Twelve middle school teams from Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) took part in the 2026 Battle of the Books Middle School District Competition. Battle of the Books is a state-wide competition for students in grades 4-12.
Students participating in the annual Battle of the Books commit to reading books from a list of diverse genres established by state committees. Each team was required to read 20 books and participate in a quiz-bowl-style tournament to test their knowledge of the books.
“Both students and their team coaches pour a great amount of time and energy into reading and practicing, growing their love for the written word and forming special friendships along the way,” stated Kaye Menjivar, JCPS Digital Learning & Media Specialist.
Each year, the teams come ready to compete, bringing their knowledge and energy to the event. This year, after an intense battle, Swift Creek Middle inched out Riverwood Middle by one point, taking first and second places respectively, with North Johnston Middle earning the third-place spot. However, the competition wasn’t just about reading, and it was much more than winning medals.
The camaraderie and respect between the teams were evident in the high-fives, smiles, and congratulations they exchanged after the winners were announced. “I love the atmosphere, the friends I make, and the amazing books I get to read,” one student said.
Another student commented, “Books create the opportunity to broaden our knowledge and imagination. Battle of the Books is a good place to connect with other people who have taken the challenge to read books that we might not have read on our own.”
The team from Swift Creek Middle will continue to test their skills in the Battle of the Books Region 3 Competition on March 21, 2026, at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, NC.
Swift Creek Middle
2026 Middle School Battle of the Books Champions
Pictured (back row, from left): Nolan Vaughan, Sama Alhajeh, Ethan Roddick, Abigail Wood, Adeline Watkins, Maggie Adams, and Coach Valerie Kinney; (front row, from left): Mireya White, Kylah Bradford, Clarity Butler, Maeve Eaton, Charlotte Holtzhauser, and Ella Gray.
Riverwood Middle
2nd Place
Pictured (back row, from left): Coach Christine Benner, Jase Schardt, Maxx Contreras, Faith Paige-Moss, Nicholas Brown, Aryanna Sowell, and Abbie Claire Donaldson; (front row, from left): Naya Odeh, Marli Brown, Jack Haring, Levi Pittman, Luciana Useche Vera, and Coach Sara Lee.
North Johnston Middle
3rd Place
Pictured (back row, from left): Harper Woodring, Helen Dean Rouse, McKinley Holder, Carson Darlington, Nolan Lewis, Nicole Johnson, and Tinsley Pate; (front row, from left): Brooklyn Hamilton, William Langston, Benjamin Foxworth, Ella Sevigny, Coach Melissa Sevigny, and Coach Tanya Hoy.