One for the books: Young readers put to the test during Big Island Newbery Quiz Bowl

One story outlined a teen’s search for her missing brother. Another, a boy from a broken home who writes letters to his favorite author. A third told the tale of a Navajo child’s training as a medicine man.

Some books were sad, others happy, some plain boring. Many, the kids say, they couldn’t put down.

“I don’t know how many books I’ve read, but I’ve read a lot of them,” said Minami Asbjornson, 11, of Holualoa Elementary School.

In all, 100 Hawaii Island students in grades 4-7 clocked in thousands of hours — and pages — this past school year, reading through a 40-book list of Newbery Medal winners. On Thursday, the fruits of their labor paid off as students tested their book content knowledge in a game show-style competition known as the Big Island Newbery Quiz Bowl.

The contest started 27 years ago with about nine teams. On Thursday, 20 teams competed, representing public schools, private schools, home-school groups and public libraries from around the island.

The Quiz Bowl has a simple goal — to get more kids reading high-quality children’s literature.

The 94-year-old Newbery Medal is awarded yearly by the American Library Association for the “most distinguished American children’s book published the previous year,” according to the award’s website. More than 90 books have since earned the medal. Each year, organizers choose a different group of book winners for the Quiz Bowl reading list.

“The recreational reading they do is wonderful,” said organizer Paula Kamiya. “But it’s reading quality literature. Many of the books are biographical or historical fiction. So they learn a lot about history and science as well … it really gives them a well-rounded education in literature and a really good foundation going forward.”

Organizers also hope regular reading time ignites an interest in books that, ideally, lasts a lifetime. Research shows fewer children and teens read for pleasure these days than in the past, and numbers drop off as students get older.

A 2014 study from Common Sense Media showed 22 percent of 13-year-olds and 27 percent of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read, up from 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in 1984. Meanwhile, 53 percent of 9-year-olds said they read for pleasure every day.

“Young (children) with picture books read and read and read,” Kamiya said. “We tend to lose them in middle school and they may not return. So we want to keep them interested, give them the guidance and hopefully, they’ll become lifelong learners and readers.”

At Hilo Union Elementary School, preparation started in the fall. Team members read up to four books each month then spent hours quizzing each other. All the studying was difficult at times, said Sarah Gauthier, 12, especially reading the more dated novels on the list from the 1920s or ’30s.

“Some of the older books were harder in parts because of the way they were written,” Sarah said. “It’s kind of like reading Shakespeare and hard to understand.

“Being under pressure helps, though. It adds one more reason to read. The nervous energy makes you feel more focused.”

Quiz Bowl winners don’t advance to a statewide competition, though Kamiya said expanding the contest has been mulled in the past. Winning teams go home with prizes and awards.

Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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WINNERS

First place: Kealakehe Elementary School (Jahnea Ordona, Dru Hong, Karen Eckert, Noah Rivera, Bella Dadzie).

Second place: Hilo Public Library (Elliot Russell, Phoebe Wyatt, Keiko Wolfson, Sachi Bower, Cyrus Bower).

Third place: Hawaii Island Christian Home Educators (Ethan Rapoza, Charis Cook, Zachary Rapoza, Cash Anderson, Kida Nakamura).

Fourth place: Konawaena Elementary School (Sophia Burgess, Alexander Deagular, Georgia Beard, Talmidge Beard, Karli Barit).

Fifth place: Hawaii Preparatory Academy Lower School (Bianca Brown, Parker Smith, Roxanne McMackin, Ali Wawner, Jack Arrillaga).