Written for new and established book reviewers: ive been reviewing novels for about a year. note: lots of people are coming to this page wanting to know how to write a book review for kids, so i wrote another article especially for kids and their parents. nb there is a downloadable template at the bottom of this page but if you are new to reviewing, please do read the article first! writing book reviews can be an easy way for new writers to get some clips, or can be passion in itself. Either way, for the beginning reviewer, the task is much easier when a book review template is used. This organizes the review and keeps the thoughts and words of the writer on track. A template can be used for both fiction and non fiction books in any subject area.

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The steps involved in writing the review are not complex, so even a new writer should be able to follow them to provide a critical perspective on a written work. it is not a summary of the book but a commentary on it. through a book review, the writer creates dialogue with the author of the work and the audience reading the review. When writers create a book review, they may provide both positive and negative comment, pointing out where the work exemplifies and falls short in terms of organization, judgment, and knowledge. Within the book review, the writer should clearly express an opinion of the work. The organization of this statement should follow basic academic writing by including a thesis statement that describes the purpose of the review, a body featuring supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. In fact, most are quite succinct, rarely exceeding 800 1,0, with shorter reviews running from 250 450 words.

All have several features in common, including a summary of book content without giving away the end, if it is a work of fiction , critical assessment of this content, and a suggestion regarding whether the audience will appreciate the work. according to anne edwards, writing in the slippery art of book reviewing , whether short or long, the favorite formula seems to be an interesting lead/hook, a brief summary, and an evaluation. nb the slippery art of book reviewing is now available as a kindle book for only $2.99, though i dont know how long this will last. Instead, begin by looking at the cover illustration, summary on the jacket, and subject category chosen by the publisher. Review the physical aspects of the book to identify whether the work is designed for a collector. 2 open the book, flip through it, and look at how the content is arranged.

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Identify how many pages and chapters it has, determine how large the paragraphs are, and quickly identify how much dialogue is included in the content. 3       develop an outline for note taking that includes questions to answer within the review. For example, if the book is a classic work, the review should explain what makes it so. Use the review to support or deny claims from the book introduction or summary such as whether the work really does represent the thoughts of a generation which it is representing. 4       read the book, paying attention to not only the words but also the experience of reading. Write down what captured the most attention, what characters were most likeable and why, and at what points the book seemed to drag.

5       after a complete read, go back and review the book, taking notes based on the outline developed. Describe what took place in each chapter and what effect it had on you as the reader. Identifying what captured attention and maintained it from one part of the book to another is important because it sets the framework for the remainder of the review.

Explain the effect of the book, how it was achieved by the author, and the role each character played in the work. Then, focus on relationships like those between the content and form and between the characters. Not all of this will end up in your final book review, but it will help you in the process of writing it.

6       summarize the book in a clear but concise manner, but do not give away the ending, or other spoliers! this is the easy part and it serves as the basis for the review. Many reviewers stop after this step, not realizing that only half of their work is done. 7       now comes the difficult part: forming opinions about the work and capturing them in writing. Determine whether the book was good or bad and use your written notes to support this view.

By explaining why certain aspects of the work were good or bad, your opinion becomes more persuasive. Put it in context in terms of subject categories like fiction and non fiction and break these down into science fiction, romance, nature, fantasy, or another sub category. Relate the book to others that fall into the same classification, using this to explain the book as well as your opinion of it. In addition, provide some background on the author, including how many other books the person has written. 9       tie everything together by restating the review thesis and providing a final judgment of the book.

New supporting ideas should only be introduced if they extend the logic of the thesis and go beyond the content of the book to provide food for thought. 10    read the review and make sure it explains each primary aspect of the book. Identify the target audience for the review and ensure that the content is appropriate. For example, if those reading the review are new to this type of book, some additional background may need to be provided. Add and remove details as necessary, re read to make sure the review is on target, and proofread several times. Some writers feel uncomfortable preparing a book review because they have never written a book.

Though writers need not be a nobel prize winning author or an expert in the particular subject, they must position themselves as knowledgeable for the audience reading the review. On the other hand, if you are asked to review a book in an area you are not familiar with, you always have the option of saying no. If you choose to go ahead, you should make it clear at the outset that you are reviewing from the point of view of an outsider to the topic those in the know will quickly see your inexperience if you try to do anything else.