Seventh- and eight-graders from across Clallam County are invited to a kind of friendly literary battle with the North Olympic Library System’s 2019 “Book Wars” competition.

“Book Wars” is is a year-long collaborative project between the library system and peninsula schools, challenging students to form teams of up to four people and read as many of the 12 selected titles as they can during the coming months.

In February, students compete in a semifinal trivia battle at their schools, culminating in a county-wide final trivia contest at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Port Angeles Library.

To participate, make a team with no more than four students (those needing help finding a team should talk to a teacher or NOLS Youth Services staff). Return a completed entry form to a teacher or library staff by Nov. 27. Then, read copies of official Book Wars books/audiobooks, available at one’s school library, classroom and local libraries. Finally, compete in the semifinal round in February, with a chance to advance to the finals.

Teams have the chance win prizes, including: first place, a $75 gift card to a bookstore for each member of the winning team and trophy for bragging rights; second place, a $50 bookstore gift card for each team member, and third place, a $25 gift card to a bookstore for team members.

A special “chocolatey” prize goes to the team with the best group costume at the final competition.

“Book Wars” titles include:

• “Hey, Kiddo” by Jarrett Krosoczka

• “Attucks! Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team that Awakened a City” by Phillip M. Hoose

• “The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge” by M. T. Anderson and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

• “The Only Road” by Alexandra Díaz

• “Small Spaces” by Katherine Arden

• “Akata Witch” by Nnedi Okorafor

• “The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline

• “Lily and Dunkin” by Donna Gephart

• “Finding Audrey” by Sophie Kinsella

• “The Boy In The Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne

• “The Seventh Most Important Thing” by Shelley Pearsall

• “Benefits of Being an Octopus” by Ann Braden

Funding for this program has been provided by Sequim Middle School, Friends of Sequim Library, Port Angeles Friends of the Library and Friends of the Forks Library.

For more information, call the Port Angeles Youth Services Department at 360-417-8500, x7705, or email to Youth@nols.org.