Book Reviews
& Book Finding
HINT: If you want to write reviews, you might want to read them too!
Book Review Sites
Read reviews of books to learn about choosing books,
and get great recommendations from expert readers, kids and adults.
Click on a button to visit a book review website.
and get great recommendations from expert readers, kids and adults.
Click on a button to visit a book review website.
Book Finding Sites
How to Write a Book Review
The video below will show you how to write a book review in our Discover catalog.
Remember, this isn’t a book report. If someone wants the summary of a novel, they can read the synopsis. People want book reviews for a fellow reader’s take on the book.
- Provide an introduction/summary: What is the story about? Who are the main characters and what is the main conflict?
- Don’t mention anything that happens beyond the midpoint. Set the stage and give readers a sense of the book.
- Simple: Main character, main conflict, ask a question.
- Present your evaluation: What did you think of the book? What elements worked well, and which ones didn’t?
- Along with presenting how you reacted to the story and how it affected you, you should also try to critique the stronger and weaker elements of the story,
- Give your recommendation/have an opinion: Would you recommend this book to others? If so, what kind of audience will enjoy it?
- Your review needs to answer this question: is this a book you would (or wouldn’t) recommend to other readers? You might wrap up by comparing it to other books in the same genre, or authors with similar style.
OR
Article: How to Write a Book Review
Depending on your writing goal, you will choose some or all of these topics to include in your review.
Some thoughts to keep in mind while writing the review:
Article: How to Write a Book Review
Depending on your writing goal, you will choose some or all of these topics to include in your review.
Some thoughts to keep in mind while writing the review:
- A brief summary of the plot that doesn’t give away too much
- Comments on the book’s strengths and weaknesses
- The reviewer’s personal response to the book with specific examples.
- Does the book fit into a genre, like mystery or romance, and why?
- When and where does the action in the book take place? Does the author do a good job of making you feel like you are there? How?
- Are the main characters believable? Do you know anyone like them?
- What do you like or dislike about the author’s writing style? That is, the way the author uses words?
- Don’t forget to include your opinion of the book, whether you liked or disliked it