This document summarizes the plot of a novel about four sixth-grade students - Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian - who form an academic team called "The Souls" coached by their teacher Mrs. Olinski. The Souls compete in and win the New York State Academic Bowl competition. Each member of The Souls comes from a different background and brings unique strengths to help the team succeed. The novel and team experience help all members grow both academically and personally.

1. Literature Circle Presentation Anna Walker Audreynette Bailey Ditranna Walker

2. Organizational Patterns TWELVE CHAPTERS Nadia Julian Noah Ethan Mrs. Olinski

3. In this novel, four sixth-grade children from Epiphany, New York - Noah Gershom, Nadia Diamondstein, Ethan Potter, and Julian Singh - form a group they call "The Souls." The Academic Bowl is coming up, and their teacher, Mrs. Olinski who is paraplegic, chooses them to represent her class in the competition. They first beat the seventh- and eight-grade teams in their school and eventually become state champions. The Plot

5. Noah Gershom is a 12-year old boy who goes to Epiphany Middle School. Noah has brown hair and glasses. Mrs. Olinski chose Noah first for the Academic team as he is smart, observant, always has a good answer for everything, is good with words, and is a good leader, not afraid to take charge. His dad is a dentist, and Nadia's mom works for him. His mom is a real estate agent. Noah Gershom learns that he isn't always the hero and that it is a team effort that wins the Academic Bowl .

7. Ethan is a lifelong resident of Epiphany, New York. Ethan is the third member of Mrs. Olinski's Academic Bowl team. His grandmother is Margaret Draper, who becomes Margaret Diamondstein when she marries Izzy Diamondstein. Ethan is a quiet boy who feels shadowed by his older brother, Lucas. Lucas is smart and successful in every way, and Ethan feels that he is a disappointment to every teacher he has ever had because he does not measure up to Lucas. Ethan is pleased that his sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Olinski, is new because she will not have known his brother.