The Performing Arts Center was bustling with action on Wedneday, as students from around Orange County came to compete in a Battle of the Books Tournament hosted by St. Margaret’s.

In total, there were 16 teams of five students competing, representing six different schools—St. Margaret’s, St. Edwards, St. Anne School, Tarbut v’ Torah, Mission Basillica and Olivewood. There were also two “BOB United” teams made up of individuals from different schools working together. In all, about 90 students participated.

The tournament consisted of three rounds, totaling 24 team-versus-team battles both in the Hurlbut and McGregor Family Theaters. The questions were details from books that are on a 20-book reading list. The answers had to consist of both the correct title of the book and the author.

“BOB is special because it adds a competitive aspect to reading which some students really enjoy,” said Director of Library Services Darla Magana, who co-coaches BOB at St. Margaret’s with Lower School teachers Rebecca Tufo and Colleen Beshk.

Students in grades 4 and 5 have been reading and preparing for the tournament since last summer, and St. Margaret’s selected its teams based on an in-school competition during Literacy Day last month.

The St. Margaret’s competitors were Fiona Lee, Ciara Robertson, Camryn Fisher, Radley Copps, Reagan Ricker, Heidi Tufo, Cole Roberts, Kaylynn Yang, Rishabh Mallela, Sterling Waterfield, April Wen, Sarah Bendzick, Kate Taylor, Abigail Hancock, Ronin McMahon, Eston Kallins, Samantha Kushner and Giana Policicchio.

St. Margaret’s “The Vanishing BOB” team advanced all the way to the finals and ended up placing second overall. BOB United 2, featuring two St. Margaret’s students, placed third.

Over the last 10 years, more than 250 St. Margaret’s students have been involved in Battle of the Books, and some returned to volunteer at the BOB tournament this week.