BOOK REVIEW FOLDERS

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BOOK REVIEW FOLDERS

• English 9
• February 2004

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Contents of a Good Book Review Folder

• Personal review
• Descriptive Term
• Rating of the book
• Cliffhanger
• Photos
• Images

• Color copy of the dust jacket or cover
• Review(s) from a good source
• Excerpts from the book
• Quotes

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Where do I find these items?

• Color copy of the dust jacket or cover
• Review(s) from a good source
• Excerpts from the book
• Quotes

• Personal review
• Descriptive Term
• Rating of the book
• Cliffhanger
• Photos
• Images

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Color Copies of the Cover

• Copy actual book cover using library copier (see
  library staff first!)
• Go to amazon.com then print to the color printers
  in either the library or computer room (see
  library staff first!)

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What is a good book review and where will I find
one?

• Professional Reviews
• amazon.com
• bookspot.com/reviews
• www.bookreporter.com
• also called editorial

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   Editorial Reviews Sample from
Amazon.com The hobbit-hole in question belongs to
one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a
"little people, about half our height, and
smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like
most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best
pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe,
a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward
to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last
person one would expect to see set off on a
hazardous journey indeed, when Gandalf the Grey
stops by one morning, "looking for someone to
share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes
the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however soon
13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the
hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and
before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella,
Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a
dangerous adventure.
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Non-editorial reviews - inconsistent!

• Also from Amazon.com
• THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkein
• This book was the best I think. The Lord of the
  Rings were overly descriptive and could have been
  chopped down. But the Hobbit was perfect. It was
  not as long. But it was so fun to read. It didn't
  drag on. The Hobbit was easier to read for me. I
  loved it much more then Lord of the Rings.

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What do I need to write my own book review?

• Introduce the subject, scope and type of book.
• Identify the author, title and genre
• Mention the books theme
• Briefly summarize content.
• Plot, setting, characters
• Be careful not to give away the ending!

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How to write a book review continued

• Provide your reactions to the book.
• Describe the book (was it interesting,
  entertaining, instructive...)
• Do you agree with the authors opinions?
• What issues are raised?
• Relate the book to larger issue.
• Summarize
• Offer advise for other readers.

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Descriptive Term / Rating

• Consider using a single word to describe the
  book.
• Devise a rating system.

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Excerpts and Quotes

• EXCERPT
• When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I
  survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable
  childhood the happy childhood is hardly worth
  your while.
• Angelas Ashes
• by Frank McCourt

• QUOTE
• Its a wonder I havent abandoned all my ideals,
  they seem so absurd and impractical.  Yet I cling
  to them because I still believe, in spite of
  everything, that people are truly good at heart.
    
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

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Cliffhangers

• First lines
• When May died, Ob came back to the trailer, got
  out of his good suit and into his regular
  clothes, then went and sat in the Chevy for the
  rest of the night.

• Missing May
• Cynthia Rylant

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Cliffhangers

• Dear Lord, prayed Mercy Carter, do not let us
  be murdered in our beds tonight.
• Scarlett OHara was not beautiful, but men seldom
  realized it when caught by her charm as the
  Tartleton twins were.
• The first time Father was shot there was no
  warning.

• The Ransom of Mercy Carter
• Caroline B. Cooney
• Gone With the Wind
• Margaret Mitchell
• Coldwater
• Mardi McConnochie

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Photos and Images

• Like dust jackets, these may be copied out of
  your book, or printed from a web site like
  amazon.com.
• Photos and images work well with non-fiction
  titles.

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Additional Considerations

• Quality of information
• Will it capture other readers?
• Why is it representative of the book?
• Impact - visual draw
• Brevity - do not overpower the viewer

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Questions?

• See library staff if you have any questions!