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A shared love of reading brought Middle School students together at Saint Andrew’s School for the inaugural Battle of the Books, a lively competition that combined literary knowledge, teamwork, and strategy.
Held on Tuesday, March 26, the event welcomed students from American Heritage School Delray, Nova Southeastern University School, and Lake Highland Preparatory School for a day centered on reading, collaboration, and friendly competition.
The event featured questions based on fifteen titles from the 2025-2026 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) list for grades 6-8. Saint Andrew’s students prepared throughout the year by choosing books to read and taking ownership of those titles, with many going beyond their selections to support their teammates. During the second semester, the group met twice a week after school, using the Battle Questions platform to practice with thousands of SSYRA-based questions during both club time and dedicated sessions.
The Saint Andrew’s team included Valentina Caballero Ballesteros ’32, Clare Feldman ’32, Kathrine Pakh ’31, Kaitlyn Phillips ’31, Olivia Pozo ’32, and Tali Shear ’30.
The competition followed a trivia-style format, with five rounds of five questions each. Teams answered questions and placed wagers, ranging from 1 to 8 points, based on their confidence, adding a strategic element to each round. Palm Beach County librarians, who read all of the SSYRA books, created and administered the questions, kept time, and tracked scores.
After a close and exciting competition, Lake Highland Preparatory School from Orlando took home the first-place trophy. Participants from the other schools were also ranked and awarded medals, which many wore for the rest of the school day.
Following the competition, students from all four schools stayed to enjoy lunch together on campus, giving them time to connect and share their love of reading. Visiting teams also had the opportunity to experience Saint Andrew’s campus and facilities.
“The event was a big success. The students had fun competing, and the adults who attended were delighted to see the students’ passion for book trivia,” said Middle School librarian Deborah Martin-Gull.
With a strong turnout and enthusiastic response from students and faculty alike, Saint Andrew’s hopes to make the Battle of the Books an annual tradition.
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