Children’s team members Ella Adams and Alessandra White, both 12, practice answering trivia questions on the white board at the Blythewood Library in preparation for the Book Battle competition to be held Saturday at the Sandhills Library. | Barbara Ball
BLYTHEWOOD – A group of young Blythewood Library patrons are in the last week of prepping for the Richland County Library system’s annual Book Battle, a book trivia competition between branch libraries that will be held at the Sandhills Library on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Blythewood is fielding two teams this year – a children’s team and a teen team. And, for both teams, the pressure is on to continue their winning ways. The children’s team won their division two years ago, and the teens won theirs last year.
“We have really strong teams,” Fiona Smith, the children’s coach, said. “They’re young and have great memory. They always do well, and we’re very proud of how well they prepare. Practicing with them is lots of fun.”
The competition tests the teams’ knowledge of a selection of eight books they are assigned to read. To that end, the teams spent their Saturdays in July at the library prepping with their coaches and answering the kinds of questions they will face in the August competition.
Smith said the teams take their preparation seriously and enjoy it.
“They are a delight to work with. So smart!” Smith said.
At the competition, each team will compete simultaneously in four rounds of questions requiring them to name the book’s authors, identify quotations and answer other trivia-type questions about the stories they read. One of the rounds requires the team to do an activity to illustrate something from one of the books. Answers are judged on speed and accuracy.
Winners receive trophies as well as copies of some of the books they read that are signed by the authors.
“We’re excited about the competition…it’s a fun, beneficial summer activity for them. Plus, It encourages reading and gives them a chance to perform.
Children’s team members include: Ella Adams, Alessandra White, Megan Southerland, Sydney Southerland, Kaysun Lewis, Laura Gonzalez and Kyan Krajewski.
Teen team members include: Joshua Yow, Kyle Krajewski, Sierra White and Kyra Krajewski. Their coach is Heather Langdale.
For more information about the Book Battle or other progams at the Blythewood Library, call the 803-691-9806.