Students' Suggested
Spectacular Summer
Reading Reviews
Suggested Summer Reading List
A book review is NOT a book report, nor is it a plot summary.
A book review is an evaluation of a book. It is written by a reader to advise others whether that book is worth reading in the reviewer's opinion.
Book reviews allows the reader to share how they feel about a book or to say how that book has effected the reader.
Mrs. Nowlin's 7th Grade Language Arts Class read reviews about various books and then they wrote their own. These are some of the reviews they wrote.
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To read some reviews online.
Children's Literature (http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/journals.html)- list of review sites
AADL: World of Reading (http://www.worldreading.org/)- kid written reviews
MCPL: Read a Kid's Review (http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/cgi-bin/kidsreview)
Kidsreads.com (http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/index.asp)
The Reading Corner (http://ccpl.carr.lib.md.us/read/index.htm)
How to write a review? Here are some suggestions on writing a review.
After reading the book, write down several points you liked or disliked about the book. When you begin writing the review, a rule of thumb is that the first half or two thirds of the review is a description of the book and the author's main points, and the rest is an evaluation of the book.
Try addressing some (not all) of these key elements and these questions in your review.
First Paragraph
Include the title and author of the book in the first
paragraphy of your review.
Indicate the main theme and the genre of the book.
Reach out to the reader using a quote from the book or an
attention grabber.
Plot
Does the book tell a good story?
Is the plot forced, believable, memorable, or developed?
Was it hard to concentrate on the story? Did your mind wander a
lot while reading?
Setting
Where and when does the story take place?
Does the setting help make the story exciting?
Does the setting play an important role for the characters or to
the reader's understanding of the story?
Theme
What is the theme, problem or conflict?
What did the book teach you or show you something about?
Did the author accomplish what they set out to do?
Characterization
Did the characters connect with the reader and
with each other?
Do the characters develop throughout the story or stay the same?
Can you identify with one of the characters?
Style
Were there surprises in the story that kept the reader
interested?
Did the chapters end with cliffhangers?
Is the dialogue natural and believable for the characters?
Other Suggestions
Suggest who you think would enjoy reading this book and what age
group.
Include whether you like the book or not, but also WHY!
Use short quotes from the book to explain why you liked or
disliked the book.
Try to compare the book to another book that is similar or by the
same author.
Find out some information about the author and include it in the
review.
Interested in writing a review.... here are some places where you can.
AADL World of Reading (http://www.worldreading.org/writereview.php)
MCPL Kid's Review (http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/cgi-bin/bookreview)
Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)
Literatureplace.com: Students' Book Reviews (http://www.literatureplace.com/students/reviews.asp)
Read, Write, Now: How to Write a Book Review (http://sunlite.bamaed.ua.edu/ReadWriteNow/howtowrite.htm)
Last Updated: 06/02/04
Kristina McGlaun, Librarian
Jackson Creek Middle School
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