Fairley Elementary students recently put their reading skills to the test in the school’s annual Battle of the Books competition, demonstrating their knowledge and recall ability.

After 16 rounds of questions where students had to correctly identify the author and the book in which the question referenced, he Book Nerds — comprised of Rex Vallance, Autumn Bonoffski, Camilla Ford, and Lilah Murphy — emerged victorious. With the win, they secured a spot in the countywide competition set for April 7 at John C. Birdlebough High School in Phoenix.

The Battle of the Books competition encourages students to engage with literature in a competitive format, fostering a lifelong love of reading while building teamwork, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

"We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part in this year’s Battle of the Books," said library media specialist Marie Smith. "Their enthusiasm and commitment to reading are truly inspiring, and we wish the Book Nerds good luck as they advance to the next level."