about it last year because I just so happened to be in the library when Ms. McDougal was having a conversation with someone else. I didn’t find out through posters in the school or anything on the school website.”
Phoebe expressed her concern about the under advertised competition, and described ways to get it “through the grapevine” this year.
“We need signs and big posters in the library, in English classes, and around the school. English teachers should talk to their classes about it, and maybe even the weekly phone call home from the principal should include the details,” explains Phoebe.
This year, Osceola’s Battle of the Books team could soar to great feats if we “find ways to encourage and make students want to read the books on the list.” (Phoebe Carrazco)