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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTwelve-year-old Olive Cobin Zang has always felt invisible at school, overlooked by classmates and often by her parents, who are constantly away on mysterious business trips. When her beloved grandmother Mimi suddenly vanishes from her life and her mother pulls her out of school with little explanation, Olive finds herself shipped off to RASCH, the Reforming Arts School, a former prison turned creative boarding academy perched on a foggy island in San Francisco Bay. Quirky, castle-like, and full of unusually welcoming students, RASCH feels like nothing Olive has ever experienced, but before she can settle in, she learns that the school is in serious financial trouble, a famous jewel thief called the Bling King is targeting a priceless necklace at the upcoming gala fundraiser, and her placement in a mysterious pod called 101 may have something to do with why she was brought here in the first place.
Free Battle of the Books questions for A Royal Conundrum
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about A Royal Conundrum. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a girl find out she is being sent to a former prison turned boarding school?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
Olive's mother announces that Olive will be attending the Reforming Arts School near San Francisco. The former prison sits on a foggy island and has not held prisoners for years, though Olive is not convinced at first.
- First half
In what book do kids call their secret base the "Laundry Room" so no one wants to look inside?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
Iggy suggests the name because no one wants to be dragged to a place with dirty, stinky laundry. The Laundry Room becomes the team's headquarters for lessons and research.
- First half
In what book do dental-retainer-like devices let kids talk to each other by chomping down three times?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
Phil calls her invention the Communication Chomper, or ComChom. Paired with tiny EarBuzzes, the gadgets let the team speak without moving their lips and even let them change their voices.
- Second half
In what book does a character complain that a test was like a pop quiz with battleships and a torpedo?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
James is furious when he finds out the torpedo threat was staged. He argues it was unprofessional to put them in real danger without warning. Iggy surprisingly agrees with him, creating a rare moment of unity between the two.
- Second half
In what book is a party interrupted by smoke pouring out of a mansion's windows?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
While the kids are distracted by the decoy thieves, smoke suddenly pours from the mansion. The real jewel thieves have used smoke bombs as cover to steal the priceless necklace from Dame Gloria during the chaos at the gala.
- Near the end
In what book does a main character sneeze repeatedly while trying to stay hidden at a cat convention?
✓ Answer
A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
Olive, who is allergic to cats, forgets that fact until she is surrounded by hundreds of them at the convention. She sneezes so loudly that people back away from her with their pets, which ruins her attempt to move stealthily through the crowds.
