Youth Battle of the Books
PPS kids and teens in grades 5 through 12 can participate in this team trivia contest based on books. Battles are broken up by grade level: 5th Grade Battle, 6-8th Grade Battle, and 9-12th Grade Battle and will take place on the following dates:
5th Grade Battle at Pittsburgh Concord K-5 on Wednesday, March 25, 2026
6th-8th Grade Battle at South Hills Middle School on Thursday, March 12, 2026
9th-12th Grade Battle at Pittsburgh Brashear High School on Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Every year, teams read a list of books carefully selected by library staff. They meet and compete by answering trivia questions about the books in a fun and exciting atmosphere.
Each team consists of five to seven members (but can be smaller or larger) and should have an adult sponsor (e.g. PPS teacher, school librarian or a designated parent). Choose a name for your team, read the books and come ready to show us what you’re made of!
The booklists above offer a diverse selection of genres, formats and characters, so there’s something for everyone. This year we’ll be featuring six titles per list.
If you’re a PPS student who loves reading and you think you have what it takes to win, connect with your school librarian to register a team and join in the fun! PPS staff can use the Registration Form linked below to sponsor a team. Giveaway copies of the books will be given to the first 20 teams that register.
Not a PPS student? If you’d like to host your own Battle of the Books, we’re happy to share those resources! Connect with us at info@carnegielibrary.org.