Secondary Students Compete in the 2024 White Pine Battle of the Books

On Wednesday, May 8, secondary students from the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) and Durham District School Board (DDSB) gathered to battle over all things literary! Organized by a collaboration of the Durham Public Library groups and both school boards, high school students competed to demonstrate their reading savvy of this year’s Forest of Reading White Pine booklist. 

Congratulations to All Saints Catholic Secondary School, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, and St. Mary Catholic Secondary School whose student teams were formidable opponents in the 2024 White Pine Battle of the Books at Ontario Tech University. The rounds were quick and the questions challenging!  

After the battles had concluded and awards were distributed by library consultants for DCDSB and DDSB, students had an open Q&A session in the afternoon with M.E. Girard, award-winning author of one of the book titles this year, Then Everything Happens at Once. M.E Girard shared her process from storylines in her imagination through to publication, as well as a discussion of her favourite books and influential authors and experiences to conclude the event. 

Happy reading to all participants as teams prepare to battle again next year!