Recently, I was asked to be a judge at the Pittston Consolidated School for its annual Battle of the Books.

Ten teams competed for the title, and each team member had to read five books. The teams were asked questions from the five books, and the team with the most correct answers won the trophy and a new book.

As a judge, I also read the books so that I would have a working knowledge about their subjects. I am so proud of the fourth- and fifth-grade students who read, reviewed and studied the titles before the competition.

The questions were difficult as we narrowed the 10 teams down to the final two. Amazingly, the ending was a tie; we could not make either group falter.

I am so proud to be a part of this great competition that keeps our kids reading. The next time someone asks me if I am “smarter than a fifth-grader,” I am not sure I can answer in the affirmative.

Anne Davis, director

Gardiner Public Library

Gardiner