PATH Collective · 2026–27 · Grades 5–8
📚 Battle of the Books — Reading Calendar
10 books · 29 reading weeks + review day · begins Friday, Aug 14, 2026 · competition week of May 7, 2027 (exact day announced soon) · led by Deborah Nesheim
🖨️ Print fridge sheet (one page)
Read at home through the year (~98 pages/week on average). Breaks match the PATH calendar. Revised July 22, 2026 — supersedes all earlier versions.
Book 1 The Giver Lois Lowry Dystopian · Gr 6–8 · 240 pp · Aug 14 – Aug 28
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 1 Aug 14 pp 1–80 80/240 Week 2 Aug 21 pp 81–160 160/240 Week 3 Aug 28 pp 161–240 240/240
Book 2 Two Roads Joseph Bruchac Historical (1930s, Native) · Gr 5–8 · 320 pp · Sep 4 – Sep 18
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 4 Sep 4 pp 1–107 107/320 Week 5 Sep 11 pp 108–214 214/320 Week 6 Sep 18 pp 215–320 320/320
Book 3 Brown Girl Dreaming Jacqueline Woodson Memoir in verse (1960s–70s) · Gr 5–8 · 336 pp · Sep 25 – Oct 23
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 7 Sep 25 pp 1–112 112/336 Week 8 Oct 2 pp 113–224 224/336 ⏸ Fall Break · Oct 9 & Oct 16 · no meetings, no reading Week 9 Oct 23 pp 225–336 336/336
Book 4 Finding Langston Lesa Cline-Ransome Historical (1940s) · Gr 4–7 · 112 pp · Oct 30 – Nov 6
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 10 Oct 30 pp 1–56 56/112 Week 11 Nov 6 pp 57–112 112/112
Book 5 The Dreamer Pam Muñoz Ryan Biographical fiction · Gr 4–7 · 384 pp · Nov 13 – Dec 4
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 12 Nov 13 pp 1–128 128/384 Week 13 Nov 20 pp 129–256 256/384 ⏸ Thanksgiving · Nov 27 · no meeting — finish the last chunk over the long weekend Week 14 Dec 4 pp 257–384 384/384
Book 6 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (YR Ed.) William Kamkwamba Nonfiction / memoir · Gr 5–8 · 304 pp · Dec 11 – Jan 8
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 15 Dec 11 pp 1–102 102/304 Week 16 Dec 18 pp 103–203 203/304 ⏸ Winter Break · Dec 25 & Jan 1 · no meetings — the last chunk has two extra weeks Week 17 Jan 8 pp 204–304 304/304
Book 7 A Single Shard Linda Sue Park Historical (12th-c. Korea, Newbery) · Gr 5–8 · 152 pp · Jan 15 – Jan 22
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 18 Jan 15 pp 1–76 76/152 Week 19 Jan 22 pp 77–152 152/152
Book 8 The First State of Being Erin Entrada Kelly Sci-fi / time travel (Newbery) · Gr 5–8 · 272 pp · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 20 Jan 29 pp 1–91 91/272 Week 21 Feb 5 pp 92–182 182/272 Week 22 Feb 12 pp 183–272 272/272
Book 9 Refugee Alan Gratz Historical · Gr 5–8 · 352 pp · Feb 19 – Mar 19 · the big chunk gets spring break to breathe
Week Meeting Read Progress Week 23 Feb 19 pp 1–88 88/352 Week 24 Feb 26 pp 89–176 176/352 ⏸ Spring Break · Mar 5 & Mar 12 · no meetings — three weeks to read the final stretch Week 25 Mar 19 pp 177–352 352/352
Book 10 Radium Girls (Young Readers Ed.) Kate Moore Nonfiction (1920s) · Gr 6–8 · 384 pp · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Week Meeting Read Progress ⏸ Mar 26 · Good Friday — no meeting (pending PATH calendar confirmation; if PATH meets, this becomes a bonus review week) Week 26 Apr 2 pp 1–96 96/384 Week 27 Apr 9 pp 97–192 192/384 Week 28 Apr 16 pp 193–288 288/384 Week 29 Apr 23 pp 289–384 384/384
Week 30 All-Books Review Day with Mrs. Nesheim Friday, April 30 · all ten books, no new reading — quizzes, team strategy, and favorite-moment showdowns
The main event
🏆 Battle of the Books — week of May 7, 2027
All ten books, all year, one battle. Exact day and details announced soon — reading finishes Apr 23, review day Apr 30.
Questions about the reading list → Deborah Nesheim · Calendar revised Jul 22, 2026 (competition moved to the week of May 7; Apr 30 = review day; Nov 27 Thanksgiving meeting removed; Mar 26 pending confirmation)