How to Write An A+ Book Report/Review in 6 Easy Steps

Hello dear students and those curious about how to write a book review. Reading books is an enjoyable hobby for many people. However, examining a book you've read and sharing your thoughts about it can also provide a unique sense of accomplishment. In this article, I will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a good book report, so you can learn how to prepare book analysis assignments often given by teachers every year. I will share everything in detail in this piece, and I'll also give you plenty of tips. As a graduate of the English Language and Literature department, I believe I am well-versed in this subject. 

Within the article, I will also provide book review examples that can inspire you while preparing your own review. Now, are you ready to express yourself and share your thoughts about the books you've read in an impressive way?

What is a Book Report?

First of all, a book review or report is a piece of writing that evaluates the content, structural elements, themes, and the author's presentation of a book, providing the reader with an idea about the book. Book reviews are often used as a source to gather other readers' opinions before or after reading a book.

How to do a Book Report?

When making a book report, it is important to consider the fundamental elements of the book; critically evaluating the author's presentation, structure, language usage, atmosphere, and flow. Now, let's prepare a successful book review together in 6 steps:

1- Being Familiar with the Subject and the Content of the Book

Being familiar with the subject of the book is actually the main requirement when conducting an analysis of a book. Without thoroughly understanding what is written in the book, grasping the anecdotes, and comprehending the beautiful phrases within, conducting a review or analysis is impossible. In fact, you will realize that preparing a book review starts while you are reading the book, which will save you some time during the writing step. 

Things to Consider While Reading the Book 

1. Read in Depth
   When reading a book, start by identifying its genre - is it a novel, poetry, or a collection of short stories? Then, pay attention to the emotional growth of the characters, the plot's progression, and the author's writing style. This will help you understand the book better.
2. Take Notes on the Book 
   Mark the parts of the book that impress you. Take notes on quotes, significant events, or your thoughts about the characters, or use colorful sticky notes to create reference points within your book. 
3. Examine Themes and Symbols 
   Understanding the underlying themes of a book enhances the depth of your review. Decode the meanings of symbols in the written work. 

If there are still parts you don't understand even after reading the book, the internet can be of great help. If you search for the name of the book's author in quotation marks along with the book title on Google, you can access all the articles that have previously mentioned the book.

2- Conducting Character Analysis

One of the most important elements in a book is its characters. Characters actually provide many clues about what the book is trying to convey, and you should look for these clues while conducting a review. While the main character, aka the protagonist, is the most significant character in the book, supporting characters also hold great importance because they can influence the main character's mindset and emotions.

Let's take the popular book series "Harry Potter" for example. Firstly, let's think about Harry's personality. He is fun-loving, somewhat reserved due to his past, and quick-thinking in difficult situations, but not particularly successful at school. Then, let's consider the characters of Hermione and Ron and focus on how they impact Harry's life. As mentioned above, supporting characters are an essential part of the main character's development and the progression of the book, so analyzing these characters in our review will be very helpful, as well as observing the antagonist.

Who is the Antagonist?

An antagonist is a character or force in a story, play, or narrative that opposes or creates obstacles for the main protagonist, who is typically the central character or hero. The antagonist's primary role is to create conflict and tension in the plot, challenging the protagonist's goals and motivations. In the Harry Potter series, the antagonist is Lord Voldemort, aka He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

3- Examining the Biography of the Book's Author

Getting to know the author of a book also greatly impacts understanding that book. You should be aware of the year the author lived in, the characteristics of the country and the period they lived in, and the historical, political, and scientific developments of that time. This is essential for a literary critique.

Let's explain with an example: Suppose you are going to review a book by Tolstoy. You should research Lev Tolstoy. You will probably notice that he was born in Russia in 1852. Therefore, you should conduct a brief investigation of life in Russia between the 1850s and 1900s, including its political regime and livelihood resources. This way, you will also understand why the book you read was written.

4- Organizing Everything You've Written Nicely

Now that you have completed all these stages, it's time to put your notes into writing. First, prepare a draft of your writing. Consider what you want to talk about and the general subject of each paragraph.

1. Preparing the Introduction Paragraph
   At the beginning of your review, state the book's title, author, and genre. Make a brief explanation to capture the reader's attention and arouse curiosity. For example: "X book is a science fiction masterpiece written by author Y. Set in an intriguing universe, this novel draws the reader in with its unique characters and compelling storyline."
2. What Should be Included in the Body Paragraph?
   After a general start, the body paragraph should cover a detailed examination of the book. Highlight its strengths and weaknesses through the plot. Discuss elements such as character development examples, language usage, atmosphere, and themes. While expressing your own opinions and comments, use quotes and examples to support them. Keep in mind your target audience for the book review; consider your style of writing accordingly. For instance, if you are preparing a book review for a literary magazine, using more literary language will make your review more appealing. If it's for an assignment, your tone should be suitable for an academic book review.
3. Creating a Striking Conclusion
   In the conclusion, summarize your review and the book, conveying your overall thoughts. Also, it is important to indicate whether the book is recommended to potential readers. A reader of your review should understand whether the book is worth reading or if they should look for another option.

After completing your review, take a break because your mind may be tired, and if you review it immediately after writing, you might miss errors.

5- Correcting Errors and Omissions in the Review

After taking a break, reread and start correcting what you have written. If you are preparing an assignment or a project, ensure that your writing is in an academic tone, avoiding colloquial language. Asking someone at home to read it can help you find mistakes more easily. But the best method is to read it aloud. Read your writing out loud from start to finish, and you will easily notice the parts that don't sound right. You can also use artificial intelligence to check for grammar and spelling errors, but please do not let AI prepare your review because if you are writing an academic review, it will be considered equivalent to plagiarism.

Before moving on to the last step, our 5 Inspiring Books to Read Before High School is Over blog post might interest you as well.

6- Finding a Creative Title

When it comes to writing a book criticism, I suggest waiting to come up with a title until you have finished the entire text. This way, you have a full understanding of the content and can create a title that accurately summarizes it. To generate a title, try extracting keywords from your writing and using them as a starting point for brainstorming.

To illustrate, let's consider the "Harry Potter" book series again. Begin by identifying five keywords that encapsulate the series, such as "magic," "friendship," "adventure," "fantasy," and "mystery." Repeating these words aloud can spark numerous title ideas. For instance, "The Enchanted World of Friendships: A Harry Potter Book Review." This technique can help you generate imaginative titles like this one.

Book Report Examples

Congratulations dear readers, well done! Your book review or analysis has come to an end. While preparing your review, you can also get an idea by reading a book report example prepared by others. Below, there are book analysis examples that I have prepared.

• The Miser by Moliere
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

If you are searching for book report ideas or good books for a book report in general my suggestion would be starting with the World Classics. I might be giving an unpopular opinion but I don't believe all World Classics are exciting. The point of view that you'll prepare your book report with is important when choosing the book. If you are going to write with a Feminist view, writing about Jane Eyre, Pride, and Prejudice, and A Room of One's Own would be very good choices.

If you have any book report questions left, please feel free to ask me by commenting on this post. 

To get info about my future blog posts, you can stay in touch by following @akindawriter on Instagram or Twitter accounts.

You can check out the Turkish version of this post 6 Adımda Harika Bir Kitap İncelemesi Nasıl Yapılır? here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the good format for a book report?
   A good book report format should consist of introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Most academic book reviews are written in Times New Roman font with 12 punto, with 1.5 line spacing.
2. How to write a book report 6^th grade?
   When you are preparing a book report assignment in 6th grade, the number one thing that you should remember is that a book report is not a summary of the book but it includes what you thought about it, how you felt about the characters, the setting, the themes and the messages. Writing an orderly introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs with your opinions about the mentioned things will give you a great A+ book report.
3. How do you start a good book report?
   Starting with a compelling quote from the book, an interesting fact about it, or a thought-provoking question are great ways to start a good book review.
4. How do you end a book report?
   Summarizing your main points, reinforcing your thesis statement, mentioning whether you recommend this book or not and why and making a thought-provoking statement are remarkable strategies to end a successful book report.