STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Book-related trivia will abound in Sun Valley today as the Sun Valley Community School hosts this year’s Region 4 Middle School Battle of the Books Tournament.

Elementary, Middle and High School students from Blaine and Cassia counties will gather to test their grasp of 16 books they have read over the course of the school year in the statewide book trivia competition.

Students divided into teams of four last August with the objective of becoming experts on the books that were chosen by a committee of teachers and librarians throughout Idaho.

Today’s final tournament will consist of three rounds of “pool play” beginning at 1:30 p.m. with students trying to answer questions based on the books in a quiz show format. A single elimination bracket of book-related trivia will follow to crown the regional champion.

Participating schools are Hemingway STEAM School, Wood River Middle School, Sun Valley Community School, Burley Junior High, Burley Public Library and Oakley Junior High.

The Idaho Battle of the Books is meant to expose students to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoint. Not only does it encourage students who enjoy reading but it increases reading comprehension, academic excellence, cooperative learning and teamwork.

This year’s books for elementary school students includes “A Place to Hang the Moon” by Kate Albus, “Spooked! How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America” by Gail Jarrow, “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” by Kate McKinnon and “A Royal Conundrum” by Lisa Yee.

Middle School books include “Simon Sort of Says” by Erin Bow, “The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb” by Candace Fleming, “Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II” by Adam Gidwitz, “The Sherlock Society” by James Ponti and “Keeper of the Lost Cities” by Shannon Messenger.

Chapter One Bookstore will be on site to sell books.