BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSGarlic is a nervous little garlic bulb who lives in a village of living vegetables and fruits. The villagers work the garden of kind Witch Agnes and sell produce at a weekly market in the forest. Garlic oversleeps, trips over her bag's strap, and spends market day saying sorry, while her friend Carrot teases her, but they believe in her too. She whispers to her sprouts in the garden and says she loves gardening because it is "nice and safe." Then smoke starts rising from the old castle on the hill, which Agnes says has sat empty for about a century. Agnes says whoever is up there might be a vampire, the one her mother said lived there long ago, and she sets up a magic mirror to look inside. Grumpy Celery says people have used garlic against vampires for centuries, and soon the crowd is urging Garlic to be the one to confront the vampire. After a pep talk from Carrot, she says yes. Agnes gives her a stake and mallet made from a hawthorn branch, a sprig of red berries, and a pouch of seeds and grains that Agnes says will make a vampire stop and count every one. Then the raven Solas carries Garlic and an unwilling Celery toward the castle.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Garlic & the Vampire
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 Garlic & the Vampire. 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 sparkling magic lift a market stall into the air and fold it onto a cart?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
As market day ends and the vendors pack up, Witch Agnes raises her hands and lifts a stall's canopy, poles and bench into the air. The pieces land neatly folded on a cart.
- First half
In what book do two eager villagers volunteer to scout a mysterious building, one calling it an honor?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Scallion offers to scope out the castle with Pumpkin, and Pumpkin says, "It would be my honor, ma'am!" Witch Agnes says that is very kind, but there's no need.
- First half
In what book does a friend's scary speech about "shrouding the world in darkness" end with "Or not!"?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Carrot tells Garlic to think of the people in town and warns that the vampire might have minions waiting for his word. Then Carrot backpedals with a nervous laugh, saying no one will know until someone goes up to the castle.
- Second half
In what book does a witch promise to do her best to keep any clouds away?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
As villagers gather to see Garlic off, Witch Agnes says the weather has given her "a nice sunny day." Earlier, Agnes said sunlight makes vampires weak, so Garlic could flee outside if things took a sour turn.
- Second half
In what book does a trembling girl shout "Take heed!" and vow to vanquish her foe?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Inside the castle, Garlic holds up her mallet and stake and announces that she is "the world-famous vampire hunter, Garlic!" She is trembling as she says it, and it is all a bluff.
- Near the end
In what book does a grumpy villager walk home alone through the woods carrying an umbrella?
✓ Answer
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
From the lookout tower, Carrot spots someone coming down the forest path and is puzzled to see Celery walking alone with an umbrella and a bag. Carrot asks, "Hold on, where are Garlic and Solas?"
