Battle of the Book Series
This week, the Fergus Falls Public Library commenced its 4th annual Spring Showdown literary tournament. Over the past three years, the community has voted for their favorite Newbery Medal winner, the top books checked out in the Viking Library System, and the most beloved picture book recipient of the Caldecott Medal. This year, our theme is Spring Showdown: Battle of the Book Series. There are four different voting brackets focusing on separate categories and series – Children’s, Children’s Graphic Novels, Young Adult, and Adult. Our goal is to determine the top four favorite series at the Fergus Falls Public Library.
Library staff determined which series to include in the brackets. The ones chosen contain a mix of older and current series, fantasy, thrillers, romance, mystery, and more. How did we decide which series to pair against each other? Was it based on their publishing year? Genre? Number of books in the series? While all valid options, we made the matches based on their rating on Goodreads, the world’s largest online source for book recommendations and reviews. Just like the NCAA March Madness teams are matched up based on their seeds (e.g. #1 vs. #16, #2 vs. #15, etc.), our series matches were made accordingly.
Monday, March 3 is when voting began for this year’s bracket. We started with 64 book series and will narrow the choices down each week until the winning four series are announced on Tuesday, April 1. Voting is available online at bit.ly/springshowdown25 or in person at the Fergus Falls Public Library. Participants can include their contact information to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a free book and a gift card to the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Below are some of the book series match-ups in this year’s Spring Showdown competition.
Children’s Category
“Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling vs. “Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne
Rowling’s seven-book fantasy series follows a young wizard, Harry, as he navigates the challenges of growing up, discovering his destiny, and battling the dark forces threatening the magical and non-magical worlds. Osborne’s series follows siblings Jack and Annie as they travel through time and space on adventurous missions to uncover historical secrets and solve mysteries using a magical treehouse.
“Keeper of the Lost Cities” series by Shannon Messenger vs. “The Boxcar Children” series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Messenger’s (currently 11 book) series follows Sophie Foster, a young girl with extraordinary abilities, as she navigates a hidden world of magic, mystery, and adventure while uncovering secrets about her past and the fate of her world. Warner’s series follows four orphaned siblings who create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar and solve various mysteries while building a life filled with adventure and resourcefulness.
Children’s Graphic Novel Category
“Big Nate” series by Lincoln Pierce vs. “Pizza and Taco” series by Stephen Shaskan
Pierce’s series follows the humorous and energetic adventures of Nate Wright, a confident and rebellious sixth-grader who navigates school, friendships, and his passion for drawing and basketball with plenty of mischief along the way. Shaskan’s series follows the hilarious and quirky adventures of two best friends, Pizza and Taco, as they navigate friendship, misunderstandings, and wacky challenges while learning valuable lessons.
“Narwhal and Jelly” series by Ben Clanton vs. “Cleopatra in Space” series by Mike Maihack
Clanton’s fun series follows the joyful underwater adventures of Narwhal, an enthusiastic and optimistic narwhal, and his cautious but loyal friend Jelly, as they explore friendship, discovery, and the ocean together. Maihack’s series follows the adventurous young Cleopatra, who is transported to the future and must navigate a world of space travel, alien creatures, and ancient prophecies while discovering her destiny as a fierce hero.
Young Adult Category
“Throne of Glass” series by Sarah J. Maas vs. “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer
Maas’s series follows Celaena Sardothien, a skilled assassin, who must navigate political intrigue, dark magic, and a dangerous tournament to uncover the secrets of her past and fight for the fate of her kingdom. Meyer’s familiar series is about the intense and forbidden romance between Bella Swan, a human, and Edward Cullen, a vampire, as they navigate love, danger, and supernatural conflicts in the small town of Forks.
“Alex Rider” series by Anthony Horowitz vs. “Selection” series by Kiera Cass
Horowitz’s series follows Alex Rider, a teenage spy recruited by the British government, as he embarks on thrilling and dangerous missions to thwart global threats while uncovering secrets about his own mysterious past. Cass’s series follows America Singer, a young woman chosen to compete in a televised competition to win the heart of a prince, while navigating love, rivalry, and the complexities of a dystopian society.
Adult Category
“Empyrean” series by Rebecca Yarros vs. “Nantucket” series by Elin Hilderbrand
Yarros’ widely popular series follows a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who enters a prestigious and dangerous military academy to train as a dragon rider, where she faces deadly challenges, fierce competition, and unexpected romance. Hilderbrand’s series is a collection of heartwarming and dramatic novels set on the idyllic island of Nantucket, where complex relationships, secrets, and personal transformations unfold against the backdrop of beautiful coastal landscapes.
“Last Mountain Man” series by William W. Johnstone vs. “Jack Reacher” series by Lee Child
Johnstone’s series follows the life of Preacher, a legendary mountain man and frontier hero, as he navigates the dangerous wilderness of the American West, confronting outlaws, challenges, and personal battles while living by his own code of honor. Child’s series follows the adventures of Jack Reacher, a former military police officer turned drifter, as he travels across the United States, using his combat skills and keen investigative mind to solve crimes and right wrongs.
Join the Fergus Falls Public Library, in collaboration with the Viking Library System, and celebrate the March Madness season by participating in this year’s literary voting bracket! Stay updated on this event by visiting our social media sites and website for weekly updates. Who knows? You may discover a new favorite series to read in 2025.
Krista Kugler is the Children’s Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library