Wrap up your 2026 Summer Reading Challenge with our annual Adult Battle of the Books! Your team, of up to five adults (18+), will read five books that we’ve chosen covering a variety of genres and styles. The titles are listed below and limited copies are available at BPL in a variety of formats. Join us on Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m. to compete with other teams by answering trivia questions based on the books. The Battle registration form will open on May 1st at 9:30 a.m. and remain open until all spots are full. Book themed spirit wear or costumes are encouraged but not required. Snacks will be provided and prizes will be given!
The Art Thief: a true story of love, crime and a dangerous obsession by Michael Finkel
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
The River by Peter Heller
Beautiful Music by Michael Zadoorian
Thank you to all who participated in our 2025 Adult Battle of the Books!
Our winning team, for the second year in a row, was the Marvelous Moms Who Read. Team members received Books A Million gift cards and bragging rights for another year.
All participants took home a one of a kind, BPL Summer Reading themed key chain and a sugar rush from all of the treats. We had some hilariously creative costumes and team names. In short, a fun evening was had by all!
Baby Got Books
Our Wine Club has a Book Problem
Email Jen Hassell, Adult Services Librarian (jen.hassell@baldwinlib.org) with any questions.
Congratulations to the Battle of the Books 2026 Winners!
1st Place: Book Bombers from Quarton
2nd Place: Book Looks from Pierce
3rd Place: Here Comes the Books from Pembroke
Best Team Spirit: Galactic Girls from Greenfield and the Spies of the Books from West Maple
Best Team Name: Book Street Boys from Pembroke
What is Battle of the Books?
A reading competition for all fourth and fifth graders in the Birmingham Public School District, designed to foster a love of reading and encourage students to read books outside their comfort zone. Students read six titles and compete against other teams in a battle of trivia questions.
2026 Battle of the Books Titles
Click on each title to view them in our catalog.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum
- Art Club by Rashad Doucet
- Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
- How to Win a Slime War by Mae Respicio
- The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass
Important Dates for Battle of the Books 2027
- Kickoff: TBA, December 2026
The Battle of the Books details can be found in this flier.
Email Stephanie Klimmek, Head of Youth Services (stephanie.klimmek@baldwinlib.org) with any questions.
Wrap up your 2026 Summer Reading Challenge with our annual Adult Battle of the Books! Your team, of up to five adults (18+), will read five books that we’ve chosen covering a variety of genres and styles. The titles are listed below and limited copies are available at BPL in a variety of formats. Join us on Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m. to compete with other teams by answering trivia questions based on the books. The Battle registration form will open on May 1st at 9:30 a.m. and remain open until all spots are full. Book themed spirit wear or costumes are encouraged but not required. Snacks will be provided and prizes will be given!
The Art Thief: a true story of love, crime and a dangerous obsession by Michael Finkel
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
The River by Peter Heller
Beautiful Music by Michael Zadoorian
Thank you to all who participated in our 2025 Adult Battle of the Books!
Our winning team, for the second year in a row, was the Marvelous Moms Who Read. Team members received Books A Million gift cards and bragging rights for another year.
All participants took home a one of a kind, BPL Summer Reading themed key chain and a sugar rush from all of the treats. We had some hilariously creative costumes and team names. In short, a fun evening was had by all!
Baby Got Books
Our Wine Club has a Book Problem
Email Jen Hassell, Adult Services Librarian (jen.hassell@baldwinlib.org) with any questions.
Congratulations to the Battle of the Books 2026 Winners!
1st Place: Book Bombers from Quarton
2nd Place: Book Looks from Pierce
3rd Place: Here Comes the Books from Pembroke
Best Team Spirit: Galactic Girls from Greenfield and the Spies of the Books from West Maple
Best Team Name: Book Street Boys from Pembroke
What is Battle of the Books?
A reading competition for all fourth and fifth graders in the Birmingham Public School District, designed to foster a love of reading and encourage students to read books outside their comfort zone. Students read six titles and compete against other teams in a battle of trivia questions.
2026 Battle of the Books Titles
Click on each title to view them in our catalog.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum
- Art Club by Rashad Doucet
- Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
- How to Win a Slime War by Mae Respicio
- The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass
Important Dates for Battle of the Books 2027
- Kickoff: TBA, December 2026
The Battle of the Books details can be found in this flier.
Email Stephanie Klimmek, Head of Youth Services (stephanie.klimmek@baldwinlib.org) with any questions.
All adults 18+ are eligible to participate. Each team should have 2 to 5 members with one team leader. Decide on a team name so you’ll have it ready when you register.
Registration begins on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. The team leader should submit one registration form for the team. The registration form will be accepting registrations on Monday, May 1 and is available here as well as on our events calendar. Registration will close when all spots are full.
The team leader is the main contact person between the Battle team and the Baldwin Public Library.
The Battle will take place downstairs at Baldwin Public Library on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Arrive a bit early to grab some snacks and decorate your team name sign.
- Teams will use paper and pencil to answer the Battle questions.
- Teams will sit with sit at tables together in the Rotary/Donor room downstairs at the library.
- We will read and present each question visually in a slideshow. Teams will have a set amount of time to answer before moving onto the next question.
- First, second, and third place winners will receive a prize.
The questions are worth 1 point. For a total of 50 possible points. There are 2 tiebreaker questions that will be used if needed. Questions will have concrete answers and will range from easy, medium to hard questions. More than one team member reading each book increases your advantage, and makes battle (and reading!) more fun.