book reviews for grade 11

How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide

WHAT IS A BOOK REVIEW?

Traditionally, book reviews are evaluations of a recently published book in any genre. Usually, around the 500 to 700-word mark, they briefly describe a text’s main elements while appraising the work’s strengths and weaknesses. Published book reviews can appear in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. They provide the reader with an overview of the book itself and indicate whether or not the reviewer would recommend the book to the reader.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BOOK REVIEW?

There was a time when book reviews were a regular appearance in every quality newspaper and many periodicals. They were essential elements in whether or not a book would sell well. A review from a heavyweight critic could often be the deciding factor in whether a book became a bestseller or a damp squib. In the last few decades, however, the book review’s influence has waned considerably, with many potential book buyers preferring to consult customer reviews on Amazon, or sites like Goodreads, before buying. As a result, book review’s appearance in newspapers, journals, and digital media has become less frequent.

WHY BOTHER TEACHING STUDENTS TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS AT ALL?

Even in the heyday of the book review’s influence, few students who learned the craft of writing a book review became literary critics! The real value of crafting a well-written book review for a student does not lie in their ability to impact book sales. Understanding how to produce a well-written book review helps students to:

●     Engage critically with a text

●     Critically evaluate a text

●     Respond personally to a range of different writing genres

●     Improve their own reading, writing, and thinking skills.

Not to Be Confused with a Book Report!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BOOK REVIEW AND A BOOK REPORT?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear differences in both the purpose and the format of the two genres. Generally speaking, book reports aim to give a more detailed outline of what occurs in a book. A book report on a work of fiction will tend to give a comprehensive account of the characters, major plot lines, and themes in the book. Book reports are usually written around the K-12 age range, while book reviews tend not to be undertaken by those at the younger end of this age range due to the need for the higher-level critical skills required in writing them. At their highest expression, book reviews are written at the college level and by professional critics.

Learn how to write a book review step by step with our complete guide for students and teachers by familiarizing yourself with the structure and features.

BOOK REVIEW STRUCTURE

ANALYZE Evaluate the book with a critical mind.

THOROUGHNESS The whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Review the book as a WHOLE.

COMPARE Where appropriate compare to similar texts and genres.

THUMBS UP OR DOWN? You are going to have to inevitably recommend or reject this book to potential readers.

BE CONSISTENT Take a stance and stick with it throughout your review.

FEATURES OF A BOOK REVIEW

PAST TENSE You are writing about a book you have already read.

EMOTIVE LANGUAGE Whatever your stance or opinion be passionate about it. Your audience will thank you for it.

VOICE Both active and passive voice are used in recounts.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF TEXTS

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ELEMENTS OF A BOOK REVIEW

As with any of the writing genres we teach our students, a book review can be helpfully explained in terms of criteria. While there is much to the ‘art’ of writing, there is also, thankfully, a lot of the nuts and bolts that can be listed too. Have students consider the following elements before writing:

●     Title: Often, the title of the book review will correspond to the title of the text itself, but there may also be some examination of the title’s relevance. How does it fit into the purpose of the work as a whole? Does it convey a message or reveal larger themes explored within the work?

●     Author: Within the book review, there may be some discussion of who the author is and what they have written before, especially if it relates to the current work being reviewed. There may be some mention of the author’s style and what they are best known for. If the author has received any awards or prizes, this may also be mentioned within the body of the review.

●     Genre: A book review will identify the genre that the book belongs to, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, romance, science-fiction, history etc. The genre will likely tie in, too with who the intended audience for the book is and what the overall purpose of the work is.

●     Book Jacket / Cover: Often, a book’s cover will contain artwork that is worthy of comment. It may contain interesting details related to the text that contribute to, or detract from, the work as a whole.

●     Structure: The book’s structure will often be heavily informed by its genre. Have students examine how the book is organized before writing their review. Does it contain a preface from a guest editor, for example? Is it written in sections or chapters? Does it have a table of contents, index, glossary etc.? While all these details may not make it into the review itself, looking at how the book is structured may reveal some interesting aspects.

●     Publisher and Price: A book review will usually contain details of who publishes the book and its cost. A review will often provide details of where the book is available too.

BOOK REVIEW KEY ELEMENTS

As students read and engage with the work they will review, they will develop a sense of the shape their review will take. This will begin with the summary. Encourage students to take notes during the reading of the work that will help them in writing the summary that will form an essential part of their review. Aspects of the book they may wish to take notes on in a work of fiction may include:

●     Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their motivations? Are they convincingly drawn? Or are they empathetic characters?

●     Themes: What are the main themes of the work? Are there recurring motifs in the work? Is the exploration of the themes deep or surface only?

●     Style: What are the key aspects of the writer’s style? How does it fit into the wider literary world?

●     Plot: What is the story’s main catalyst? What happens in the rising action? What are the story’s subplots? 

A book review will generally begin with a short summary of the work itself. However, it is important not to give too much away, remind students – no spoilers, please! For nonfiction works, this may be a summary of the main arguments of the work, again, without giving too much detail away. In a work of fiction, a book review will often summarise up to the rising action of the piece without going beyond to reveal too much!

The summary should also provide some orientation for the reader. Given the nature of the purpose of a review, it is important that students’ consider their intended audience in the writing of their review. Readers will most likely not have read the book in question and will require some orientation. This is often achieved through introductions to the main characters, themes, primary arguments etc. This will help the reader to gauge whether or not the book is of interest to them.

Once your student has summarized the work, it is time to ‘review’ in earnest. At this point, the student should begin to detail their own opinion of the book. To do this well they should:

i. Make It Personal

Often when teaching essay writing we will talk to our students about the importance of climbing up and down the ladder of abstraction. Just as it is helpful to explore large, more abstract concepts in an essay by bringing it down to Earth, in a book review, it is important that students can relate the characters, themes, ideas etc to their own lives.

Book reviews are meant to be subjective. They are opinion pieces, and opinions grow out of our experiences of life. Encourage students to link the work they are writing about to their own personal life within the body of the review. By making this personal connection to the work, students contextualize their opinions for the readers and help them to understand whether the book will be of interest to them or not in the process.

ii. Make It Universal

Just as it is important to climb down the ladder of abstraction to show how the work relates to individual life, it is important to climb upwards on the ladder too. Students should endeavor to show how the ideas explored in the book relate to the wider world. The may be in the form of the universality of the underlying themes in a work of fiction or, for example, the international implications for arguments expressed in a work of nonfiction.

iii. Support Opinions with Evidence

A book review is a subjective piece of writing by its very nature. However, just because it is subjective does not mean that opinions do not need to be justified. Make sure students understand how to back up their opinions with various forms of evidence, for example, quotations, statistics, and the use of primary and secondary sources.

EDIT AND REVISE YOUR BOOK REVIEW

As with any writing genre, encourage students to polish things up with review and revision at the end. Encourage them to proofread and check for accurate spelling throughout, with particular attention to the author’s name, character names, publisher etc. 

It is good practice too for students to double-check their use of evidence. Are statements supported? Are the statistics used correctly? Are the quotations from the text accurate? Mistakes such as these uncorrected can do great damage to the value of a book review as they can undermine the reader’s confidence in the writer’s judgement.

The discipline of writing book reviews offers students opportunities to develop their writing skills and exercise their critical faculties. Book reviews can be valuable standalone activities or serve as a part of a series of activities engaging with a central text. They can also serve as an effective springboard into later discussion work based on the ideas and issues explored in a particular book. Though the book review does not hold the sway it once did in the mind’s of the reading public, it still serves as an effective teaching tool in our classrooms today.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BOOK REVIEW GRAPHIC ORGANIZER (TEMPLATE)

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Book and Movie review writing examples (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of book reviews.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to both read the movie or book review in detail but also the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the key elements of writing a text review

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of book review writing.

We would recommend reading the example either a year above and below, as well as the grade you are currently working with to gain a broader appreciation of this text type .

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100 Best 11th Grade Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best 11th grade books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Things They Carried

Tim O'Brien | 5.00

Karl Marlantes But when O’Brien wrote The Things They Carried he came down to absolute real brass tacks. It was no longer surreal, it was like here’s a list of what a grunt carries, an infantry soldier… (Source)

Caroline Paul A beautiful book by a writer who fought in Vietnam. (Source)

Eugene Gu @realDonaldTrump Tim O’Brien is the author of the book The Things They Carried, which was about the Vietnam War. Must be very triggering for Trump since he dodged the draft multiple times with fraudulent doctors’ notes for fake bone spurs like a coward. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

The Great Gatsby

Francis Scott Fitzgerald | 4.93

Barack Obama When he got to high school, the president said, his tastes changed and he learned to enjoy classics like “Of Mice and Men” and “The Great Gatsby.” (Source)

Bill Gates Melinda and I really like [this book]. When we were first dating, she had a green light that she would turn on when her office was empty and it made sense for me to come over. (Source)

Marvin Liao For Non-Business, I'd have to say Dune (Herbert), Emergency (Strauss), The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) or Flint (L'Amour). I re-read these books every year because they are just so well written & great stories that I get new perspective & details every time I read them. (Source)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain | 4.80

Walter Isaacson Read [this book]. (Source)

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Michael Voss I enjoy nearly everything Mark Twain ever wrote, but my favorite is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel showcases Twain at the top of his game in terms of acerbic wit, sharp societal observations and the use of regional dialects - for which he initially garnered great criticism, before the passage of time enabled critics to understand and acknowledge its authenticity. (Source)

George Orwell | 4.78

Steve Jobs called this book "one of his favorite" and recommended it to the hires. The book also inspired one the greatest TV ad (made by Jobs) (Source)

D J Taylor In terms of how technology is working in our modern surveillance powers, it’s a terrifyingly prophetic book in some of its implications for 21st-century human life. Orwell would deny that it was prophecy; he said it was a warning. But in fact, distinguished Orwell scholar Professor Peter Davis once made a list of all the things that Orwell got right, and it was a couple of fairly long paragraphs,... (Source)

The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.73

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

James Altucher Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? And so on. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar The books that I've talked the most about with friends and colleagues over the years are the Malcolm Gladwell series of novels. Glorious stories that mix science, behaviours and insight. You can't go wrong with the "The Tipping Point", "Outliers", "Blink" or "David & Goliath". (Source)

In Cold Blood

Truman Capote | 4.68

Lynda La Plante One of the reasons I like this true crime novelisation is down to the fact it was so out of character for Capote and took everyone by surprise. It is also an excellent, almost biographical, insight into the two young killers’ minds. (Source)

Ben Shapiro Truman Capote's best book. It's a really, really good book. (Source)

R J Ellory I think in all honesty it is one of the finest books ever written. It took him six years to finish it because he had to wait for the court case and the final verdict which was the two perpetrators being executed. (Source)

Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison | 4.66

Barack Obama As a devoted reader, the president has been linked to a lengthy list of novels and poetry collections over the years — he admits he enjoys a thriller. (Source)

Jacqueline Novogratz I read it as a 22-year-old, and it made me think deeply about how society doesn’t “see” so many of its members. (Source)

Dan Barreiro Riveting time capsule material. Literary giant Ellison on the blues, on race, on his powerful book, Invisible Man. https://t.co/iS6xQ7ojE8 (Source)

The Catcher in the Rye

J. D. Salinger | 4.61

Bill Gates One of my favorite books ever. (Source)

Woody Allen It was such a relief from the other books I was reading at the time, which all had a quality of homework to them. (Source)

Chigozie Obioma He sees everybody as phony because they take life too seriously. (Source)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith | 4.60

Stephen Dubner I read it over and over in part because I felt it was describing to me what my parents’ life was like when they were kids. (Source)

Tracy Chevalier It’s about an Irish-American family living in Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20th century. (Source)

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee, Sissy Spacek, et al | 4.59

Eric Berkowitz The case is about racism, but it’s also about white sexual fear of the black man, and the failed effort of white America to stop intermixing. I think the notion of the scary black man still permeates the American justice system today. I don’t think To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever, but it is a very good window into the ingrained sexual fear that permeated at... (Source)

Scott Turow It’s dated in many ways; it’s extremely sentimental. But it’s beautifully done – you can’t take a thing away from it. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Really liking this one so far. I’m sure a lot of people here probably read it in high school or whatever, but it wasn’t on the Danish curriculum, so here I am! (Source)

Don't have time to read the top 11th Grade books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass | 4.54

Bianca Belair For #BlackHistoryMonth  I will be sharing some of my favorite books by Black Authors 6th Book: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass By: Frederick Douglass The 1st of many autobiographies that he wrote, and another classic you will find on almost every must-read A.A list. https://t.co/v5PgGpoqxQ (Source)

The Crucible

Arthur Miller, Christopher W. E. Bigsby | 4.52

Claire Fox This is the Salem witch hunt in the context of the McCarthy era. The reason I chose it is because I feel that we ourselves, in the contemporary period, are in danger of having our own heresy-calling and witch hunts. It is very popular to say this book proves what it is like when hysterical religions name people as witches, and how intolerant religion is. But I think we can see it in a much more... (Source)

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins | 4.51

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Robert Muchamore A brutal, exciting, action-based sci-fi novel. Hugely popular and excellent fun. (Source)

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Thomas E. Connolly, Nina Baym | 4.47

Carol Gilligan The Scarlet Letter is a tragic love story, but it’s also a story about resistance and transformation. (Source)

Toni Morrison | 4.46

Esi Edugyan I was shocked by the blunt force of its subject matter and its exquisitely torqued prose. It remains one of my most adored novels. (Source)

Bianca Belair @ylc130 I went to the library when I was in the 3rd grade and read Beloved... I remember being so confused and my Mama having to explain it to me... I later read it as an adult and it hit me completely different. GREAT BOOK! (Source)

Farah Jasmine Griffin Beloved was Morrison’s fifth novel. It’s a gripping story, inspired by a famous abolitionist case, the true story of a woman who runs away from slavery with her children, but when the slave catchers catch up with her, she kills one of her own and tries to kill the others, rather than returning them to slavery. (Source)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky | 4.45

Richard Speight Jr. A pal for 30 years, @StephenChbosky ‘s first book #ThePerksofBeingaWallflower had a MASSIVE impact on me & countless others. Then came his great movies. Now..THE NEXT BOOK! Be like me & buy it THE DAY it comes out. (Then harass him until he agrees to put me in the movie! 🎥 🤠) https://t.co/02bMKPgF9A (Source)

Jamie Grayson Holy shit there’s no way this book is that old because that really ages me but I COMPLETELY agree. This book is a masterpiece and a must-read. Lessons about being human are in there and those are important right now. https://t.co/fF1spEFrUH (Source)

Rae Earl It is a tremendously powerful study of PTSD, a mental health issue that isn’t talked about enough (Source)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot | 4.44

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family — past and present — is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Carl Zimmer Yes. This is a fascinating book on so many different levels. It is really compelling as the story of the author trying to uncover the history of the woman from whom all these cells came. (Source)

A.J. Jacobs Great writer. (Source)

Einstein's Dreams

Alan Lightman | 4.44

Walter Isaacson This is a work of fiction that weaves in the whimsy of Einstein’s days as a patent clerk in Switzerland and the types of dreams he may have had. They are little fables that come from his dreams. (Source)

Eric Weinstein [Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Frankenstein

Mary Shelle | 4.43

Michael Arrington Shelley wrote this book as a teenager, and most of us read it in high school. Often credited as the first science fiction novel. You can read just about any political viewpoint you want into the book, and there are strong undertones that technology isn’t all good. But what I get out of it is the creativeness that can come with solitude, and how new technology can be misunderstood, even perhaps by... (Source)

Adam Roberts Brian Aldiss has famously argued that science fiction starts with Mary Shelley’s novel, and many people have agreed with him. (Source)

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley | 4.43

Yuval Noah Harari The most prophetic book of the 20th century. Today many people would easily mistake it for a utopia. (Source)

Ellen Wayland-Smith It is a hilarious, and also very prescient, parody of utopias. Huxley goes back to the idea that coming together and forming a community of common interests is a great idea – it’s the basis of civil society. At the same time, when communities of common interests are taken to utopian degrees the self starts to dissolve into the larger community, you lose privacy and interiority; that becomes... (Source)

John Quiggin The lesson I draw from this is that the purpose of utopia is not so much as an achieved state, as to give people the freedom to pursue their own projects. That freedom requires that people are free of the fear of unemployment, or of financial disaster through poor healthcare. They should be free to have access to the kind of resources they need for their education and we should maintain and... (Source)

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott | 4.43

Elizabeth Tsurkov @Maysaloon great book! (Source)

Jonathan Evison This is the great American novel for me—the humanity, the landscapes, the progressive and political and social ethos of the novel, not to mention the amazing characters. Steinbeck is the American Dickens, at least in terms of social consciousness. (Source)

John Kerry While there is a story that takes place between characters, the hardship and unfairness is a central element of the book. It shows how fiction can create progressive change as well. (Source)

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green | 4.39

Elon Musk Must admit to liking [this book]. Sad, romantic and beautifully named. (Source)

James Comey @johngreen You should not be. It is a great book. Was recently in Amsterdam and walked some of the scenes with your huge fan, my youngest daughter. Loved hearing from you and meeting you at Kenyon. (Source)

Lord of the Flies

out of 5 stars5,34 | 4.39

Scott Belsky [Scott Belsky recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Chigozie Obioma William Golding imbues some of these children with wisdom that would read, in the hands of a lesser author, as implausibly knowing (Source)

Disco Donnie @JoshRHernandez1 I love the book “Lord of the Flies” so just started watching The Society (Source)

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini and Simon & Schuster Audi | 4.38

James Altucher Excellent novel. (Source)

Vanessa Keng I've always loved fiction - mainly crime and legal thrillers, but there's something wonderful about reading a completely different style of writing from what I'm used to. I found myself absorbed in the narrative of guilt and love in The Kite Runner, and The Curious Incident told me a story from a completely different perspective. (Source)

Magda Marcu I’m currently reading “The Kite Runner”. I never have expectations from books, I let them surprise me as I get into the story. Learning about characteristics of different cultures, in this case the Afghan one, it’s one aspect I am interested in. (Source)

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls | 4.35

Slaughterhouse-Five

Kurt Vonnegut and Kevin Power | 4.35

Carlos Eire Even though he is no philosopher Vonnegut is still able to ask the questions that all of us think about – how time affects our lives. (Source)

Dan Christensen @MetaHumean Love that book. (Source)

Bernard Tan I’m also a Murakami and Vonnegut fan, Kafka on the Shore, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Slaughterhouse-Five, etc. Now that I look at the books listed, they seem to carry an existential theme. I guess I like to understand humanity and human behaviour ultimately to better understand myself. I find reading a means to connect with people who may have lived before my time, or in a... (Source)

Animal Farm

George Orwell and Christopher Hitchens | 4.33

Whitney Cummings [Whitney Cummings recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Vlad Tenev When I was in sixth grade I remember being very upset by the ending of [this book]. (Source)

Sol Orwell Question: What books had the biggest impact on you? Perhaps changed the way you see things or dramatically changed your career path. Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 (though Huxley's Brave New World is a better reflection of today's society). (Source)

East of Eden

John Steinbec | 4.33

Oprah Winfrey It's the perfect summer read...a novel so rich and full of drama you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough! (Source)

John Lilly @ben_mathes @kevinakwok @samhinkie @aweissman Amazing book. Ive always liked it better than Grapes of Wrath. (Source)

Steve Benjamins My favorite non-business book is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I think all of John Steinbeck’s books are uplifting. He sees the best in humanity and it leaves me feeling warm and generous. (Source)

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

Laura Hillenbrand | 4.33

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit . Telling an unforgettable story of a man's journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he'd been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston | 4.33

Farah Jasmine Griffin Hurston gives us one of the first true love stories in African American writing. (Source)

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Suzanne Collins | 4.33

Kathryn Stockett | 4.32

Twin Mummy And Daddy I love a good book and The Help is exactly that! In fact it’s an amazing book! Read my review over on the blog today! https://t.co/efaf9aRGOK #TheHelp #KathrynStockett #bookreview #bookblogger #mummybloggers #daddybloggers #pbloggers #mbloggers @UKpbloggers @UKBloggers1 #books (Source)

William Shakespeare | 4.31

Ryan Holiday Philosophy runs through this play–all sorts of great lines. There are gems like “..for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” which I used in my last book and “Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but, being in, bear it, that the opposed may beware of thee.” was a favorite of Sherman. (Source)

Tim Lott I love the speech when Hamlet’s uncle Claudius admits to being inflicted with the primal eldest curse for killing his brother, and begs on his knees for forgiveness for this ultimate violation of the law of nature. (Source)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

J. K. Rowling | 4.30

Joe Lycett guys i just read this book called harry potter well worth checking out it’s about a really interesting magic lad (Source)

Crime and Punishment

A Russian Realistic Novel

Fyodor Dostoyevsky | 4.30

Esther Perel You can reread the Russians. They are timeless. (Source)

Irvine Welsh It is not a crime book in the way that we understand crime fiction today. Instead it is like an existential psychological thriller. (Source)

Ben Domenech @SohrabAhmari @li88yinc @jgcrum @BlueBoxDave @InezFeltscher @JarrettStepman Maybe the best book ever written. (Source)

Charlotte Brontë, Michael Mason | 4.29

Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard.

But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?

John Sutherland There is an interesting debate … that the real heroine of Jane Eyre is not the plain little governess but the mad woman in the attic, Bertha Mason (Source)

Tracy Chevalier The idea of marriage is that two people are going to become one, but here you know—because of the mad woman in the attic—that it’s one thing about to be split in two. (Source)

Audrey Penn My next one is Jane Eyre. She was orphaned and sent to a very rich aunt, who had her own very selfish children. Jane Eyre was not the perfect child and she was sent to live in a girls’ school. She made one friend, but unfortunately the little girl died, so she had to toughen up. She grew up there and learned everything she needed to know about teaching. She was a very good artist, she played a... (Source)

The Last Lecture

Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow, et al | 4.29

Gabriel Coarna I read "The Last Lecture" because I had seen Randy Pausch give this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo (Source)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Ken Kesey, John C. Reilly, et al | 4.28

Chuck Palahniuk | 4.28

Ryan Holiday I’m amazed how many young people haven’t read this book. Truly life-changing. This is the classic of my generation; it is the book that defines our age and ultimately, how to find meaning in it. It’s a cautionary tale too—about being too caught up in revolutionary ideas. (Source)

Van Badham SUPER EXCITED to receive my copy of “Solved! How Other Countries Have Cracked the World’s Biggest Problems and We Can, Too” by Andrew Wear. SO GREAT to read a political book that’s about both pragmatic action *and* hope. Squee! #auspol https://t.co/jIYgr36kZO (Source)

The Martian

Andy Weir | 4.27

Craig Barrett This book didn’t really change my mind, but rather reinforced the concept of the power of the individual. At a time when we depend more and more on big institutions to solve our business and social problems the real solutions are crafted by individual actions and initiative. This is true in the business world, where ideas from individual researchers or entrepreneurs can create mega companies... (Source)

Dan Christensen @EconTalker @cable_co1 The Martian... hey it can’t all be economics and it’s a great book (Source)

Patrick Chovanec @acgleva The book was great. (Source)

J. R. R. Tolkien | 4.27

Cressida Cowell The Hobbit is such a richly imagined fantasy that, especially as a child, you can live in it. It is so completely immersive. (Source)

Lev Grossman First up, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by JRR Tolkien. But you knew I was going to say that. This one book, which was published in 1937, defined so many variables for the fantasy tradition that are still in place today. Tolkien’s extraordinary achievement was to recover the epic landscapes of Anglo-Saxon myth, bring them back to life, and then to take us through them on foot, so we could... (Source)

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Auste | 4.26

Meg Rosoff It’s a coming-of-age story, because she throws aside her prejudices but also sees the house and realises that she could be quite comfortable and maybe realises how important that is. (Source)

A Story of Justice and Redemption

1, 160 | 4.26

Chris Sacca Proud that @crystale and I could help fund the making of a film about one of our heroes, Bryan Stevenson. If you’ve read the book, then you know how powerful this film is. #JustMercy https://t.co/vNfXK4Imwr (Source)

Howard Schultz Perhaps one of the most powerful and important stories of our time. (Source)

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak | 4.25

Lydia Ruffles The (Source)

The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway | 4.24

Jack Dorsey I keep coming back to it. I love the straightforwardness, the tightness, and the poetry. I think it shows a common struggle that is repeated over and over in so many narratives both fictional and nonfictional. (Source)

Jordan B Peterson The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway https://t.co/7dJE4Pfn56, a book from my great books list https://t.co/AxBNX3QpMb (Source)

May Witwit I taught this book to my students in Iraq during the economic sanctions. And I feel like it gave me some kind of strength to continue. (Source)

Elie Wiesel, Marion Wiesel | 4.24

Johanna Reiss Elie Wiesel wrote..that he was considering running into the barbed wire once, but he didn’t because his father needed him. (Source)

Steven Katz Probably the best known memoir that has been written about the experience of the death camps. (Source)

John Hersey | 4.23

Alex Blumberg I had always been interested in this kind of [...] long form narrative nonfiction. (Source)

The Other Wes Moore

One Name, Two Fates

Wes Moore | 4.20

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath, Maggie Gyllenhaal, et al | 4.20

Bryony Gordon As a teenage girl, you have to read The Bell Jar. It’s a rite of passage. (Source)

The CEO Library Community (through anonymous form) One of the best 3 books I've read in 2019 (Source)

Tim Kendall Despite its subject matter, The Bell Jar is often a very funny novel. Perhaps we miss it because the pall of Plath’s biography descends across the whole work and reputation. But The Bell Jar is viciously funny. There are people still alive today who won’t talk about it because they were so badly hurt by Plath’s portrayal of them. (Source)

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster | 4.20

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may...

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood | 4.20

Grady Booch I read this several years ago but — much like Orwell’s 1984 — it seems particularly relevant given our current political morass. (Source)

Cliff Bleszinski @HandmaidsOnHulu Done. Love the show, book is a classic, can't wait for season 2. (Source)

Jason Kottke @procload Not super necessary, since you've seen the TV show. This first book is still a great read though...different than the show (tone-wise more than plot-wise). (Source)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

J.K. Rowling | 4.19

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré | 4.19

William Shakespeare, Dr. Barbara A. Mowat, Paul Werstine Ph.D. | 4.18

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck | 4.18

Steve Benjamins I think all of John Steinbeck’s books are uplifting. He sees the best in humanity and it leaves me feeling warm and generous. I always love this paragraph in Of Mice and Men that hints at the tension between business and humanity: "It has always seemed strange to me that the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honestly, understanding, and feeling are the concomitants of... (Source)

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Suzanne Collins | 4.18

The Color Purple

Alice Walker | 4.18

A Different Mirror

A History of Multicultural America

Ronald Takaki | 4.17

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale

My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1)

Art Spiegelman | 4.17

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury | 4.16

Timothy Ferriss This classic work on state censorship remains as relevant in today’s world of digital delights as it was when published in the black-and-white world of 1953. In a futuristic American city, firefighter Guy Montag does not put out blazes; instead, he extinguishes knowledge and promotes ignorance by conducting state decreed book burnings. After an elderly woman chooses a fiery death with her books... (Source)

Ryan Holiday I’m not sure what compelled me to pick Fahrenheit 451 back up but I’m so glad I did because I was able to see the book in a very different context. Bradbury’s message (made explicit in his 50th Anniversary Afterword) is much less a warning against government control and much more about a road to hell paved by people attempting to rid the world of offensive speech and conflicting ideas. In a world... (Source)

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card | 4.16

Mark Zuckerberg Oh, it’s not a favorite book or anything like that, I just added it because I liked it. I don’t think there’s any real significance to the fact that it’s listed there and other books aren’t. (Source)

Timothy Ferriss At one point, this was the only book listed on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page. If it’s good enough to be the sole selection of the founder of Facebook, maybe there’s something to it. The plot: In anticipation of another attack from a hostile alien race, the search for a brilliant military strategist has led to Ender Wiggin. In space combat school, Ender stands out, demonstrating exceptional... (Source)

Travis Kalanick About a kid who is trained by the military to play video games [...] But he realizes at the end that the video games he was playing were an actual war. (Source)

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde | 4.15

Eric Berkowitz The Picture of Dorian Gray is now a part of the canon that no one would admit to not having read. Most of us have read it and delighted in its witticisms. It’s hard to imagine, but when Dorian Gray was first published, the book was not well received at all. It was totally panned. It was held against him as being an example of an effete character. It was being serialised by Lippincott’s Magazine,... (Source)

Marc Montagne My favorite fiction book is the The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I'm a huge Oscar Wilde fan, he has one of the brightest minds and the Picture is a masterpiece and his unique novel. I consider that you should only read books that you would consider reading again at some point while still enjoying the same pleasure. The Picture is definitely one of those. (Source)

Andra Zaharia A copy from 1903 of this book is my most prized possession. (Source)

The Stranger

Albert Camus, Jonathan Davis, et al | 4.15

David Heinemeier Hansson Seminal novel on existentialism and the absurd by Albert Camus from 1946. Explores that feeling of disconnectedness from society, its norms, and the absurdity of every day life. Striking first-person account in a powerful, direct language. (Source)

Kyle Maynard [Kyle Maynard said this is one of his most-recommended books.] (Source)

Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer | 4.15

Holger Seim When it comes to adventure stories, Into the Wild. (Source)

The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett | 4.15

Jim Lee @thecameroncuffe @skydart Lovely pic! And a great show! (And book 👍🏼) (Source)

Veronica Belmont @stephenmalovski Not necessary but the book is great! (Source)

Zoe Keating @TheTwoHeadedBoy @GoodOmensPrime @neilhimself I love the book so much. Re-read it in preparation. (Source)

The Lively Art of Writing

Lucile Vaughan Payne | 4.14

Laurie Halse Anderson | 4.12

The Joy Luck Club

Amy Tan | 4.12

Armistead Maupin The novel is structured around the four corners of the mahjong table. The device makes clear the distance between the old world of China and the new world that these women inhabit in San Francisco. The novel focuses on the memories and secrets that these women carry about their mothers and their daughters. It shows modern Chinese-Americans dealing with cultural differences across generations.... (Source)

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas | 4.12

Bianca Belair For #BlackHistoryMonth  I will be sharing some of my favorite books by Black Authors 7th Book: The Hate U Give By: Angie Thomas @angiecthomas The movie was really great, but it just hits different when you read the book! https://t.co/rxMH5Uu6JN (Source)

Vladimir Nabokov | 4.11

Richard Cohen It’s more imbued with references to the sun and using the sun as symbol or metaphor – almost a kind of character in the novel – than any other work in literature. (Source)

Bryan Callen So here are my three must read books. I've been reading a lot of great books like: Outsmart Your Instincts, The Culture Code, and Antonio Damasio’s The Strange Order, and sometimes when you read a lot of nonfiction it’s very enriching, sometimes you need a novel. I really believe you should take a minute and read something beautiful. Listen, listen to Lolita by Nabokov. But also listen to Blood... (Source)

Steven Amsterdam What’s spectacular for me is the triumph of the humour over his loathsomeness. (Source)

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)

Sarah J. Maa | 4.10

The Outsiders

S. E. Hinton | 4.10

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

An Easy-To-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes

Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, et al. | 4.10

Mark Nichol This book is good for beginners, but I also find it helpful for people who might consider themselves experts. It’s very clean, and it’s in a workbook format with many exercises in it. You read a short, simple lesson about adjectives and adverbs, or about when you use ‘that’ or ‘which’ in a sentence, and then you can practise with the exercises. (Source)

A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams | 4.09

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Veronica Roth | 4.09

Memoirs of a Geisha

Arthur Golden | 4.07

Alice Little The author uses language that is very, very rich and colorful. [...] You can really immerse yourself into that world and kind of get a sense of what things were like, at that time. (Source)

The Elements of Style

William Jr. Strunk | 4.07

Tobi Lütke [My] most frequently gifted book is [this book] because I like good writing. (Source)

Bill Nye This is my guide. I accept that I’ll never write anything as good as the introductory essay by [the author]. It’s brilliant. (Source)

Jennifer Rock If you are interested in writing and communication, start with reading and understanding the technical aspects of the craft: The Elements of Style. On Writing Well. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. (Source)

Bram Stoker | 4.07

Becky Cloonan @Noise_Raptor Oh, thank you so much! This book was such a delight, and such a challenge! Dracula is one of my favorites- funny enough I'd jump at the chance to do this again XD (Source)

Douglas Starr When you read the physical description of Count Dracula, he does not resemble the handsome vampires we see on television; rather, he looks like a thug. He has one continuous eyebrow across his forehead, thick hands, pointy teeth and pointy ears. (Source)

Andrei Codrescu Vampirism is a growth industry. Dracula is bigger than Jesus now. (Source)

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)

Sarah J. Maas | 4.06

Joseph Heller, Christopher Buckley | 4.05

Mark Bittman I used to buy [this book] for a lot of people because I just thought if you hadn’t read it, you had to but maybe that era is over. (Source)

William Boyd The most wonderful novel ever written, because of its absurdist sense of humour and the way it looked at war. (Source)

The One (The Selection, #3)

Kiera Cass | 4.05

A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry | 4.04

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

Cassandra Clare | 4.04

My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult | 4.03

The Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold | 4.03

Alice Sebold's haunting and heartbreaking debut novel, The Lovely Bones , unfolds from heaven, where "life is a perpetual yesterday" and where Susie narrates and keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case. As Sebold fashions it,...

Alice Sebold's haunting and heartbreaking debut novel, The Lovely Bones , unfolds from heaven, where "life is a perpetual yesterday" and where Susie narrates and keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case. As Sebold fashions it, everyone has his or her own version of heaven. Susie's resembles the athletic fields and landscape of a suburban high school: a heaven of her "simplest dreams," where "there were no teachers.... We never had to go inside except for art class.... The boys did not pinch our backsides or tell us we smelled; our textbooks were Seventeen and Glamour and Vogue ."

The Lovely Bones works as an odd yet affecting coming-of-age story. Susie struggles to accept her death while still clinging to the lost world of the living, following her family's dramas over the years like an episode of My So-Called Afterlife . Her family disintegrates in their grief: her father becomes determined to find her killer, her mother withdraws, her little brother Buckley attempts to make sense of the new hole in his family, and her younger sister Lindsey moves through the milestone events of her teenage and young adult years with Susie riding spiritual shotgun. Random acts and missed opportunities run throughout the book--Susie recalls her sole kiss with a boy on Earth as "like an accident--a beautiful gasoline rainbow." Though sentimental at times, The Lovely Bones is a moving exploration of loss and mourning that ultimately puts its faith in the living and that is made even more powerful by a cast of convincing characters. Sebold orchestrates a big finish, and though things tend to wrap up a little too well for everyone in the end, one can only imagine (or hope) that heaven is indeed a place filled with such happy endings. --Brad Thomas Parsons

The Giver (The Giver, #1)

Lois Lowry | 4.03

Looking for Alaska

John Green | 4.03

Angel Dei My favorite John Green book 😭😭 https://t.co/Aqkvmuu9Q5 (Source)

Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller | 4.03

Tim Lott Death of a Salesman is more about the relationship between fathers and sons than brothers, but the motif of maimed brother relationships runs in all directions. (Source)

American Gods (American Gods, #1)

Neil Gaiman | 4.03

Ricky Whittle Nobody can break my family.I’m proud to be apart of this diverse cast & crew who are working their butts off to deliver a fantastic season 3 continuing to tell Shadows story and the awesome characters he meets along the way as in @neilhimself incredible book #readit #details🤔 https://t.co/PahPC9j3HB (Source)

Scott Johnson American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This is a brilliant thought experiment about what happens to a god when its believers stop believing. My preferred edition is the 10th Anniversary release with expanded text. (Source)

Marko Rakar Basically, first of all, I am a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy books and I grew up with Douglas Adams and Arthur C Clarke. For me, this is the best of Gaiman’s books and I’ve got all of them. It’s set in the present time and talks about settlers who have settled a continent and have brought their gods with them. So, if you are Swedish and you cherish Nordic gods and move to the US, the... (Source)

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens, Margaret Cardwell, Kate Flint | 4.02

Marvin Liao My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... (Source)

Robert Douglas-Fairhurst What the rest of Great Expectations shows is that having Christmas lasting all the way through your life might not be a good thing. Having a Santa Claus figure who keeps throwing gifts and money at you when they’re not necessarily wanted or deserved might be a handicap. (Source)

Rainbow Rowell | 4.02

Ashley C. Ford @ALNL I love this book (Source)

Laura Wood A powerful and moving story about identical twins trying to find their individual identities outside of their own powerful relationship. (Source)

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens | 4.01

Amelia Boone Remains one my favorites to this day. (Source)

Antonio Villaraigosa As mayor of a large metropolis, the living conditions of our residents are always present in my mind. Every decision I make, I try to evaluate if it will help improve the quality of life of every Angeleno. But Dickens really dissects both the aristocrats and the revolutionaries, to show that change is never easy. As progressives, we value government’s role and power to improve our cities and... (Source)

May Witwit I started a paper about the historical reality in this book. And as I studied it more deeply I got depressed because the things that were happening were similar to Iraq. How the mob could be turned against people by devious minds. They just killed people without even knowing them. The people who were killed were probably very good people, you never know. You just can’t kill haphazardly, heads... (Source)

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake | 4.01

Tilly Burn because you believe Roald Dahl and trust him and because you know he tells a good story, you immediately accept that he’s telling you to root for Charlie Bucket. And you’re like, Yeah, sure. Here we go! (Source)

Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison, Reynolds Price | 4.01

Barack Obama According to the president’s Facebook page and a 2008 interview with the New York Times, these titles are among his most influential forever favorites: Moby Dick, Herman Melville Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson Song Of Solomon, Toni Morrison Parting The Waters, Taylor Branch Gilead, Marylinne Robinson Best and the Brightest, David Halberstam The Federalist, Alexander Hamilton Souls of Black... (Source)

Bozoma Saint John I love [this book]. Her writing style is incredibly poetic and complex. (Source)

Jesse Williams The characters’ dilemmas just rocked my world in high school. (Source)

A Farewell to Arms

The Hemingway Library Edition

Ernest Hemingway, Seán Hemingway, Patrick Hemingway | 4.00

Jordan B Peterson A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway https://t.co/dwAYVoKl3K, a book from my great books list https://t.co/AxBNX3QpMb (Source)

Julia Enthoven For non-business, I’ve loved so many different books that it’s hard to pick a favorite. Recently, I’ve enjoyed The Art of Fielding and Americanah, and I love classics like A Farewell to Arms and Lord of the Flies. (Source)

Jordan Peterson [Jordan Peterson recommended this book on his website.] (Source)

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3)

Sarah J. Maas | 4.00

Black Like Me

John Howard Griffin and Robert Bopnzaai | 4.00

Twilight (Twilight, #1)

Stephenie Meyer | 4.00

Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy, #1)

Chinua Achebe | 4.00

Barack Obama As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Jacqueline Novogratz The first book I read by an African author. Achebe is unflinching in his portrayal of the challenges of change, the relationships of colonialism, and power/powerlessness. (Source)

Sam Kiley I think what’s so fantastic about it is that it’s sort of portentous, if that’s the right word, in that it captures that moment between the end of colonisation and independence, and the inevitable crushing of Africa’s dreams. I can’t remember exactly when it was written, but it was very early on in the process. It sounds really pessimistic – I mean, it’s a beautifully written book, but it’s the... (Source)

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison | 4.00

21 Crucial Books For 11th Graders To Navigate Change

Elise Moser

Elise works with kids and teens at a public library, where her speciality is finding awesome book recommendations for customers. She has a degree in journalism and is a certified early childhood educator. When she’s not reading, Elise enjoys watching baseball, running, board games, and playing the flute. She lives in the St. Louis area with her partner Allen and their three cats.

View All posts by Elise Moser

Recommending the best books for 11th graders requires a mix of serious and heartwarming. Junior year is a hugely important academic year for high school students. For college-bound students, it’s a year of standardized testing, college visits, and AP classes. It’s also a year of personal growth. High school juniors mature significantly from 16 to 17.

With these pressures and changes in mind, this list includes stories of teens dealing with life transitions and figuring out what to do after high school. There are stories of navigating friendships and romantic relationships through personal change. The best books for 11th graders challenge them with new information while also calming their fears.

Here are some of the best books for 11th graders:

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

The third book in the To All the Boys series is perfect for juniors because it focuses on Lara Jean’s college decision. Lara Jean has to decide if she and Peter will stay together after high school, even if it means they’re apart.

Educated by Tara Westover

Juniors will learn a lot from Westover’s harrowing memoir and her pursuit of education despite her abusive family life. 11th graders are developing their own opinions about current issues, which mirror’s Westover’s own experience leaving her family home to attend college.

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In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero

At age 14, actress Diane Guerrero arrived home from school to an empty house. Her parents had been detained by immigration authorities. Diane, a U.S.-born citizen, stayed in the United States after her parents were deported to Colombia. 11th graders will learn a lot from her adversity and strength.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

This is a sweeping love story about two teens who meet by chance. Natasha is trying to keep her family from being deported to Jamaica. Daniel is a hopeless romantic afraid to tell his Korean parents about his true dreams. As they spend a day together, Yoon makes readers wonder if everything happens for a reason.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

This is an important read for 11th graders. In a small, hockey-obsessed town, one of the players is accused of sexual assault. The reactions of his peers and the adults in the town play out over the course of the novel. Readers will examine rape culture and how it affects us all.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Defying your parents’ expectations can be difficult. In American Panda, 17-year-old Mei starts college a year early, just like her parents always wanted. But her true dream is to dance, not become a doctor as her parents expect. 11th graders will connect with Mei as they start to make their own choices about the future.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This is a devastating story that highlights the injustice in the American criminal justice system. It’s a great read for 11th graders because it’s set at a reform school for teen boys. It will start conversations about racism and criminal justice reform.

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

We’ve seen tons of teens lead the fight against global climate change. For those who aren’t as well-informed about climate change, Dry is a perfect read. It imagines a near-future where Southern California has run out of water. Panic ensues and a small group of kids ends up together, all trying to survive. The novel is fast-paced, exciting, and terrifying. It’s a commentary about climate change as well as human behavior.

I, Claudia by Mary McCoy

Don’t sleep on this book: it was a Printz Honor Book and, despite the unfortunate cover art, is a compelling high school political drama. This book is for anyone who loves political and interpersonal drama. It’s narrated by Claudia, a novice historian. She recounts her rise to power in her high school’s prestigious student government. Despite seeing the abuses of her predecessors, Claudia can’t help but fall victim to the corruption of power.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

This is a surprising young adult contemporary novel about Parker Grant, a junior who is blind and dealing with her father’s recent death. It’s a fascinating portrayal of life as a blind high schooler. It’s also a great example of the importance of developing, setting, and enforcing boundaries with others, an important lesson for 11th graders.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

In this book, a group of misfits bands together to avenge the rape of a classmate. It’s an examination of a number of feminist ideas: rape culture, slut-shaming, sexuality, and gender roles. Readers will feel vindicated and inspired by the three main characters.

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

As America continues to deal with an opioid crisis, Mindy McGinnis’s novel about a high school student who becomes addicted to opiates is as relevant as ever. Mickey is a star softball player entering her senior year when she’s injured in a car accident. What begins as pain management quickly spirals out of control as Mickey becomes dependent on opiates. It’s a harrowing account of how a seemingly average girl with a supportive family can fall victim to drug addiction.

Jackpot by Nic Stone

The premise of this novel will keep juniors turning the pages. Rico is working at the local gas station on Christmas Eve when she sells two lottery tickets to a little old lady. Soon, Rico comes to believe the woman is holding a ticket worth $106 million. She enlists the help of a wealthy classmate, Zan, to hunt down the woman and help her cash in the ticket. Beyond the exciting main plot line, Nic Stone creates an amazing romantic story between Zan and Rico. The book also looks at class differences in the United States.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Juniors are on the cusp of adulthood, and with that comes the right to vote. It’s important for 11th graders to be knowledgable about current events. “Stamped” lays out the history of racist ideas in America, how it affects teens today, and how we can reach an antiracist future.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

This novel is perfect for teens struggling with mental illness. It’s a perfect portrayal of how anxiety and depression affect teens in their everyday lives. It’s also a great example of queer representation, including bisexuality and demisexuality.

Birthday by Meredith Russo

Morgan and Eric are forever connected. Both were born on the same day and in Birthday we meet the characters each year on their birthday. As the years go by, they grow and change: Morgan is deciding to live as her true self and Eric is trying to figure out how he fits into the world. This is an important exploration of sexual and gender identity.

Slay by Brittney Morris

17-year-old Kiera, a successful student, has a secret: she’s the developer of an extremely popular online role-playing game. The game celebrates Black culture. But after a teen is murdered over an in-game dispute, Kiera must work to defend her online world while maintaining her anonymity.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

Sisters Onyii and Ify are living in 2172, when much of the world is unlivable due to climate change and nuclear war. In their home country of Nigeria, a war rages on. The girls want to escape the unrest for a peaceful future, but they may have to fight in order to escape.

How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

In this memoir, Sandra recounts her childhood growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After surviving a horrific massacre in a refugee camp, Sandra immigrates to the United States. But just coming to the U.S. doesn’t magically make life easy. Sandra tells of her struggles as a refugee starting middle school in America.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A 15-year-old boy contemplates vengeance on one long elevator ride from his apartment down to the street. He’s got a gun in his waistband and he’s ready to use it to bring justice for his brother’s murder. But each time the elevator stops, he learns new information about his brother’s death, making him question what really happened.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This fantasy novel is based on ancient Rome. It follows Laia, an enslaved girl, as she embarks on a mission to save her brother after he is arrested for treason. She soon meets Elias, an unwilling soldier, and they find their lives are intertwined.

Want more great recommendations for high schoolers? Check out the best books for 9th graders and 21 must-read books for 12th graders by authors of color.

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So What Do You Think? Writing a Review

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Teenagers are often outspoken and opinionated. Writing reviews of the literature they read gives them a chance to express their ideas while developing style and voice. This lesson uses discussion of student opinions about yesterday's lunch or a popular TV show serves as an introduction to the genre of reviews. Students then read and analyze conflicting reviews. After examining samples of movie, music, restaurant, and book reviews, students devise guidelines for writing interesting and informative reviews. They then produce their own reviews of the literature they're reading in class. Finally, students compare their ideas and their pieces with published reviews of the same piece of literature. Though this lesson is illustrated with examples from student and professional reviews of Raymond Carver's writing, the techniques can be used with whatever literature students are reading.

Featured Resources

Components of a Review : This handout gives an overview of what is normally included in a critical review.

Review Guidelines : Students can use these guidelines when writing their own critical reviews.

From Theory to Practice

While it's important for students to learn to read and evaluate critical commentary, "Each reader has a right-and even a responsibility-to form his or her own opinions, based on that reader's reading and understanding of a piece of literature, and to be able to support those opinions with solid reasons" (97).

When students express ideas on an author's work that are also noted by critics, "it presents a perfect opportunity to introduce critical commentary naturally into class discussion in order to promote a deeper understanding of the literature" (100).

Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
• 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 9. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

• Sample reviews of various types (movie, music, restaurant, book, etc.), both print and online
• Specific reviews of the literature students are reading
• Components of a Review
• Creating Classroom Discussion about Reviews
• Student Example of a Book Review
• Review Guidelines
• Writing a Review Checklist
• Student Reflection Sheet

Preparation

• two conflicting reviews of a current movie, television show, or CD with which students are likely familiar.
• reviews specific to the writer(s) who students are reading. The Stauffer Library Reference and  Book Reviews in the Yahoo! Directory may be helpful in finding those reviews.
• Make appropriate number of copies of handouts.
• Test the ReadWriteThink Pinting Press on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tool and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

Student Objectives

Students will

• read a variety of different kinds of reviews.
• determine the qualities and characteristics of an effective review.
• use critical thinking skills to formulate their own opinions about a writer's work.
• apply their knowledge to write their own reviews.
• compare their ideas and their work to that of professional reviewers.

Session One

• In this first class session, work to generate interest in writing a review-and to convince students that they do have strong and valid opinions.
• If lunch was "gross," what made it so?
• If the show was "really funny," why did it make them laugh?
• Ask students why they go to certain movies, buy specific CDs, or choose to eat in particular restaurants. Encourage them to explore where they get their "recommendations" from.
• Invite students to share both positive and negative experiences they have had as a result of listening to someone else's opinion.
• Lead the discussion to a point where students begin to see that word-of-mouth recommendations and published reviews essentially serve the same purpose: to comment on and evaluate a work or an event.
• Share two conflicting reviews with students.
• the kind of information included in both reviews.
• the specific points the reviewers agree and disagree about.
• any differences in focus between the reviews.
• which review is more entertaining—and why.
• which review is more convincing—and why.
• Ask students to list various kinds of reviews and to suggest where they can find these reviews (newspapers, magazines, journals, and online).
• For homework, ask each student bring one to three reviews to class.

Session Two

• In this second session, focus on helping students determine the qualities and characteristics of a good review.
• the name of what is being reviewed
• a clear statement of the reviewer's opinion (i.e., a thesis)
• specific examples that support the reviewer's opinion
• a particular tone (use of humor, sarcasm, authority, etc.).
• book reviews may include quotations from the work.
• restaurant reviews may discuss atmosphere.
• both music and literary reviews may trace developments in the writer/musician's history.
• Each small group should choose one review to read to the class along with their own short oral analysis.
• As a conclusion to the activity, the class as a whole should compile a list on the board or on chart paper of qualities that contribute to a good review. If desired, share the Components of a Review handout, which reviews the parts of a review.
• The teacher should collect all reviews students brought in for homework for use in future sessions.

Session Three

• In this third session, work to get students to focus on the particular attributes of a book review in preparation for writing their own reviews of the literature they're reading.
• Ideally, the teacher should have a selection of book reviews from those collected from students the previous day. In case students have not brought in book reviews, the teacher should have such reviews available. These reviews should be carefully chosen so that their content is accessible to students. It's best if some reviews focus on works students may have read while others are of work unfamiliar to students.)
• In small groups of three or four, have students examine a book review and break it down into its components to determine how the introduction, the body, and the conclusion allow the writer to make his/her points.
• Next, students should examine the particular style of their group's review and determine how the writer achieves a unique voice. Each group should try to determine the tone of their review (i.e., pompous and authoritative, humorous, enthusiastic, analytical, etc.) by noting such things as word choice, sentence structure, and use of detail. If students have collected reviews written by the same reviewer, these "elusive" qualities may be easier to spot.
• Invite a class discussion about how a review combines the informative aspects of straight journalism with the "pizzazz" of personal narrative.
• Where did your review appear?
• What do you know about this publication?
• Who do you think the audience for this publication would be?
• What would a reader who had read the book take from the review?
• What would a reader unfamiliar with the book take from the review?
• By the end of the session, ask students to compile a class list of broad, basic guidelines for writing a review. Example guidelines are also available.
• Invite students to begin writing the first draft of a review based on the particular piece(s) of literature the class is studying.
• If students are reading one book, that one work would be the focus of the review.
• If students are reading more than one work (i.e., a number of short stories, poems, or essays) by an author, the review can cover any or all of this material.
• Ask students to design a rating system to include with the written review. The system can be as traditional as 1-5 stars or something more creative.

NOTE: Older students tend to get the style and tone of a review quite quickly, while younger students often produce something more like a book report in the early drafts. Writing instruction should be geared to the ability of each class.

• Use the Writing a Review Checklist as a guide to help students draft and edit their reviews.

Session Four

• In this fourth session, introduce critical commentary into class discussion.
• When the students have completed their reviews, invite them to publish their reviews using one of the options on the ReadWriteThink Printing Press . Print them when they are complete.
• With their final drafts complete, have students read professionally written reviews on the same text and compare their ideas as well as their writing to these reviews. Depending on the accessibility of these reviews, you can collect all published material or students can be assigned this task. (It's for this reason that this aspect of the assignment works best if the writers reviewed are contemporary.)
• When comparing their reviews with the published pieces, students should find points that are raised in both. This process demystifies critical commentary and allows students to feel comfortable discussing the work of reviewers. For example, one of my students writes of his appreciation of Carver's "deadpan humor."
• Teachers can use such excerpts to generate lively classroom discussion. If desired, use the this suggestion for creating a classroom discussion.
• After all students have reacted to each excerpt, invite the class to break into pairs or small groups, with each group responsible for sifting through the material on one of the papers.
• Finally, have students present conclusions based on their peers' responses to the critical commentary.
• a classroom bulletin board displaying reviews, accompanied by artwork and photographs of the authors.
• a class compilation of reviews. Students can use the ReadWriteThink Printing Press to compile their reviews in a reader-friendly format.
• a class publication with all reviews collected in a booklet, brochure, or binder and saved for future classes who will be studying the same author. This collection can be added to over the years to create an "historical perspective" on a particular works/authors.
• submissions to print and online publications that seek reviews. (Note: Teen Ink seeks student written reviews on all topics.)
• writing an individual response to a review to then share with the class.
• revising and rewriting their own original reviews to address points raised by the professional reviewer.
• working with a partner and each taking a side in response to a review, with one student proving the reviewer is "right" and the other proving him/her "wrong."
• When students are comparing different types of reviews, invite them to use the Venn Diagram interactive.

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Grade the review as a complete writing assignment.
• As students write and revise their reviews, guide their work with the Review Checklist , a worksheet that outlines the vital features of a good review and asks students to verify that their final review includes these specific features. This checklist can be used by the teacher in evaluating the review.
• Students can assess their own work and learning by completing a Reflection Sheet that is handed in with the review. As with all reflection sheets, the form should include 4–5 questions that make writers really think about their pieces and the process that led to their creation.
• Publish student reviews using one of the options listed above to provide further feedback and assessment for students.
• Calendar Activities
• Professional Library
• Student Interactives
• Lesson Plans

The interactive Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers.

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Home / Activities & Resources / Books / 120 11th Grade Reading Books For Students Aged 16-17 For Intellectual Growth

120 11th Grade Reading Books For Students Aged 16-17 For Intellectual Growth

This post will explore a curated list of engaging and thought-provoking books tailored specifically for 11th-grade students aged 16-17. Our selection includes a diverse range of genres and themes, allowing young readers to expand their horizons, enhance critical thinking skills, and foster a love for reading. We’ve got you covered with recommendations to challenge and captivate high school juniors on their literary journey.

Welcome to an enriching world of literature crafted for 11th-grade students aged 16-17. Our curated collection is more than just books; it’s a gateway to diverse experiences, ideas, and cultures.

Each narrative has been meticulously chosen to resonate with young adults, encouraging them to question, reflect, and grow. These stories, ranging from historical fiction to modern-day dilemmas, are not only about understanding the world but also about understanding oneself.

They are tools for critical thinking, empathy, and intellectual engagement.

As educators and guardians of knowledge, we understand the transformative power of reading . It’s not just about acquiring information; it’s about igniting a passion for lifelong learning. Our selection aims to do just that.

We invite students to dive into these pages, find their voice, and join a larger conversation about the world and their place in it. Welcome to a year of discovery and inspiration.

Did you know Did you know that the human brain can generate about 23 watts of power when awake, enough to power a small light bulb? This energy supports the complex thought, memory, and consciousness processes that define our human experience.

What Are The Key Themes And Ideas That 16-17-Year-Old Students Can Explore Through Reading?

16-17-year-old students can explore a range of key themes and ideas through reading that are crucial for their personal development and understanding of the world

• Identity and Self-Discovery: At this age, students often explore who they are and their place in the world. Books can offer diverse perspectives and experiences, helping them shape their identity and understand others.
• Independence and Responsibility: As they near adulthood, themes of independence , personal responsibility, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood are particularly resonant.
• Social Issues and Justice: Reading can expose students to various social, political, and cultural issues, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Themes might include inequality, human rights, and environmental concerns.
• Love and Relationships: Understanding emotional intelligence, the complexity of relationships, and the nature of love is vital at this age, and literature can provide insight into these nuanced topics.
• Ethical and Moral Dilemmas: Books that present characters in complex situations can help teens explore their values and the consequences of choices, developing their moral compass.
• Mental Health: Exploring themes of mental health through literature can provide comfort and understanding for those who might be struggling and empathy for those who are not.
• Future Aspirations and Dreams: Stories of success, failure, ambition, and resilience can inspire students to think about their future and what they hope to achieve.
• Historical Context and Perspective: Understanding history through the lens of personal narratives can make it more relatable and provide a deeper understanding of how the past shapes the present and future.
• Science and Technology: As the world advances, reading about science, technology, and its ethical implications can be crucial for students to understand and navigate the modern world.
• Cultural Awareness: Books can act as windows into different cultures, promoting understanding, respect, and a global perspective.

Why Is It Important To Include Diverse Voices And Contemporary Themes In An 11th-Grade Reading List?

Including diverse voices and contemporary themes in an 11th-grade reading list is crucial for several reasons

• Reflects the Real World: Our global society is inherently diverse. Reading lists that reflect this diversity prepare students for the real world, helping them understand and engage with people from various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
• Promotes Empathy and Understanding: Exposure to different perspectives fosters empathy and understanding. It helps students appreciate the richness of human experience and see the world through others’ eyes, reducing stereotypes and prejudices.
• Encourages Critical Thinking: Contemporary themes and diverse perspectives challenge students to think critically about the world. They learn to analyze, question, and form their own opinions about complex issues, which is a vital skill for their future academic and personal lives.
• Engagement and Relevance: Students are more engaged when they read about characters and situations they can relate to or reflect current societal issues. This relevance can spark a deeper interest in reading and learning .
• Inspires Positive Change: Understanding diverse perspectives can inspire students to become empathetic leaders and advocates for positive change. It encourages them to consider how they might contribute to a more just and inclusive society.
• Cultural Competency: As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, cultural competency is more important than ever. Diverse reading lists help students navigate and succeed in diverse environments.
• Personal Identity and Development: For students from underrepresented groups, seeing their experiences reflected in literature can be affirming and empowering. For others, it can broaden their understanding and dismantle misconceptions.
• Innovation and Creativity: Exposure to various thoughts and ideas can inspire creativity and innovation. Diverse perspectives can lead to new ways of thinking and problem-solving.

120 Different Genre Books For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17

Dive into a world of diverse genres with our curated selection of books for 11th-grade students aged 16-17. Each genre offers a unique journey, from the intricate plots of mystery novels to the imaginative realms of science fiction.

These books are carefully chosen to challenge, inspire, and broaden the horizons of young adults , encouraging them to explore various perspectives, cultures, and ideas.

Whether it’s the emotional depth of a classic novel or the thrilling pace of a modern thriller, there’s a story for every curious mind.

20 Classic Literature Books For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17 

1. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee: Explores themes of racial injustice and moral growth in the American South through the eyes of a young girl.

2. “1984” by George Orwell: A dystopian novel that delves into the dangers of totalitarianism and extreme political ideology.

3. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Captures the glamour and despair of the Roaring Twenties, highlighting the elusive nature of the American Dream.

4. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: A witty exploration of manners, marriage, and social status in 19th-century England.

5. “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding: Follows a group of boys stranded on an island, examining the breakdown of civilization and the rise of savagery.

6. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger: Chronicles the experiences of a disillusioned teenager, exploring themes of alienation and the loss of innocence.

7. “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley: A cornerstone of science fiction and gothic literature, questioning the ethics of scientific advancement.

8. “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë: A tale of passion and revenge set on the Yorkshire moors, exploring the destructive nature of love.

9. “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley: Presents a futuristic society where happiness is mandated and individuality is suppressed.

10. “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë: Follows an orphan’s journey to find love and independence , addressing themes of class, gender, and religion.

11. “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville: An epic tale of obsession and revenge, exploring the depths of human ambition and the sea.

12. “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Explores the consequences of sin and the complexities of moral judgment in Puritan society.

13. “Animal Farm” by George Orwell: A satirical allegory about the rise of Stalinism, highlighting the corrupting nature of power.

14. “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck: Chronicles the struggles of a family during the Great Depression, highlighting themes of injustice and resilience.

15. “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky: A psychological exploration of guilt and redemption following a man who believes he’s above the law.

16. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain: Follows the adventures of a young boy and a runaway slave, critiquing the moral values of society.

17. “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare: A tragic play about the Prince of Denmark, delving into madness, revenge, and the human psyche.

18. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde: Examines the superficial nature of society and the consequences of living a life of hedonism and vanity.

19. “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad: Explores the darkness of imperialism and human nature through a journey into the African Congo.

20. “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens: Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this novel explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and destiny.

Fun Fact Did you know that octopuses have three hearts? Two pump blood to the gills, while the third sends it to the rest of the body. Remarkably, when an octopus swims, the heart that delivers blood to the body stops beating!

20 Contemporary Fiction Books For 11th-Grade Students Aged 16-17 

21. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas: Follows a teen girl navigating life after witnessing the police shooting of her friend, exploring race and activism in modern America.

22. “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell: A tale of two misfit teens finding love and understanding in each other amidst chaotic family lives.

23. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky: Chronicles the life of an introverted teen through letters, dealing with themes of adolescence, trauma, and friendship.

24. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green: A poignant love story between two teens who meet in a cancer support group, exploring life, death, and love with humor and sensitivity.

25. “Looking for Alaska” by John Green: Follows a boy’s journey at a boarding school, his friendships, and the enigmatic girl he’s drawn to, all leading to an unexpected tragedy.

26. “An Ember in the Ashes” by Sabaa Tahir: A gripping fantasy set in a brutal, Rome-like world where a slave and a soldier find their destinies intertwined.

27. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak: Set in Nazi Germany, a young girl finds solace by stealing books and sharing them, narrated by Death itself.

28. “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher: A haunting story of a girl who leaves behind thirteen tapes explaining the reasons for her suicide, impacting those she leaves behind.

29. “All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven: Chronicles the relationship between two troubled teens who find solace and understanding in each other.

30. “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sánchez: Deals with the pressures of growing up in a Mexican family in America and the struggle to meet parental expectations.

31. “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz: A coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and identity between two Mexican-American boys.

32. “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart: A suspenseful, twisty tale of a wealthy, seemingly perfect family and the dark secrets that change everything one summer.

33. “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus: A gripping mystery where five students walk into detention, but only four walk out, and everyone is a suspect.

34. “The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon: A romantic and timely story of a Jamaican girl and a Korean boy whose paths cross in New York City on an eventful day.

35. “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli: A funny, heartfelt story about a boy coming out and falling in love, all while being blackmailed.

36. “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds: A novel in verse about a boy’s elevator ride, contemplating revenge, with each floor revealing a different party to a complex story.

37. “American Street” by Ibi Zoboi: A powerful story of a girl’s struggle to find her place in America after emigrating from Haiti, facing the challenges of immigration and poverty.

38. “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green: Centers on a teen girl dealing with OCD and her quest to solve a mystery, exploring friendship and the spirals of her thoughts.

39. “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera: Set in a world where people get a call on their last day alive, two boys meet and live a lifetime in a single day.

40. “ Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi: A West-African-inspired fantasy where magic is outlawed, and a young girl must fight against the monarchy to bring it back.

Fun Fact Did you know that honey never spoils? Archaeologists have found honey pots in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible. Honey’s natural composition and low moisture content make it an eternal sweet treat!

20 Non-Fiction Books That Inspire For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17

41. “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai: The powerful story of a young Pakistani girl who stood up for education against the Taliban and became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.

42. “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer: Chronicles the journey of Christopher McCandless, who abandoned his possessions to explore the Alaskan wilderness, delving into themes of adventure and self-discovery.

43. “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank: An intimate portrayal of life in hiding during the Holocaust, offering insights into the human spirit under dire circumstances.

44. “Educated” by Tara Westover: A memoir of a woman who grew up in a strict and abusive household but eventually escaped to learn about the wider world through education .

45. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot: Explores the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her knowledge and used for groundbreaking medical discoveries.

46. “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote: A groundbreaking work of nonfiction that reconstructs the murder of a Kansas family, exploring the complexities of American violence.

47. “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich: The author goes undercover to report on the struggles of the working poor in America, offering a critique of economic inequality.

48. “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser: An investigation into the fast food industry’s impact on the world, touching on health, economy, and labor issues.

49. “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson: A powerful account of a lawyer’s fight for justice in a flawed judicial system, emphasizing the importance of compassion and justice.

50. “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls: A memoir recounting the author’s unconventional, poverty-stricken upbringing and her journey towards self-sufficiency and success.

51. “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates: A profound letter to the author’s son, discussing the realities of being Black in America and the fraught history that has led to present circumstances.

52. “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand: The inspiring true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who became a WWII prisoner of war, surviving incredible challenges.

53. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba: The story of a Malawian teenager who built a windmill from scraps to create electricity for his village, demonstrating the power of ingenuity and determination.

54. “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly: Reveals the contributions of African American women mathematicians at NASA, who played crucial roles in America’s space race.

55. “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell: Explores what makes high-achievers different, emphasizing the importance of cultural context and hidden advantages.

56. “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander: A compelling study of the American criminal justice system and its impact on African American communities, highlighting issues of race and inequality.

57. “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari: A thought-provoking journey through human history, exploring how Homo sapiens became the dominant species and the impact of our actions.

58. “A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah: A former child soldier recounts his heart-wrenching experiences in the Sierra Leone civil war and his journey to recovery.

59. “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance: A personal analysis of the white working class in America, offering insights into social, regional, and class decline.

60. “The Soul of an Octopus” by Sy Montgomery: A fascinating exploration of the intelligence, emotion, and personality of octopuses, encouraging a greater appreciation of the natural world.

Fun Fact Did you know that Venus, the second planet from the sun, rotates in the opposite direction to most planets in our solar system? This means on Venus, the sun would appear to rise in the west and set in the east!

20 Recommended Reads That Celebrate Different Cultures, Identities, And Experiences For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17 

61. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini: A powerful tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history.

62. “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A story of love and identity that spans Nigeria, the UK, and the USA, exploring the nuances of race, immigration, and the search for belonging.

63. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe: A seminal work portraying the clash of cultures and the impact of colonialism in Nigeria, as seen through the life of a tribal leader.

64. “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan: Explores the relationships between Chinese-American women and their immigrant mothers, delving into themes of family, identity, and cultural heritage.

65. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi: A graphic novel memoir detailing the author’s experiences growing up during and after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

66. “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros: A series of vignettes offering a glimpse into the life of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, highlighting her cultural and personal challenges.

67. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah: A memoir from the South African comedian about growing up during apartheid, filled with humor and poignant observations about race and identity.

68. “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee: An epic saga following four generations of a Korean family in Japan, exploring issues of identity, ambition, and survival.

69. “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri: Chronicles the life of an Indian-American man and his struggle to assimilate while staying connected to his heritage.

70. “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel: A magical realist novel set in Mexico, weaving together themes of love, family, and the power of food.

71. “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz: Combines humor, history, and fantasy to tell the story of a Dominican-American family and their curse.

72. “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates: A profound letter to the author’s son on the realities of being Black in America, exploring the country’s racial history and its impact on personal identity.

73. “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A coming-of-age novel set in Nigeria, detailing a young girl’s journey to find her voice amidst political upheaval and family dynamics.

74. “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy: A richly layered narrative that explores complex family relationships and societal norms in Kerala, India.

75. “Swing Time” by Zadie Smith: Follows the intertwined lives of two girls who dream of being dancers, addressing themes of friendship, race, and cultural differences.

76. “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante: The first in a series about two friends growing up in a poor but vibrant neighborhood in Naples, Italy, exploring the power of female friendship.

77. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie: A semi-autobiographical novel featuring a Native American teenager striving for a better life outside his reservation.

78. “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith: A humorous and insightful story of two North London families over three generations, tackling issues of cultural clash and personal identity.

79. “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid: A tense, compelling novel about a Pakistani man’s disenchanted love affair with America post-9/11.

80. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker : A powerful, epistolary novel about the lives of African American women in the early 20th century American South, addressing themes of racism, sexism, and resilience.

Fun Fact Did you know that a group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance”? These striking birds are known for their bright pink feathers and synchronized, ballet-like movements, which make a gathering of flamingos one of the most visually captivating sights in the animal kingdom!

20 Graphic Novels For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17 

81. “Maus” by Art Spiegelman: A profound narrative where the author illustrates his father’s experiences during the Holocaust, with Jews depicted as mice and Nazis as cats.

82. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi: An autobiographical graphic novel depicting the author’s childhood and early adult years in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution.

83. “Watchmen” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons: A dark and complex story that deconstructs the idea of the superhero, set in an alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s.

84. “V for Vendetta” by Alan Moore and David Lloyd: A dystopian narrative set in a post-nuclear war England, focusing on the mysterious V, a freedom fighter seeking to overthrow the fascist government.

85. “March” by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell: A three-part series that firsthand accounts of Congressman John Lewis’s lifelong struggle for civil and human rights.

86. “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang: A tale about identity and acceptance, weaving together the story of a modern-day teenager and the ancient Chinese fable of the Monkey King.

87. “Saga” by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples: A space opera/fantasy comic book series that’s an epic and bizarre tale of two lovers from warring extraterrestrial races, seeking peace and safety for their family.

88. “Blankets” by Craig Thompson: An autobiographical coming-of-age story exploring the author’s upbringing in a strict, religious family and his first love.

89. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes: A darkly comic story of the transition from teen to young adult, following two quirky, cynical teenage girls.

90. “Sandman” by Neil Gaiman: A blend of mythology, history, and literature, Gaiman’s series follows the adventures of the Dream King and other Endless beings.

91. “Fun Home” by Alison Bechdel: A memoir presented as a graphic novel exploring the author’s complex relationship with her father and her identity.

92. “The Arrival” by Shaun Tan: A wordless graphic novel telling a universal immigration story through beautifully drawn images depicting an immigrant’s experience in an imaginary world.

93. “Paper Girls” by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang: A science fiction/mystery series about four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls who experience strange and supernatural occurrences while out on their route.

94. “Ms. Marvel” by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona: Follows a Muslim American teenager named Kamala Khan as she gains powers and becomes the superhero Ms. Marvel, tackling issues of identity, culture, and adolescence.

95. “Black Hole” by Charles Burns: Set in the suburbs of Seattle during the mid-1970s, the story follows a group of teenagers who contract a mysterious STD called “The Bug,” which causes bizarre mutations.

96. “Y: The Last Man” by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra: In a post-apocalyptic world, a young man named Yorick and his pet monkey are the last surviving males of the species after a mysterious plague.

97. “Batman: The Killing Joke” by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland: A dark and disturbing take on the Joker’s origin story and his attempt to drive Commissioner Gordon insane.

98. “Asterios Polyp” by David Mazzucchelli: A richly layered story about an arrogant architect who has a profound experience that changes his perspective on life.

99. “Sculptor” by Scott McCloud: Tells the story of a young artist who makes a deal with Death to gain the ability to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands.

100. “Through the Woods” by Emily Carroll: A collection of five eerie and beautifully illustrated tales that explore the dark and creepy things lurking just out of sight, especially in the woods.

Fun Fact Did you know that cashews grow on the bottom of a fruit called a cashew apple? The apple is brightly colored and can be eaten. Still, the cashew nut is protected inside a hard shell with caustic substances, requiring careful extraction.

20 Poetry And Short Story Books For 11th Grade Students Aged 16-17 

101. “The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes”: A comprehensive collection that captures the essence of African American life, culture, and identity through Hughes’ influential and vibrant verse.

102. “The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson”: Featuring Dickinson’s unique and introspective style, this collection offers profound insights into life, death, and nature.

103. “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman: A cornerstone of American literature, Whitman’s poetry celebrates the human spirit, democracy, and the natural world.

104. “Ariel” by Sylvia Plath: Known for its intense and emotional content, Plath’s collection delves into themes of feminism, death, and personal anguish.

105. “The Waste Land and Other Poems” by T.S. Eliot: Featuring modernist masterpieces, Eliot’s work explores complex themes of disillusionment and despair in the post-World War I era.

106. “Nine Stories” by J.D. Salinger: A collection of short stories that explore the deeper side of human experience, often focusing on the innocence and complexity of youth.

107. “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri: This Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories provides insight into the Indian and Indian-American experience, exploring themes of love, identity, and cultural transition.

108. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien: A collection of linked short stories about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, blending fact with fiction and reality with imagination.

109. “The Flowers of Evil” by Charles Baudelaire: A seminal work in French literature, Baudelaire’s poetry deals with themes of beauty, decadence, and eroticism.

110. “Birthday Letters” by Ted Hughes: A collection of poems that Hughes wrote over 25 years, chronicling his relationship with Sylvia Plath.

111. “Dubliners” by James Joyce: A classic collection of 15 short stories by Joyce, depicting the everyday lives of residents in early 20th-century Dublin.

112. “Don’t Call Us Dead” by Danez Smith: A bold and incisive collection of poems that confronts race, sexuality, police brutality, and mortality.

113. “Goblin Market and Other Poems” by Christina Rossetti: This collection features Rossetti’s lyrical and mythical poems, including the well-known and enigmatic “Goblin Market.”

114. “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson: A memoir in verse, Woodson shares her experiences growing up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s.

115. “Selected Poems” by Gwendolyn Brooks: A collection showcasing Brooks’ powerful and poignant reflections on race, politics, and everyday life.

116. “Men Without Women” by Haruki Murakami: A captivating collection of short stories, each revealing the deep loneliness and complexity of life without women.

117. “The Sun and Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur: A vibrant and transcendent collection of poetry and prose about growth , healing, ancestry, and honoring one’s roots.

118. “Night Sky with Exit Wounds” by Ocean Vuong: A haunting and emotional debut that explores the power of storytelling, family, love, and war.

119. “The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction”: A collection of 50 short stories by some of the most essential and compelling writers of the last few decades.

120. “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran: A collection of poetic essays that delve into life’s big questions and the human condition, touching on themes of love, work, joy, and sorrow.

Fun Fact Did you know that the smell of freshly cut grass is a distress signal? It’s a blend of compounds called green leaf volatiles that grass releases when in distress, serving as a signal to predators of the insects harming the grass.

Why Is It Important To Develop Critical Thinking Through Reading?

Developing critical thinking through reading is essential for several reasons

• Enhances Understanding: Critical thinking enables readers to delve beyond the surface of the text, understanding complex ideas, and recognizing subtle nuances. It fosters a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the material.
• Promotes Independent Thinking: By analyzing and questioning the content, readers learn to form their opinions and judgments, becoming more independent and confident in their thought processes.
• Improves Decision Making: Critical thinking skills are vital in weighing options and making informed decisions in everyday life. Through reading, individuals practice analyzing various scenarios and outcomes, leading to better decision-making skills.
• Encourages Open-Mindedness: Readers learn to consider different perspectives and ideas, leading to greater empathy and open-mindedness. This is crucial in a diverse and rapidly changing world.
• Enhances Problem-Solving Abilities: By tackling complex texts and ideas, readers develop the ability to dissect problems and identify solutions, enhancing their problem-solving skills .
• Prepares for Real-World Challenges: The ability to analyze information critically is essential in navigating the vast amount of information in today’s digital age, helping to distinguish between credible and unreliable sources.
• Fosters Lifelong Learning: Critical thinking encourages curiosity and a love for learning. Readers who think critically are more likely to engage in self-directed learning throughout their lives.
• Strengthens Communication Skills: Understanding how to construct and deconstruct arguments effectively is a key part of critical thinking that directly improves verbal and written communication skills .
• Builds Academic and Professional Success: Critical thinking is a sought-after skill in higher education and the workplace. The ability to think critically about texts and issues sets individuals up for academic and professional success.

Key Takeaway

• Critical thinking enhances deeper understanding and comprehension of complex ideas.
• It fosters independent thinking, allowing individuals to form their opinions and judgments.
• Critical thinking is crucial for effective decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• It encourages open-mindedness and empathy by considering diverse perspectives.
• Developing critical thinking through reading prepares individuals for real-world challenges, particularly in discerning credible information.
• It directly improves communication skills by teaching how to construct and deconstruct arguments.
• Cultivating critical thinking is essential for academic success and is highly valued in professional settings.
• It promotes lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is critical thinking and why is it important.

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It’s important because it helps us make informed decisions, solve problems effectively, and understand complex issues. It’s a fundamental skill in both academic pursuits and everyday life.

How Can Reading Improve Critical Thinking Skills?

Reading exposes you to various perspectives and ideas, challenging you to analyze, question, and form your opinions. It encourages you to look beyond the text, make connections, and understand deeper meanings, enhancing your critical thinking abilities.

Can Critical Thinking Be Taught?

Yes, critical thinking can be taught and developed over time. It involves practicing various cognitive skills like analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. Educational systems and personal reading habits can be structured to encourage the development of these skills.

What Are Some Methods To Develop Critical Thinking Through Reading?

You should actively engage with the text to develop critical thinking through reading. This can include questioning assumptions, making inferences, identifying the author’s perspective, and relating the content to your experiences and knowledge. Discussing the material with others can also deepen understanding and perspective.

How Do I Know If I’m A Critical Thinker?

Critical thinkers typically question information and arguments presented to them, analyze underlying assumptions, recognize biases, make reasoned judgments, and communicate effectively about complex ideas. Doing these things regularly makes you likely to engage in critical thinking.

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Book Review Writing

Introduction.

If you love to read, at some point you will want to share a book you love with others. You may already do this by talking about books with friends. If you want to share your ideas with more people than your circle of friends, the way you do that is by writing a review. By publishing the reviews you write, you can share your ideas about books with other readers around the world.

It's natural for young readers to confuse book reviews with book reports, yet writing a book review is a very different process from writing a book report. Book reports focus on the plot of the book. Frequently, the purpose of book reports is to demonstrate that the books were read, and they are often done for an assignment.

A book review is a totally different task. A book review's purpose is to help people decide whether or not the book would interest them enough to read it. Reviews are a sneak peek at a book, not a summary. Like wonderful smells wafting from a kitchen, book reviews lure readers to want to taste the book themselves.

This guide is designed to help you become a strong book reviewer, a reader who can read a book and then cook up a review designed to whet the reading appetites of other book lovers.

Form: What should the review look like?

How long should it be.

The first question we usually ask when writing something is "How long should it be?" The best answer is "As long as it takes," but that's a frustrating answer. A general guideline is that the longer the book, the longer the review, and a review shouldn't be fewer than 100 words or so. For a long book, the review may be 500 words or even more.

If a review is too short, the review may not be able to fulfill its purpose. Too long, and the review may stray into too much plot summary or lose the reader's interest.

The best guide is to focus less on how long to write and more on fulfilling the purpose of the review.

How Do You Create A Title?

The title of the review should convey your overall impression and not be overly general. Strong titles include these examples:

• "Full of action and complex characters"
• "A nail-biter that will keep you up all night"
• "Beautiful illustrations with a story to match"
• "Perfect for animal lovers"

Weak titles may look like this:

• "Really good book"
• "Three stars"
• "Pretty good"
• "Quick read"

How Should It Begin?

Although many reviews begin with a short summary of the book (This book is about…), there are other options as well, so feel free to vary the way you begin your reviews.

In an introductory summary, be careful not to tell too much. If you retell the entire story, the reader won't feel the need to read it him/herself, and no one appreciates a spoiler (telling the end). Here are some examples of summaries reviewers from The New York Times have written:

"A new picture book tells a magically simple tale of a lonely boy, a stranded whale and a dad who rises to the occasion."

"In this middle-grade novel, a girl finds a way forward after the loss of her mother."

"Reared by ghosts, werewolves and other residents of the hillside cemetery he calls home, an orphan named Nobody Owens wonders how he will manage to survive among the living having learned all his lessons from the dead. And the man Jack — who killed the rest of Nobody's family — is itching to finish the job."

"In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South." Other ways to begin a review include:

• Quote: A striking quote from the book ("It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.") can make for a powerful beginning. This quote begins George Orwell's novel 1984 .
• Background: What makes this book important or interesting? Is the author famous? Is it a series? This is This is how Amazon introduces Divergent : "This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel the inspired the major motion picture."
• Interesting Fact: For nonfiction books in particular, an interesting fact from the book may create a powerful opening for a review. In this review of The Middle East by Philip Steele, Zander H. of Mid-America Mensa asks, "Did you know that the Saudi Arabia's Rub' al-Khali desert reaches temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and plummets to the freezing point at night?"
• Explanation of a term: If a word or phrase in the book or title is confusing or vitally important to understand, you may wish to begin the review explaining that term.

Process: What should I write about?

Deciding what to say about the book can be challenging. Use the following ideas as a guide, but remember that you should not put all of this into a single review — that would make for a very long review! Choose the things that fit this particular book best.

General Information What the reader ought to know

• What kind of book is it? (Picture book? Historical fiction? Nonfiction? Fantasy? Adventure?)
• Does the book belong to a series?
• How long is the book? Is it an easy or a challenging read?
• Is there anything that would be helpful for the reader to know about the author? For instance, is the author an expert in the field, the author of other popular books, or a first-time author?
• How does the book compare to other books on the same topic or in the same genre?
• Is the book written in a formal or informal style? Is the language remarkable in any way?
• What ages is the book geared to?
• Is the book written in normal prose? If it is written in poetic form, does it rhyme?

Plot What happens?

Writing about the plot is the trickiest part of a review because you want to give the reader a feel for what the book is about without spoiling the book for future readers. The most important thing to remember is that you must never give away the ending. No one likes a spoiler.

One possibility for doing this is to set up the premise (A brother and a sister find themselves lost in the woods at the mercy of an evil witch. Will they be able to outsmart her and escape?). Another possibility is to set up the major conflict in the book and leave it unresolved (Sometimes the waiting is the hardest part or He didn't know what he stood to lose or Finding your purpose in life can be as easy as finding a true friend.)

Try to avoid using the tired phrase "This book is about…" Instead, just jump right in (The stuffed rabbit wanted more than anything to live in the big old house with the wild oak trees.)

Characters Who lives in the book?

Reviews should answer questions about the characters in fiction books or non-fiction books about people. Some possible questions to answer include:

• Who are the main characters? Include the protagonist and antagonist.
• What makes them interesting?
• Do they act like real people act or are they too good or too evil to be believable?
• Are they human?
• What conflicts do they face?
• Are they likeable or understandable?
• How do they connect with each other?
• Do they appear in other books?
• Could you relate to any of the characters in the story?
• What problems did the main characters face?
• Who was your favorite character, and why?
• We learn about characters from things they do and say, as well as things other characters say about them. You may wish to include examples of these things.

Theme What is the book about at its heart?

What is the book really about? This isn't the plot, but rather the ideas behind the story. Is it about the triumph of good over evil or friendship or love or hope? Some common themes include: change, desire to escape, facing a challenge, heroism, the quest for power, and human weaknesses.

Sometimes a book will have a moral — a lesson to learn. If so, the theme is usually connected to that moral. As you write about the theme, try to identify what makes the book worth reading. What will the reader think about long after the book is finished? Ask yourself if there any particular lines in the book that strike you as meaningful.

Setting Where are we?

The setting is the time and place the story occurs. When you write about the setting in a review, include more than just the location. Some things to consider:

• Is the book set in the past, present or future?
• Is it set in the world we know or is it a fantastical world?
• Is it mostly realistic with elements of fantasy (animals that can talk, for example)?
• Is the setting unclear and fuzzy, or can you easily make the movie in your mind?
• How much does the author draw you into the setting and how does s/he accomplish that?

Opinion & Analysis What do you really think?

This is where the reviewer shares his/her reactions to the book that go beyond the essential points described above. You may spend half of the review on this section. Some possible questions to address include:

• Why do you think other readers would enjoy it? Why did you enjoy it (if you did) or why didn't you (if you didn't).
• What ages or types of readers do you think would like the book?
• How does it compare with other books that are in the same genre or by the same author?
• Does the book engage your emotions? If a book made you laugh or cry or think about it for days, be sure to include that.
• What do you like or dislike about the author's writing style? Is it funny? Is it hard to follow? Is it engaging and conversational in tone?
• How well do you think the author achieved what s/he was going for in the writing of the book? Do you think you felt what the author was hoping you would feel?
• Did the book feel complete, or did it feel as though key elements were left out?
• How does the book compare to other books like it you've read?

Are there parts that are simply not believable, even allowing for the reader's understanding that it is fiction or even fantasy?

• Are there mistakes?
• Would you describe the book as for entertainment, self-improvement, or information?
• What was your favorite part of the book?
• Would you have done anything differently had you been the author?
• Would any reader enjoy this book? If not, to what ages or type of reader would it appeal?

Special situations: Nonfiction and young reviewers

Some of the tips and ideas above work best for fiction, and some of it is a little too complicated for very young reviewers.

Nonfiction What to do if it's real

When reviewing a book of nonfiction, you will want to consider these questions:

• What was the author's purpose in writing the book? Did the author accomplish that purpose?
• Who is the target audience for the book?
• What do you think is the book's greatest value? What makes it special or worthwhile?
• Are the facts shared accurate?
• Is the book interesting and hold your attention?
• Would it be a useful addition to a school or public library?
• If the book is a biography or autobiography, how sympathetic is the subject?
• Is it easy to understand the ideas?
• Are there extra features that add to the enjoyment of the book, such as maps, indexes, glossaries, or other materials?
• Are the illustrations helpful?

Young Reviewers Keeping it simple

Reviewing a book can be fun, and it's not hard at all. Just ask yourself these questions:

• What is the book about? You don't need to tell the whole story over — just give an idea of what it's about.
• Do you think other people would like it?
• Did you think it was funny or sad?
• Did you learn something from the book?
• l Did you think it was interesting?
• Would you want to read it again?
• Would you want to read other books by the same author or about the same subject?
• What was your favorite part?
• Did you like the pictures?

Remember! Don't give away the ending. Let's keep that a surprise.

General Tips & Ideas

Use a few quotes or phrases (keep them short) from the book to illustrate the points you make about the book. If there are illustrations, be sure to comment on those. Are they well done? Has the illustrator done other well-known books?

Make sure you include a conclusion to the review — don't leave it hanging. The conclusion can be just one sentence (Overall, this book is a terrific choice for those who…).

You can use the transition word handout at the end of the Writer's Toolbox to find ideas for words to connect the ideas in your review. If you would like to read some well-written reviews, look for reviews of books for young people at The New York Times or National Public Radio .

Rating Books How to award stars?

Most places you post reviews ask you to rate the book using a star system, typically in a range of from one to five stars. In your rating, you should consider how the book compares to other books like it. Don't compare a long novel to a short poetry book — that's not a valid comparison.

It's important to remember that it's not asking you to only give five stars to the very best books ever written.

• 5 Stars: I'm glad I read it or I loved it (this doesn't mean it was your favorite book ever).
• 4 Stars: I like it. It's worth reading.
• 3 Stars: It wasn't very good.
• 2 Stars: I don't like it at all.
• 1 Star: I hate it.

K-12 School Reading List

Recommended reading books for elementary, middle & high school students

Home » Reading lists for High School students » 11th grade reading list for students aged 16-17

11th grade reading list for students aged 16-17

Books for grade 11 – this list of recommended reading books has been curated and compiled for high school juniors in the 11th Grade, aged 16-17. Over a year, these stories should provide inspirational reading material, and also challenge pupils to think independently. This list of 11th grade reading recommendations includes titles by Laekan Zea Kemp, James Agee, Shideh Etaat, Saul Bellow, Sylvia Plath, Laurie Halse Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Andrea Rogers, Isak Dinesen, Alice Sebold, Alice Walker and many more.

Books for Grade 11 – our recommendations

Somewhere between bitter and sweet by laekan zea kemp.

Two teenagers battle mental health, love life, legal and family issues in this powerful exposition of identity and coming of age. Should Pen follow the path laid out for her by her mum, or her dad, or should she follow her own dreams? Either way, someone is going to be disappointed. Add into the mix a secret Pen is keeping and ‘Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet’ has all the ingredients for a compelling read.

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

Deeply personal vignettes of life are told through luminous biographical verse in this memoir that echoes the author’s very personal journey. Through powerful reflections, issues of assault, censorship, and empowerment through having the courage to speak out are explored. ‘Shout’ is a compelling call to action, urging readers to find their voices and feel confident to make change happen. An ideal choice for book clubs.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers

There are not just zombies, werewolves, and vampires in this very modern YA horror novel, but also social, family, and life-story horrors in this collection of powerful short stories. Following one Cherokee family over several generations through first, third, and second-person narratives, these stories present an unsettling and memorable portrait of the soul. This paperback includes startling illustrations by Jeff Edwards.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

Lev and Kolya are arrested and thrown into the same cell during the siege of Leningrad. Offered the chance to escape execution, the pair set off on a mission impossible. A compelling coming-of-age story.

A Death in the Family by James Agee

James’ father was killed in a traffic accident in 1915. This autobiographical work explores the impact that his death had on his immediate family in the years that followed. A Pulitzer prize-winning novel, it is regarded as one of the best English language novels of the 20th century.

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

A scathingly amusing look at the stifling atmosphere prevailing in an English university in post-war Britain. A hugely successful novel that rocked the foundations of academia.

The Plague by Albert Camus

A novel that has many layers of meaning to explore. A plague sweeps through Oran in French Algeria. The way the inhabitants react to the ongoing horror and suffering is eloquently and passionately portrayed.

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

The most popular of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales, this novel looks at the changing frontiers in America during the French wars and the animosity between rival tribes and settlers. A touching account of a vanishing way of life.

Seize the Day by Saul Bellow

In Seize the Day, Tommy Wilhelm has to face up to his failures in life and examine the personal traits that have led him to this day. Can he retrieve his self-belief?

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

A classic novel. A graphic and unforgettable account of a day in a Stalin-era work camp in Russia. Ivan Denisovich has to learn how to survive hunger, exhaustion, disease and freezing temperatures and to maintain his dignity and belief in humanity.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar is a terrifyingly realistic account of a descent into insanity. An American classic by Sylvia Plath. A useful counterpoint to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

One of the most influential and moving novels in South Africa’s literary canon. In a country divided by race and factionalism, this is a story that contains a hope that the best of human nature will prevail.

On Writing by Stephen King

Written by one of the most popular and best-selling authors ever, this is a clear and accessible insight into the techniques every writer hopes to possess. Enthusiastic and thought-provoking. This should be required reading.

Collected Stories by Raymond Carver

This collection of short stories by Raymond Carver, written in the 1970s and 1980s, introduced a new and succinct style of writing – the influence of which continues today. Stephen King believed Raymond Carver was “surely the most influential writer of American short stories.” Ideal for 11th grade book clubs and discussion groups.

Collected Poems by Philip Larkin

This comprehensive collection of Larkin’s poems includes all his best-known works – including This Be The Verse and Toads, as well as some later editions. A greatly admired English poet. An accessible collection that will appeal to more reluctant readers.

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

Set in America in the late 1960s and early 1970s this novel encompasses the social and political upheavals of that era. A vivid depiction of the disintegration of ‘The American Dream’. A Pulitzer Prize winner.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

A disturbing novel about how being different can cause animosity and rejection, rather than understanding. After nightmares convince Yeonj-Hye to become vegetarian, her isolation from her family increases with dire consequences.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play is set on a plantation in Mississippi. Twists and turns take the audience through a gamut of human emotions – both good and bad. Filmed in 1958, this playscript is still relevant.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Exploring the fine line between sanity and madness, this book attacks the overmedication of patients in an Oregon State mental institution. McMurphy, the rebel, sets out to oppose the system and do battle to change the status quo.

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

Lucy, a middle-class Edwardian young lady, with her life neatly planned out, visits Florence in Italy. Once there, her tidy world is overturned. Which will be the right path for her?

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

An award-winning novel set in France during World War Two. Marie-Laurie is a blind French girl, and Wermer, a German employed to uncover the resistance. A Pulitzer Prize winner.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A story set in London and Paris during a time of upheaval and revolution. The themes of hope, redemption, and sacrifice are central to the novel, both on personal and wider societal levels.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

An unusual murder story, in that it is told by the victim. Watching over her family from heaven, Suzie describes the agonies of her suffering family and yearns for them to discover her killer. A great book to study in 11th grade literature classes.

The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot

The Waste Land an epic poem in five sections published in 1922, is considered a modernist masterpiece. Useful to compare to modern American works on the themes of materialism, depression, and Alienation. A challenging yet rewarding pre-college read for 11th grade students.

Carrie by Stephen King

Stephen King’s first published novel – the story of Carrie White and her terrible powers. Rejected and isolated by her peers, her revenge is shocking. A stand-out thriller from a great American writer.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Written by British author Dodie Smith this story is told through the diaries of Cassandra Mortmain. Living in poverty, in a derelict castle, as part of an eccentric family, the entries are sharp, witty and poignant. A good choice for 11th grade book groups.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

A modern American classic following the travels of Kerouac and his friend across the United States. Rejecting convention, they travel unknown routes and discover an alternative America. A great novel.

Dig by A.S. King

Brutally candid in the way attitudes are passed down through the generations, this story encompasses societal ills of class, sexism, racism, patriarchy and abuse. An eye-opener for young adult students, the author states this book is meant to be uncomfortable reading.

Family | Racism

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

An inspirational story of young Sam Gribley who runs away to the Catskill Mountains and through trial and error learns to live off the land. Living in his tree trunk home, his experience with wildlife, weather and random companions make for compulsive reading. A thought-provoking read for 11th grade students.

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

Out of Africa is an account of life on a coffee plantation near Nairobi in Africa from 1914 to 1931. A brilliant contemporary account of colonial society. Turned into a movie in 1985.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Set in dystopian New England in a patriarchal society, Offred is a handmaiden. Deprived of her name, her family and her freedom, she relates the circumstances that changed her life and the lives of all women. A thought-provoking read for 11th graders.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

Philip Marlowe is drawn into a complex case of murder and adultery when he meets Terry Lennox. Multiple twists and turns arrests and murder pepper the plot before the final astonishing reveal.

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

A complex plot centered on Homer Wells, who was born and raised in an orphanage. Trained by his mentor, his life remains uncomplicated until he is drawn into the outside world with its confusing temptations and difficulties.

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Asher Lev grew up in a strict Hasidic Jewish family. He is a very gifted artist. Unfortunately, this talent is not welcomed by his father or his community. However, he persists and achieves great success but at considerable personal cost.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A hard-hitting, no holds barred, novel – very highly regarded. Centered around Celie and her sister Nettie – born in poverty and segregation their abuse and degradation is uncomfortable but rewarding reading.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Algernon is a lab mouse, and Charlie is a cleaner with a low IQ. They are brought together through an experiment to increase mental abilities. Charlie’s delight in his newfound intelligence is soon tempered by what he discovers about his past, and by what is happening to Algernon.

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17 book review examples to help you write the perfect review.

It’s an exciting time to be a book reviewer. Once confined to print newspapers and journals, reviews now dot many corridors of the Internet — forever helping others discover their next great read. That said, every book reviewer will face a familiar panic: how can you do justice to a great book in just a thousand words?

As you know, the best way to learn how to do something is by immersing yourself in it. Luckily, the Internet (i.e. Goodreads and other review sites , in particular) has made book reviews more accessible than ever — which means that there are a lot of book reviews examples out there for you to view!

In this post, we compiled 17 prototypical book review examples in multiple genres to help you figure out how to write the perfect review . If you want to jump straight to the examples, you can skip the next section. Otherwise, let’s first check out what makes up a good review.

Are you interested in becoming a book reviewer? We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! To register as a book reviewer, sign up here.

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

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What must a book review contain?

Like all works of art, no two book reviews will be identical. But fear not: there are a few guidelines for any aspiring book reviewer to follow. Most book reviews, for instance, are less than 1,500 words long, with the sweet spot hitting somewhere around the 1,000-word mark. (However, this may vary depending on the platform on which you’re writing, as we’ll see later.)

In addition, all reviews share some universal elements, as shown in our book review templates . These include:

• A review will offer a concise plot summary of the book. 
• A book review will offer an evaluation of the work. 
• A book review will offer a recommendation for the audience. 

If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it’s the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course. A book review on Goodreads, for instance, will be much more informal and personal than a book review on Kirkus Reviews, as it is catering to a different audience. However, at the end of the day, the goal of all book reviews is to give the audience the tools to determine whether or not they’d like to read the book themselves.

Keeping that in mind, let’s proceed to some book review examples to put all of this in action.

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Book review examples for fiction books

Since story is king in the world of fiction, it probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that a book review for a novel will concentrate on how well the story was told .

That said, book reviews in all genres follow the same basic formula that we discussed earlier. In these examples, you’ll be able to see how book reviewers on different platforms expertly intertwine the plot summary and their personal opinions of the book to produce a clear, informative, and concise review.

Note: Some of the book review examples run very long. If a book review is truncated in this post, we’ve indicated by including a […] at the end, but you can always read the entire review if you click on the link provided.

Examples of literary fiction book reviews

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man :

An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.

His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.

This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.

Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:

YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried.

This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down.

I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]

The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry :

Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home. “You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for it,” he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in “Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them for it.

Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]

Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy Discovery :

In Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.

An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.

Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.

The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten path and enjoy the ride. “There’s not a place that’s like any other,” [39] Dukes contends, and The Narrator realizes he’s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the moment.

As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy and drifter, who opens The Narrator’s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world. And Rosie, The Narrator’s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back together both physically and emotionally.

This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully nuanced and complicated. He’s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he’s also a grifter with a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” attitude that harms those around him. It’s fascinating to watch The Narrator wrestle with Duke’s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to discard.

Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn’t erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he’s prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she’s been a good mother to him but chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively disappears from his old life.

Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.

The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls :

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea.

Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim.  To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother. […]

Examples of children’s and YA fiction book reviews

The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give :

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a “controversial” label, but if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC’s shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.

In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.

♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was to be the one person that didn’t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.) However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for wanting to read this book. […]

The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood :

Alice Crewe (a last name she’s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales called “Tales From the Hinterland.” The book has a cult following, and though Alice has never met her grandmother, she’s learned a little about her through internet research. She hasn’t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.

Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the “bad luck” that seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a schoolmate who’s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother. Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.

“The Hazel Wood” starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy and evocative as you’d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It’s a captivating debut. […]

James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it out and join the next few weeks!

This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child, but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to sleep.

The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine author and her illustrators.

Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine :

This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up.

Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.

Examples of genre fiction book reviews

Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch , a paranormal romance novel , on Goodreads:

4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.

I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.

The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.

I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.

I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.

Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars , an epic fantasy novel , on Goodreads:

“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.”

Holy hell, what did I just read??

➽ A fantasy military school

➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history

➽ Shamans and gods

➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters

➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentors

That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).

Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.

Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall , a crime novel:

In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it’s a more subtle process, and that’s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the sliding scale?

In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman survives plane crash, then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.

Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton’s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive. She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you’re hearing the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There’s much, much more to learn about Ally before this tale is over.

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One , a science-fiction novel :

Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter Cline’s first novel is old wine in new bottles.

The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade, our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has captivating bells and whistles, and it’s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.

Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games, so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival’s great strength is that he has absorbed all Halliday’s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS. Cline’s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival; when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade’s trailer is demolished, his relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point. Parzival threads his way between more ’80s games and movies to gain the other keys; it’s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate “epic throwdown” fail to stir the blood.

Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.

Book review examples for non-fiction books

Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication . In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations.

Again, we’ve included abbreviated versions of long reviews here, so feel free to click on the link to read the entire piece!

The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon :

The arc of David Grann’s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, “The Lost City of Z,” is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the “biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.”

Grann deserves the attention. He’s canny about the stories he chases, he’s willing to go anywhere to chase them, and he’s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.

All of these strengths are on display in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as “headrights,” which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich — diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age America’s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]

Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers :

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.

The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.

Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell. […]

Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar :

Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book’s billing. Instead, it turned out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person’s life, one that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed “realistic” and “affecting” by non-transgender readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.

In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular – have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy – provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender experiences remains critical.

To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn’t just a story about a trans man. It’s also a story about epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving father’s eyes. Adam, Prashaw’s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through the elder Prashaw’s narrative are excerpts from Adam’s social media posts, giving us glimpses into the young man’s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s. […]

Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love :

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5

CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5

RELEVANCE: 3.5/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

“Eat Pray Love” is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book (before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don’t remember what I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different. The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure), India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book’s name – EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.

Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY, CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn’t happy in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after, Elizabeth was shattered. She didn’t know where to go and what to do – all she knew was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]

Emily May reviews Michelle Obama’s Becoming on Goodreads:

Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies. I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.

This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion, when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago; about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood; about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.

I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.

And yes, I know we present what we want the world to see, but I truly do think it's genuine. I think she is someone who really cares about people - especially kids - and wants to give them better lives and opportunities.

She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world, she's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working class family in Chicago.

I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.

Hopefully, this post has given you a better idea of how to write a book review. You might be wondering how to put all of this knowledge into action now! Many book reviewers start out by setting up a book blog. If you don’t have time to research the intricacies of HTML, check out Reedsy Discovery — where you can read indie books for free and review them without going through the hassle of creating a blog. To register as a book reviewer , go here .

And if you’d like to see even more book review examples, simply go to this directory of book review blogs and click on any one of them to see a wealth of good book reviews. Beyond that, it's up to you to pick up a book and pen — and start reviewing!

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How to Write a Book Review: A Comprehensive Tutorial With Examples

You don’t need to be a literary expert to craft captivating book reviews. With one in every three readers selecting books based on insightful reviews, your opinions can guide fellow bibliophiles toward their next literary adventure.

Learning how to write a book review will not only help you excel at your assigned tasks, but you’ll also contribute valuable insights to the book-loving community and turn your passion into a professional pursuit.

In this comprehensive guide,  PaperPerk  will walk you through a few simple steps to master the art of writing book reviews so you can confidently embark on this rewarding journey.

What is a Book Review?

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book, offering insights into its content, quality, and impact. It helps readers make informed decisions about whether to read the book.

Writing a book review as an assignment benefits students in multiple ways. Firstly, it teaches them how to write a book review by developing their analytical skills as they evaluate the content, themes, and writing style .

Secondly, it enhances their ability to express opinions and provide constructive criticism. Additionally, book review assignments expose students to various publications and genres, broadening their knowledge.

Furthermore, these tasks foster essential skills for academic success, like critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information. By now, we’re sure you want to learn how to write a book review, so let’s look at the book review template first.

Table of Contents

Book Review Template

How to write a book review- a step by step guide.

Check out these 5 straightforward steps for composing the best book review.

Step 1: Planning Your Book Review – The Art of Getting Started

You’ve decided to take the plunge and share your thoughts on a book that has captivated (or perhaps disappointed) you. Before you start book reviewing, let’s take a step back and plan your approach. Since knowing how to write a book review that’s both informative and engaging is an art in itself.

Choosing Your Literature

First things first, pick the book you want to review. This might seem like a no-brainer, but selecting a book that genuinely interests you will make the review process more enjoyable and your insights more authentic.

Crafting the Master Plan

Next, create an  outline  that covers all the essential points you want to discuss in your review. This will serve as the roadmap for your writing journey.

The Devil is in the Details

As you read, note any information that stands out, whether it overwhelms, underwhelms, or simply intrigues you. Pay attention to:

• The characters and their development
• The plot and its intricacies
• Any themes, symbols, or motifs you find noteworthy

Remember to reserve a body paragraph for each point you want to discuss.

The Key Questions to Ponder

When planning your book review, consider the following questions:

• What’s the plot (if any)? Understanding the driving force behind the book will help you craft a more effective review.
• Is the plot interesting? Did the book hold your attention and keep you turning the pages?
• Are the writing techniques effective? Does the author’s style captivate you, making you want to read (or reread) the text?
• Are the characters or the information believable? Do the characters/plot/information feel real, and can you relate to them?
• Would you recommend the book to anyone? Consider if the book is worthy of being recommended, whether to impress someone or to support a point in a literature class.
• What could improve? Always keep an eye out for areas that could be improved. Providing constructive criticism can enhance the quality of literature.

Step 2 – Crafting the Perfect Introduction to Write a Book Review

In this second step of “how to write a book review,” we’re focusing on the art of creating a powerful opening that will hook your audience and set the stage for your analysis.

Identify Your Book and Author

Begin by mentioning the book you’ve chosen, including its  title  and the author’s name. This informs your readers and establishes the subject of your review.

Ponder the Title

Next, discuss the mental images or emotions the book’s title evokes in your mind . This helps your readers understand your initial feelings and expectations before diving into the book.

Judge the Book by Its Cover (Just a Little)

Take a moment to talk about the book’s cover. Did it intrigue you? Did it hint at what to expect from the story or the author’s writing style? Sharing your thoughts on the cover can offer a unique perspective on how the book presents itself to potential readers.

Present Your Thesis

Now it’s time to introduce your thesis. This statement should be a concise and insightful summary of your opinion of the book. For example:

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a captivating portrayal of the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of love, class, and self-discovery with exceptional depth and authenticity.

Ensure that your thesis is relevant to the points or quotes you plan to discuss throughout your review.

Incorporating these elements into your introduction will create a strong foundation for your book review. Your readers will be eager to learn more about your thoughts and insights on the book, setting the stage for a compelling and thought-provoking analysis.

How to Write a Book Review: Step 3 – Building Brilliant Body Paragraphs

You’ve planned your review and written an attention-grabbing introduction. Now it’s time for the main event: crafting the body paragraphs of your book review. In this step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the art of constructing engaging and insightful body paragraphs that will keep your readers hooked.

Summarize Without Spoilers

Begin by summarizing a specific section of the book, not revealing any major plot twists or spoilers. Your goal is to give your readers a taste of the story without ruining surprises.

Support Your Viewpoint with Quotes

Next, choose three quotes from the book that support your viewpoint or opinion. These quotes should be relevant to the section you’re summarizing and help illustrate your thoughts on the book.

Analyze the Quotes

Write a summary of each quote in your own words, explaining how it made you feel or what it led you to think about the book or the author’s writing. This analysis should provide insight into your perspective and demonstrate your understanding of the text.

Structure Your Body Paragraphs

Dedicate one body paragraph to each quote, ensuring your writing is well-connected, coherent, and easy to understand.

For example:

• In  Jane Eyre , Charlotte Brontë writes, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.” This powerful statement highlights Jane’s fierce independence and refusal to be trapped by societal expectations.
• In  Normal People , Sally Rooney explores the complexities of love and friendship when she writes, “It was culture as class performance, literature fetishized for its ability to take educated people on false emotional journeys.” This quote reveals the author’s astute observations on the role of culture and class in shaping personal relationships.
• In  Wuthering Heights , Emily Brontë captures the tumultuous nature of love with the quote, “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” This poignant line emphasizes the deep, unbreakable bond between the story’s central characters.

By following these guidelines, you’ll create body paragraphs that are both captivating and insightful, enhancing your book review and providing your readers with a deeper understanding of the literary work. 

How to Write a Book Review: Step 4 – Crafting a Captivating Conclusion

You’ve navigated through planning, introductions, and body paragraphs with finesse. Now it’s time to wrap up your book review with a  conclusion that leaves a lasting impression . In this final step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the art of writing a memorable and persuasive conclusion.

Summarize Your Analysis

Begin by summarizing the key points you’ve presented in the body paragraphs. This helps to remind your readers of the insights and arguments you’ve shared throughout your review.

Offer Your Final Conclusion

Next, provide a conclusion that reflects your overall feelings about the book. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression and persuade your readers to consider your perspective.

Address the Book’s Appeal

Now, answer the question: Is this book worth reading? Be clear about who would enjoy the book and who might not. Discuss the taste preferences and circumstances that make the book more appealing to some readers than others.

For example:  The Alchemist is a book that can enchant a young teen, but those who are already well-versed in classic literature might find it less engaging.

Be Subtle and Balanced

Avoid simply stating whether you “liked” or “disliked” the book. Instead, use nuanced language to convey your message. Highlight the pros and cons of reading the type of literature you’ve reviewed, offering a balanced perspective.

Bringing It All Together

By following these guidelines, you’ll craft a conclusion that leaves your readers with a clear understanding of your thoughts and opinions on the book. Your review will be a valuable resource for those considering whether to pick up the book, and your witty and insightful analysis will make your review a pleasure to read. So conquer the world of book reviews, one captivating conclusion at a time!

How to Write a Book Review: Step 5 – Rating the Book (Optional)

You’ve masterfully crafted your book review, from the introduction to the conclusion. But wait, there’s one more step you might consider before calling it a day: rating the book. In this optional step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the benefits and methods of assigning a rating to the book you’ve reviewed.

Why Rate the Book?

Sometimes, when writing a professional book review, it may not be appropriate to state whether you liked or disliked the book. In such cases, assigning a rating can be an effective way to get your message across without explicitly sharing your personal opinion.

How to Rate the Book

There are various rating systems you can use to evaluate the book, such as:

• A star rating (e.g., 1 to 5 stars)
• A numerical score (e.g., 1 to 10)
• A letter grade (e.g., A+ to F)

Choose a rating system that best suits your style and the format of your review. Be consistent in your rating criteria, considering writing quality, character development, plot, and overall enjoyment.

Tips for Rating the Book

Here are some tips for rating the book effectively:

• Be honest: Your rating should reflect your true feelings about the book. Don’t inflate or deflate your rating based on external factors, such as the book’s popularity or the author’s reputation.
• Be fair:Consider the book’s merits and shortcomings when rating. Even if you didn’t enjoy the book, recognize its strengths and acknowledge them in your rating.
• Be clear: Explain the rationale behind your rating so your readers understand the factors that influenced your evaluation.

Wrapping Up

By including a rating in your book review, you provide your readers with an additional insight into your thoughts on the book. While this step is optional, it can be a valuable tool for conveying your message subtly yet effectively. So, rate those books confidently, adding a touch of wit and wisdom to your book reviews.

Additional Tips on How to Write a Book Review: A Guide

In this segment, we’ll explore additional tips on how to write a book review. Get ready to captivate your readers and make your review a memorable one!

Hook ’em with an Intriguing Introduction

Keep your introduction precise and to the point. Readers have the attention span of a goldfish these days, so don’t let them swim away in boredom. Start with a bang and keep them hooked!

Embrace the World of Fiction

When learning how to write a book review, remember that reviewing fiction is often more engaging and effective. If your professor hasn’t assigned you a specific book, dive into the realm of fiction and select a novel that piques your interest.

Opinionated with Gusto

Don’t shy away from adding your own opinion to your review. A good book review always features the writer’s viewpoint and constructive criticism. After all, your readers want to know what  you  think!

Express Your Love (or Lack Thereof)

If you adored the book, let your readers know! Use phrases like “I’ll definitely return to this book again” to convey your enthusiasm. Conversely, be honest but respectful even if the book wasn’t your cup of tea.

Templates and Examples and Expert Help: Your Trusty Sidekicks

Feeling lost? You can always get help from formats, book review examples or online  college paper writing service  platforms. These trusty sidekicks will help you navigate the world of book reviews with ease. 

Be a Champion for New Writers and Literature

Remember to uplift new writers and pieces of literature. If you want to suggest improvements, do so kindly and constructively. There’s no need to be mean about anyone’s books – we’re all in this literary adventure together!

Criticize with Clarity, Not Cruelty

When adding criticism to your review, be clear but not mean. Remember, there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and cruelty. Tread lightly and keep your reader’s feelings in mind.

Avoid the Comparison Trap

Resist the urge to compare one writer’s book with another. Every book holds its worth, and comparing them will only confuse your reader. Stick to discussing the book at hand, and let it shine in its own light.

Top 7 Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Writing a book review can be a delightful and rewarding experience, especially when you balance analysis, wit, and personal insights. However, some common mistakes can kill the brilliance of your review. 

In this section of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the top 7 blunders writers commit and how to steer clear of them, with a dash of  modernist literature  examples and tips for students writing book reviews as assignments.

Succumbing to the Lure of Plot Summaries

Mistake: Diving headfirst into a plot summary instead of dissecting the book’s themes, characters, and writing style.

Example: “The Bell Jar chronicles the life of a young woman who experiences a mental breakdown.”

How to Avoid: Delve into the book’s deeper aspects, such as its portrayal of mental health, societal expectations, and the author’s distinctive narrative voice. Offer thoughtful insights and reflections, making your review a treasure trove of analysis.

Unleashing the Spoiler Kraken

Mistake: Spilling major plot twists or the ending without providing a spoiler warning, effectively ruining the reading experience for potential readers.

Example: “In Metamorphosis, the protagonist’s transformation into a monstrous insect leads to…”

How to Avoid: Tread carefully when discussing significant plot developments, and consider using spoiler warnings. Focus on the impact of these plot points on the overall narrative, character growth, or thematic resonance.

Riding the Personal Bias Express

Mistake: Allowing personal bias to hijack the review without providing sufficient evidence or reasoning to support opinions.

Example: “I detest books about existential crises, so The Sun Also Rises was a snoozefest.”

How to Avoid: While personal opinions are valid, it’s crucial to back them up with specific examples from the book. Discuss aspects like writing style, character development, or pacing to support your evaluation and provide a more balanced perspective.

Wielding the Vague Language Saber

Mistake: Resorting to generic, vague language that fails to capture the nuances of the book and can come across as clichéd.

Example: “This book was mind-blowing. It’s a must-read for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Use precise and descriptive language to express your thoughts. Employ specific examples and quotations to highlight memorable scenes, the author’s unique writing style, or the impact of the book’s themes on readers.

Ignoring the Contextualization Compass

Mistake: Neglecting to provide context about the author, genre, or cultural relevance of the book, leaving readers without a proper frame of reference.

Example: “This book is dull and unoriginal.”

How to Avoid: Offer readers a broader understanding by discussing the author’s background, the genre conventions the book adheres to or subverts, and any societal or historical contexts that inform the narrative. This helps readers appreciate the book’s uniqueness and relevance.

Overindulging in Personal Preferences

Mistake: Letting personal preferences overshadow an objective assessment of the book’s merits.

Example: “I don’t like stream-of-consciousness writing, so this book is automatically bad.”

How to Avoid: Acknowledge personal preferences but strive to evaluate the book objectively. Focus on the book’s strengths and weaknesses, considering how well it achieves its goals within its genre or intended audience.

Forgetting the Target Audience Telescope

Mistake: Failing to mention the book’s target audience or who might enjoy it, leading to confusion for potential readers.

Example: “This book is great for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Contemplate the book’s intended audience, genre, and themes. Mention who might particularly enjoy the book based on these factors, whether it’s fans of a specific genre, readers interested in character-driven stories, or those seeking thought-provoking narratives.

By dodging these common pitfalls, writers can craft insightful, balanced, and engaging book reviews that help readers make informed decisions about their reading choices.

These tips are particularly beneficial for students writing book reviews as assignments, as they ensure a well-rounded and thoughtful analysis.!

Many students requested us to cover how to write a book review. This thorough guide is sure to help you. At Paperperk, professionals are dedicated to helping students find their balance. We understand the importance of good grades, so we offer the finest writing service , ensuring students stay ahead of the curve. So seek expert help because only Paperperk is your perfect solution!

What is the difference between a book review and a report?

Who is the target audience for book reviews and book reports, how do book reviews and reports differ in length and content, can i write professional book reviews, what are the key aspects of writing professional book reviews, how can i enhance my book-reviewing skills to write professional reviews, what should be included in a good book review.

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• 31 Writing Book Reviews

Start-Up Activity 

Make a list of your three favorite books. For each book, identify two or three things you like about it. Share your list with your class. Then have your students list their three favorite books and what they liked about each. Point out that these thoughts could be used in a book review. Then ask if there was anything students didn't like about one of the books. Note that a criticism also could be part of a book review. 

Think About It

“There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.”

—Charles Dickens

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.9
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.4.ri.1.1, lafs.4.ri.1.2, lafs.4.ri.1.3, lafs.4.ri.2.4, lafs.4.ri.2.5, lafs.4.ri.3.7, lafs.4.ri.3.9, lafs.5.ri.1.1, lafs.5.ri.1.2, lafs.5.ri.1.3, lafs.5.ri.2.4, lafs.5.ri.2.5, lafs.5.ri.3.7, lafs.5.ri.3.9, lafs.4.rl.1.1, lafs.4.rl.1.2, lafs.4.rl.1.3, lafs.4.rl.2.4, lafs.5.rl.1.1, lafs.5.rl.1.2, lafs.5.rl.1.3, lafs.5.rl.2.4, lafs.4.w.1.2, lafs.4.w.2.4, lafs.4.w.2.5, lafs.4.l.1.1, lafs.4.l.1.2, lafs.5.w.1.2, lafs.5.w.2.4, lafs.5.w.2.5, lafs.5.l.1.1, lafs.5.l.1.2, teks covered in this chapter, 110.6.b.9.d, 110.6.b.9.d.i, 110.6.b.7.c, 110.6.b.7.d, 110.6.b.9.d.iii, 110.6.b.9.d.ii, 110.6.b.9.f, 110.7.b.9.d, 110.7.b.7.d, 110.7.b.9.d.iii, 110.7.b.9.f, 110.6.b.8.a, 110.6.b.8.b, 110.7.b.8.a, 110.7.b.7.c, 110.7.b.8.b, 110.7.b.8.c, 110.7.b.8.d, 110.7.b.10.d, 110.6.b.11.b, 110.6.b.12.b, 110.6.b.11.a, 110.6.b.11.c, 110.6.b.11.d, 110.6.b.1.c, 110.6.b.11.d.ix, 110.6.b.11.d.x, 110.6.b.11.d.xi, 110.7.b.12.b, 110.7.b.11.a, 110.7.b.11.c, 110.7.b.11.d, 110.7.b.1.c, page 224 from writers express, sample nonfiction book review.

Express to your students that reading nonfiction books can broaden their perspective on the people, places, and things that make up our world. Then introduce them to the sample book review on this page. Explain that they will be writing something similar about a nonfiction book they are currently reading or have finished recently. 

As you explore the sample, point out its key parts. Explain that the beginning gets the readers’ attention and the middle paragraphs answer key questions about the book.

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Page 225 from Writers Express

Sample Nonfiction Book Review (Continued)

Have your students read through the remainder of the sample nonfiction book review. Point out the use of the headings in the sample. Explain that they guide readers from section to section in the review. Finally, note how the ending tells why others might enjoy the book but doesn't spoil the book's ending.

Page 226 from Writers Express

Sample fiction book review.

Explain that fiction often presents readers with fascinating characters, interesting settings, and dramatic action. Then introduce them to the sample fiction book review on this page. Explain that they will be writing a similar review about a piece of fiction they are currently reading or have read recently.

Next, examine the key parts of the review as a class. Point out how the beginning hooks readers by sharing an interesting detail about the book. It also introduces the title and the author. Then review how the middle paragraphs answer key questions about the book.

Page 227 from Writers Express

Sample Fiction Book Review (Continued)

Read the remainder of the sample fiction book review with your class. Point out how the headings in the middle part review what's to come next in the review.

Finally, closely analyze the ending paragraph with your students. Point out how it shares an exciting summary of what happens in the book but doesn't spoil the ending. Note how the ending uses a question: How will anything turn out right? This question speaks directly to the reader, as does the closing line.

Page 228 from Writers Express

Writing guidelines.

Walk your students through the process of writing a book review. Encourage them to reserve space in a notebook or note-taking device for answering the four main questions of a book review: What is the book about? What do I like about the book? What is the book's theme or message? Why would others like it?  Then move on to the drafting tips. Explain that each question should be answered fully in separate paragraphs.

Next, you can discuss the final steps in the writing process: revising and editing. For revising, point your students to the four questions for "Improving Your Book Review." Students should be able to answer "yes" to each question before moving onto editing. If they cannot answer "yes," encourage them to add the missing details. This may require them to go back to the book they were reading. Finally, to help students understand the kinds of questions they should ask themselves when they edit, you can share with them the Editing Checklist download.

Page 229 from Writers Express

Collection sheet.

You can use the questions on this page to guide your students' prewriting and revising. Make sure to point out that fiction and nonfiction book reviews require different answers to these questions, as noted on this page. Download and distribute the book review collection sheet to help students gather details.

Encourage your students to check this page regularly as they read and write. While reading, they can search for and take notes of answers to the specific questions. While writing, they can use the page as a checklist of key questions to answer in their reviews.

Sharing Fiction with a Partner

Use shared inquiry to read fiction.

Page 230 from Writers Express

Sample book review brochure.

If you're looking for an alternative assignment to a standard book review, you could have your students create book review brochures. This page features one example. Show your students that the inside pages of the sample brochure answer the key questions from the previous page, only in bite-size pieces. 

• 01 A Basic Writing Guide
• 02 Understanding the Writing Process
• 03 One Writer's Process
• 04 Qualities of Writing
• 05 Selecting and Collecting
• 06 Focusing and Organizing
• 07 Writing and Revising
• 09 Publishing
• 10 Writing Basic Sentences
• 11 Combining Sentences
• 12 Writing Paragraphs
• 13 Understanding Writing Terms and Techniques
• 14 Understanding Text Structures
• 15 Writing in Journals
• 16 Using Learning Logs
• 17 Writing Emails and Blogs
• 18 Writing Personal Narratives
• 19 Writing Fantasies
• 20 Writing Realistic Stories
• 21 Writing Stories from History
• 22 Responding to Narrative Prompts
• 23 Writing Explanatory Essays
• 24 Writing Process Essays
• 25 Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays
• 26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts
• 27 Writing Persuasive Essays
• 28 Writing Persuasive Letters
• 29 Writing Problem-Solution Essays
• 30 Responding to Persuasive Prompts
• 32 Writing About Literature
• 33 Responding to Literature Prompts
• 34 Writing Reports
• 35 Writing Research Reports
• 36 Writing Summaries
• 37 Writing Plays
• 38 Writing Poems
• 39 Communicating Online
• 40 Researching Online
• 41 Staying Safe Online
• 42 Reading Strategies for Fiction
• 43 Reading Strategies for Nonfiction
• 44 Reading Graphics
• 45 Building Vocabulary Skills
• 46 Becoming a Better Speller
• 47 Giving Speeches
• 48 Improving Viewing Skills
• 49 Improving Listening Skills
• 50 Using Graphic Organizers
• 51 Thinking and Writing
• 52 Thinking Clearly
• 53 Thinking Creatively
• 54 Completing Assignments
• 55 Working in Groups
• 56 Taking Tests
• 57 Taking Good Notes
• 58 Marking Punctuation
• 59 Editing for Mechanics
• 60 Check Your Spelling
• 61 Using the Right Word
• 62 Understanding Sentences
• 63 Understanding Our Language

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100 Best Books for 6th Graders (Age 11 – 12)

This post may contain affiliate links.

With so many good books for 6th graders, which are the best choices for your 11 and 12-year-olds in 6th grade? I got you covered. I’ve read ALL of these books and know what is on grade level and what kids like based on my elementary grades teaching experience and parenting two readers.

Below you’ll find the BEST of the best  middle grade  books for sixth graders that are spot-on for maturity, reading level, theme, topic, and appeal. I update this list every month so you get the most up-to-date books. (Last updated January 2024.)

Best Books in a Series for 6th Grade Boys & Girls

• City Spies  by James Ponti
• Edge of Extinction The Ark Plan  by Laura Martin
• Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston
• Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase  by Jonathan Stroud
• Keeper of the Lost Cities  by Shannon Messenger
• Skandar and the Unicorn Thief  by A.F. Steadman
• Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows  by Ryan Calejo
• The Adventurers Guild  by Zach Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos
• The War That Saved My Life  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life  by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
• Anyone But Ivy Pocket  by Caleb Krisp
• Front Desk  by Kelly Yang
• The Crossover  by Kwame Alexander
• The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street  by Karina Yan Glaser

100 Best Middle Grade Books for 6th Graders

Each book review includes a genre tag , so look for the genre terms mystery , fantasy , realistic (also called contemporary), historical fiction , funny , and science fiction to help you find a good book in a genre that your children or students want to read. Because it’s always helpful to match a child’s interests with the books that they read, I’ve included topics of note next to the genre tag (mental health, zombies, coming of age), and I’ve bolded the sentence that summarizes the book. Then, you can scan through this list for topics and genres without having to read each review. But feel free to read the reviews, too!

What makes a good book for a sixth grader?

Young readers at this age love books that relate to their lives, books about growing up, identity, belonging, friendships, or bullying. These tween readers want books that are mirrors to their own lives and doors and windows into the lives of others.

It may go without saying but 6th graders want engaging writing, compelling storylines, interesting characters, books in a series, graphic novels, true stories, fascinating nonfiction, and timeless classics.

Best Books for Kids Who Love Realistic Stories

• A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park
• Ghost Boys  by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Boy, Everywhere  by A.M. Dassu
• Out of My Mind   by Sharon Draper
• Genesis Begins Again  by Alicia D. Williams
• Awkward   by Svetlana Chmakova (graphic novel)
• Okay for Now  by Gary D. Schmidt
• Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus  by Dusti Bowling
• Ghost  by Jason Reynolds
• New Kid   by Jerry Craft (graphic novel)

Do you have to read all these books?

That’s the good news and where I can help. My goal when I was a teacher was to read all the books my students so I could perfectly match books to readers, not to mention my two children, who both went through their own reading challenges and motivation issues. Now, as a book blogger, I can read all the books and save you time!

Yes, reading fast is my superpower, I developed  Imagination Soup  as a resource for teachers, parents, librarians, and grandparents to share all the best books for kids, including new releases, best sellers, and classics. And, to save you time, so you don’t have to read all the books.

What does that mean for you? The Imagination Soup book lists can help you! You don’t have to read (preview) all the books. I’ve already read them.

SHOP THIS LIST

Middle grade books are novels that back in the old days (when I first started teaching) were called chapter books. Now chapter books refer to beginning chapter books with illustrations meant for ages 6 to 8 while the term  middle grade applies to books written for children who are in upper elementary grades and middle school, grades 4 to 7.  Basically, 6th graders (11-year-olds) are the perfect age reader for middle grade books because middle grade books are written for 9 to 12-year-olds.

What age is 6th grade?

If you’re wondering what age 6th grade is in the United States, it’s usually age 11, turning age 12 sometimes during the year. In my state, 6th grade is sometimes located in elementary school and sometimes in middle school. 

How do you motivate middle schoolers to read?

CHOICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING for reading books —in other words, letting kids pick their own books helps motivate more reading.

For most of us,  w e also need to get screen time under control so books can have a chance.

Not to mention, sometimes we forget that kids need blocks of TIME to read . When kids have packed schedules, reading doesn’t happen. Is there time for each child to sit down and read for 10 to 30 minutes every day—and for you to read together for at least some of that time?

Another essential ingredient to motivating a 6th grader is book access. Research shows that the more books kids can get their hands on, the better the chances of reading success. If you can’t pick out books at your library, use the library website to put books on hold to pick up later. Or, use your Libby app to check out eBooks online or download Amazon Kindle ebooks.

Finally, where does your 6th grader read? Have you made a cozy space for sustained reading? And if you did, would that be motivating? (Maybe!?)

But, there’s more. Find more teacher-suggested ideas for their students, including book swaps, author visits, book clubs, and the Global Read aloud in this post “12 Ways to Motivate Middle School Students to Read.”

What if my child or student is below grade level in reading?

For easier books, try books for 5th graders or books for 4th graders .

What if my child or student is an advanced 6th grade reader?

If you want harder (to comprehend / more mature topics) books, visit my books for 7th graders list. 

Sign up to get the free pdf download:

Read alouds, book series, & nonfiction books for 6th graders.

• Book Series
• Nonfiction Books
• Read Aloud Books

Good Books for Sixth Grade Kids

Invisible  by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriela Epstein REALISTIC  /  GRAPHIC NOVEL Spanish-speaking kids are thrown together to complete before-school community service hours. When the kids notice the  homeless mom and her child living  in a van, they try to help with leftover food. But they get into trouble by the cafeteria lady who thinks they’re stealing.  This is a powerful story about kindness, racism, differences, and marginalized individuals including non-native-English speakers and homeless folks.

City Spies  by James Ponti ADVENTURE When Sara, a foster kid and hacker, gets in trouble again, her new so-called lawyer recruits her to be an MI6 spy.  Sara joins a team of other kids, trains quickly, and is immediately sent undercover to break open a big case in Paris. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I predict you’ll  love every second of this action-packed story! It’s filled with great characters and an interesting twisty plot.  

Front Desk  by Kelly Yang REALISTIC Mia and her parents have struggled ever since moving to America from China. When her parents take a new live-in job at a motel, they end up working around the clock for very little pay. Mia helps out by working at the front desk. She befriends the weekly tenants and uses her English skills to write letters advocating for other people in tough spots.  This book is more than a memorable coming-of-age immigrant story, it’s also an important novel about tolerance and diversity.  6th graders will love the writing, the characters, the plot, and the messages of inclusion and determination.

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook  by Leslie Connor REALISTIC A heartbreaking, hopeful coming-of-age story.  Perry is well-loved by his mother and her friends; they all live in prison. In fact, that’s where Perry has lived since he was born eleven years ago.  But in a horrible turn of events, his best friend’s stepfather, the new District Attorney, forces Perry to leave the prison. Not only that, the DA tries to stall Perry’s mother’s parole hearing. To cope, Perry istens to the inmates’ stories, hoping that they’ll be helpful in reuniting him with his mother. 

Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston FANTASY Fantastic fantasy world-building, excellent writing, a strong female heroine of color, and a surprise plot twist ending are just a few of the reasons you’ll love this middle grade book.  On top of that, you’ll find an exciting, action-packed, suspenseful story about Amari whose brother vanishes mysteriously. He sends her a message that she’s a magician and should attend a special school. There, she discovers she’s a magician with outlawed dark magic, but she’s determined to stay in the school and find her brother.

Sing It Like Celia  written by Mónica Mancillas REALISTIC /  LATINE I loved this book so much! When Salva’s mom doesn’t come home, her dad brings her to a campground on his work trip where he’s reporting on a woman who is imprisoned because she’s undocumented. Salva feels sad, mad, and scared not knowing about her mom and living with a dad she barely knows. Even still, she meets friends and gets the chance to sing in a band.  Like Celia, who keeps on singing even when she’s nervous and afraid, Salva stands up to a mean girl, faces the difficult truth about what happened to her mom, and fights for justice for the incarcerated mom . The writing is outstanding, the emotional arc is moving, and the ending is perfection.

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From the Desk of Zoe Washington  by Janae Marks REALISTIC (series) On her 12th birthday, Zoe discovers a letter from her incarcerated biological father named Marcus. She secretly writes back and asks if he’s guilty.  Marcus says he’s innocent and he can prove it, which sets Zoe on a quest for truth for herself, even if her mom and dad forbid it.  She enlists the help of her Grandma and her best friend, Trevor. You won’t be able to put down this winsome story with a heroine 6th grade readers will love in a story that illuminates social justice with themes of family, friendship, and love.

Starfish  by Lisa Fipps REALISTIC / BODY IMAGE & SIZE /  VERSE Heartbreaking and inspiring, this poignant story in verse shows a girl who learns, after years of fat-shaming and bullying, to define herself  not  based on what others say but on who she really is.  Ellie’s nickname is Splash because of her size but she loves swimming. Her biggest bully is her mother who won’t buy her new clothes because she thinks it encourages Ellie’s weight gain and pushes for gastro-bypass surgery. Fortunately, Ellie finds an understanding therapist who helps her move from powerless to powerful. 

The Crossover  by Kwame Alexander REALISTIC Because this is written in verse, this is a fast read but packs a big punch.  Basketball player and twin Josh narrates his life in quarters, just like the game he plays.  He writes about missing his twin when his twin, Jordan, gets a girlfriend; about getting in trouble when he hits Jordan in the face with a basketball; and about watching his father as his heart fails. This is a coming-of-age, gripping story about a boy who is just trying to figure out life like most boys at age 12.

A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park REALISTIC BIOGRAPHY / HISTORY Sudan’s reality, past and present, collide in this beautifully written true story.  In 1985, we follow the harrowing journey of a young boy who, after his village was attacked, walks miles and miles to a refugee camp. In 2008, we learn about a girl who must walk two hours morning and night to get fresh water. Their stories are compelling; you won’t be able to put this down, nor take peace and clean water for granted again. 

Hither and Nigh  by Ellen Potter  FANTASY Guaranteed to enthrall with masterful storytelling and wildly inventive world-building,  Hither and Nigh  draws you into a magical, multi-layered story of adventure and heart.  When Nell is forced to join the Last Chance Club or be expelled from school, she’s surprised when the students get lessons in magic! This begins Nell’s search for her missing brother. Her search leads to the magical world of Nither and poachers who kidnap non-magical children with big imaginations.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon  by Kelly Barnhill FANTASY Wonderfully crafted and imagined, this  2017 Newbery winner  is  a  fairy tale  of sorts about a good  witch  who rescues one of the town’s many abandoned (sacrificed) babies  instead of giving her to another town to adopt and love. She’s a special baby named Luna who accidentally becomes infused with moon magic. It’s also the story of the baby’s magical, bereaved mother, a wicked witch who feeds off sorrow, a woodcarver who wants justice, and most of all, an amazing girl named Luna.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street  by Karina Yan Glaser REALISTIC Like The Penderwicks, you’ll fall in love with this quirky, wonderful family from the first page. The Vanderbeekers’ landlord wants them out by the end of December but the Vanderbeeker kids are determined to change his mind, even though he hates noise, kids, and their family. But it’s almost Christmas and their efforts are only making things worse. What will they do?  Charming and heart-warming.

Winterhouse  by Ben Guterson, illustrated by Chloe Bristol MYSTERY Elizabeth, an orphan, is unexpectedly sent to a large, stately hotel with a kind, grandfatherly proprietor for Christmas vacation. There,  she discovers a magical book, a sinister couple, a family mystery, and a new friend who loves puzzles as much as she does.  The writing is mesmerizing, the mystery fascinating, and the characters, enchanting. This is a wonderful, atmospheric read.

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice  by John A. Flanagan FANTASY (series) Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about. But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom), he begins to embrace his new life. When an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures.  Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing  — this book has it all! It’s  a must-read, especially for boys. 

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation  by Stuart Gibb ADVENTURE The CIA asks a super genius 12-year-old girl named Charlie to help find the missing and dangerous “Pandora” theory of Einstein’s.  You will fall in love with Charlie—she’s a creative thinker and a survivor who, despite all her knowledge still can act like a child yet also outwit bad guys in amazing ways. Terrorists, Moussed, cross-world travel, and mathematical clues combine with excellent writing to make the perfect action-adventure spy story starring a female protagonist you’ll love!

Awkward   by Svetlana Chmakova REALISTIC / GRAPHIC NOVEL (series) My daughter found this book SO RELATABLE — just like she struggles with confidence and speaking up, so does the main character, Peppi. This  well-done graphic novel tackles the issues of friendships and confidence , among other things. (So glad I’m not in middle school anymore.) We highly recommend this graphic novel.

Lightcasters   by Janelle McCurdy  FANTASY After the Reaper King’s soldiers attack her forever dark city and capture her parents, Mia, her brother Lucas, plus two other friends flee the nefarious soldiers toward her grandparent’s in the capital city.  To make it through the dangerous Nightmare Plains, Mia reluctantly bonds with not one but two wild umbras, creatures made of shadows and starlight, and learns she’s one of the mythical Lightkeepers,  foretold to defeat the Reaper King. Unique, super cool world-building, fantastic storytelling, and perfect pacing, this is one book you won’t be able to put down!

New Kid   by Jerry Craft REALISTIC / GRAPHIC NOVEL Jordan’s parents make him go to a private school across town where he’s one of the only kids of color.  Besides having the tricky business of navigating friendships, he now must deal with the two separate worlds of his neighborhood and his school along with racism and balancing academics with art . This book for 6th graders feels truthful, relatable, and important.

How to Stay Invisible  by Maggie C. Rudd REALISTIC A heartbreaking and hopeful  survival story . Raymond survives on his own behind his middle school, foraging in dumpsters and fishing for food as he continues to attend school. When a playful coyote hurts hiRosie, he meets an old man who helps them both — which is especially significant because it’s over the Christmas break when he can’t get dumpster food from school. Raymond doesn’t want to tell sianyone, including the old man or his two friends at school, what he’s surviving, but the truth comes out when another boy discovers his campsite and a snake bite almost kills him. HOW TO STAY INVISIBLE is a powerful story of grit, survival, and longing for family.  I couldn’t put it down.

Genesis Begins Again  by Alicia D. Williams REALISTIC Don’t miss this important book for 6th graders about  self-worth, beauty, and colorism.  Genesis hates that her skin is so dark; she knows her grandma and father hate that about her, too. In her self-loathing, she believes that if only she were lighter-skinned, she’d be pretty and have all the things that go along with being pretty. In this coming-of-age story, Genesis finds her voice both literally and metaphorically. It will start the conversation about who defines beauty and how we can do better individually and as a society.

Okay for Now  by Gary D. Schmidt REALISTIC One of the BEST books ever; it’s so well-crafted with deep emotional resonance.  Doug is a boy who is struggling to read with no support from his home life.  Not only are his dad and older brother abusive but they all live in abject poverty. What saves Doug is his connection to a librarian who shows Doug Audubon’s bird paintings and how to draw. This eventually leads to reading and hope.

Last Mapmaker  by Christina Soontornvat FANTASY In a Thai-inspired world where caste determines your future, Sai’s new job as a mapmaker’s assistant is far beyond her station, which is why she can’t wait to join the Mapmaker on a sailing quest to find a new continent and maybe, find herself a new home.  During the trip, the Mapmaker reveals his past hubris of mapping and claiming already-inhabited lands, which their war-hungry country would then use and destroy. Add in a stowaway, a mutiny, a shipwreck, and a gigantic creature,  this is a compelling middle grade book about colonialism, discovery, and humanity.

The Night War  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley HISTORICAL FICTION When the French in Paris round up the Jews for Nazi prison camps, Miri and her neighbor’s baby escape with the help of a Catholic nun.  To help them survive, Miri is renamed and sent to a Catholic school for safety and her “baby sister” is adopted by a Catholic family. At the school, Miri begins to help other Jews flee Nazi-controlled France and is helped by the complicated ghost of Catherine de Medici, who thinks Miri is her gardener. But when Miri finds out that her little sister is about to be baptized, she plans their escape for the next day. Miri is a heroic main character with an emotionally compelling story.

Patina  by Jason Reynolds REALISTIC Patina’s anger sometimes gets the best of her but running helps. She’s mad about her dad dying, her mom’s legs being amputated, and her new school. When her track coach makes Patty work with her teammates in a relay, she’s forced to rely on them. And that changes things.  Patina  is a beautiful  coming-of-age story that will tug at your emotions.

A Duet for Home  by Karina Yan Glaser REALISTIC /  HOMELESSNESS A powerful, hopeful story with complex, three-dimensional characters about grief, family, community, and homelessness. When their family becomes homeless after her dad dies, June helps her little sister and non-speaking mom get settled at Huey House.  Despite the shock of their new situation, June finds kindness from many of the people at the shelter. But when Mrs. G, their social worker gets fired for not agreeing to the city’s new homeless policies, June helps organize a protest and discovers that home isn’t a place and family isn’t always blood.

96 Miles   by J.L. Esplin DYSTOPIAN An apocalyptic event has happened, there’s no electricity, the brothers are alone, and all their dad and their survival supplies were stolen at gunpoint. Now John and Stewart are on the road trying to get to a friend’s ranch for their supplies. It’s not going well–they’ve picked up a girl and her little brother, not to mention Stewart is fighting nonstop with John.  If your middle school kids like  survival stories , sibling stories, and adventure, this is a great choice.

Out of My Mind  by Sharon Draper REALISTIC Hands down, this is one of the best life-changing books for 6th graders. Narrated by Melody, we learn what it’s like for her,  trapped in a body with cerebral palsy that doesn’t allow her to speak or take care of herself.  No one, except her parents think that she’s smart. Then one day, she gets a chance to prove that she’s smart with a talking keyboard tablet. Heartbreaking. Real. Inspiring. Beautifully written. This is one of my favorite books for 6th graders on this list.

The Iron Trial (Magisterium) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare FANTASY Even though Callum tries to fail the entrance trials, he is admitted to the school his dad says is evil. But the Magisterium school is not as bad as he expects.  Call learns about his elemental powers, he forges bonds of friendship with his teammates and rescues a wolf puppy who is infused with the evil magic of Chaos.  I couldn’t put this book down — especially after the surprise twist about who Callum really is!! One of the best books for 6th graders.

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II  written by Adam Gitwitz HISTORICAL FICTION Max is a super-smart  Jewish  boy living in Germany during World War II. He loves his family and tinkering with radios. Then,  his parents send Max to safety on the Kindertransport.  He’s joined by two personality-filled (grumpy) mythical creatures, a dybbuk and a kobold, living on his shoulders. Once in England, Max’s sole focus is returning to Germany to help his parents. His clever tactics impress the British spies, and the government agrees to recruit Max if he can pass their rigorous spy training. Brilliant, exciting, and funny!

BUY THIS BOOK ON AMAZON . BUY THIS BOOK ON BOOKSHOP .

Sara and the Search for Normal  by Wesley King REALISTIC /  MENTAL ILLNESS Sara wants to be “normal” like other kids, so she makes rules for herself.  Among other diagnoses, Sara is bipolar. She hates her out-of-control brain. Meanwhile, she begins group therapy and makes a friend; a friend who is covered in hidden bruises. Eventually,  Sara begins to realize she wants to change her inner dialogue and accept herself.  For readers, it’s a valuable opportunity to see inside Sara’s mind and how painful it is to have an invisible disease. 

Dealing with Dragons  by Patricia C. Wrede FANTASY (series) We loved this so much that we read it twice for a  bedtime story !  You’ll love the strong female main character, a princess named Cimorene, who doesn’t want to live the typical princess life.  She leaves her home to apprentice herself to a dragon. Just for fun. No prince rescuing involved, thank you very much. Then she must help save her dragon from a group of evil wizards. We LOVE and highly recommend this dragon series.  BOX SET

Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase  by Jonathan Stroud GHOST  ADVENTURE (series) Set in Victorian London, we learn that  dangerous ghosts and spirits are everywhere, but only kids can see them . Teens Lucy, Anthony, and George badly need money for their ghost agency, so they take an inadvisable, perilous job that may just be their last. Sixth graders (and I) love this series with its addicting, edge-of-your-seat writing.

Masterminds  by Gordon Korman SCI-FI (series) Eli and his friends discover that their utopian town is a large-scale, illegal science experiment to determine if kids cloned from criminal masterminds can be good when raised in the right environment.  Eli and his cloned friends know they can’t stay in their town of lies anymore but how can they escape when the minute they reach the border, they experience violent pain and guards surround them? And if they do escape, what will they next?

The Probability of Everything  by Sarah Everett REALISTIC (For this book review, I’m not going to tell you too much about the story– because it would spoil your reading experience.) Kemi adores her close-knit family, her African American artist mom, her baby sister, a baby sibling on the way, and most of all, her beloved Nigerian dad.  When an asteroid threatens everyone on Earth with imminent death, Kemi and her family leave for her cousins’ house, where she starts a time capsule.  The exceptional storytelling is emotional (I cried SO MUCH) and important with themes of family, racism, and values. A must-read, must-experience-for-yourself-kind-of book.

Taking Up Space  by Alyson Gerber REALISTIC / BODY DYSMORPHIA & EATING DISORDERS Sarah’s mom’s dysfunctional relationship with food is affecting Sarah– who now thinks that her slowness in basketball is related to eating too much or too many “unhealthy” foods, instead of being from the normal growing pains of puberty.  She’s confused, starving herself, and stressed out. Finally, a friend pushes Sarah to get help…and, help is just what Sarah needs to understand the truth about her body, what health truly is, and how her mom’s disordered eating has affected her.

The Liar’s Society  written by Alyson Gerber Wetherby is a girl whose sailing skills land her a scholarship at the prestigious Boston School, the school her deceased father attended Boston School. But she gets in on a lie. At the school, Jack is a rich kid whose driven, perfectionist father owns everything, including an island. He and Weatherby get paired up in a sailing team. Both kids are invited to be part of a secret society, which turns out to be made up of other kids who’ve lied, cheated, and stolen, like Jack and Wetherby. Is it the school’s infamous secret society?  Excellent pacing, a compelling story, and rising tension make this a page-turner filled with secrets, truths, and danger. A must-read!

Medusa (The Myth of Monsters, 1)  written by Katherine Marsh Ava and her brother are forced to attend a  special boarding school, Accademia del Forte, for descendants of the  Greek monsters   meant to reform them and the other monstrous students. When the school takes away Ava’s new friend Fia’s voice, Ava, a descendant of Medusa, starts to question who the monsters really are…and if the stories of the gods and goddesses are true. To help her friend Fia get back her voice, Ava and their fury friend Arnold travel to meet Medusa, then Hecate, Hestia, and Metis. They learn that Zeus retold the stories to favor him and to oppress powerful women. A twisty, exciting feminist mythological adventure.

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A Perfect Mistake  by Melanie Conklin MYSTERY  /  ADHD This is a great read for anyone who likes mystery, adventure, and well-developed, interesting characters.  Max is living with the tragic aftermath of a night out that left one of his best friends in a coma. Initially, Max doesn’t want to think about what happened when he snuck out to the Res because he left before his friends did. While he’s trying to navigate school with ADHD and being exceptionally tall, Max also decides he must find out what happened to his friend. And he and a new friend named Sam discover that more than one person is lying.

The War That Saved My Life  by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley HISTORICAL FICTION A Newbery Honor winner!!!  Ada and her brother escape their mother’s abuse when the London children are evacuated during  WWII  and go to live with a grieving woman in a small country town. It’s difficult for both the woman and children to trust each other but slowly the trust grows. As it does, all three regain something lost — hope and love. I can’t recommend this book enough, it will touch your heart at such a deep level.  One of the best books for 6th graders.

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery  by James Ponti MYSTERY Captivating from the first page, 12- year-old Florian Bates uses his brilliant, observing brain to implement T.O.A.S.T. (the Theory of All Small Things) to notice things that others have missed.  Including the FBI when there’s an art heist at the museum his mother works at. The FBI hires him to help unravel a mysterious art heist which he does with the help of his best friend, Margaret. Fast-paced and interesting.

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation  by Sylvia Li u SCIENCE FICTION  (series) In a world where corporations control everything, at age 13, kids get “meshed” into the multiweb.  Hana meets a mysterious hacker who makes her see that getting meshed might not be good. When Hana’s school friends get sicker and sicker, Hana discovers that someone is using kids as human experiments. Even worse, her mom is involved in it. With the help of a wise old man, two friends, and her sister, they work together to help the sick students and stop the corporation’s nefarious plans.

Edge of Extinction The Ark Plan  by Laura Martin ADVENTURE / DYSTOPIAN (series) It’s a dangerous world where cloned  dinosaurs  have taken over above ground. Sky and her fellow humans live belowground with Noah, their supreme ruler. Sky leaves the underground city to find her missing dad. Barely outside a day, she and her friend Shawn meet a human boy who lives in treetop enclaves. But Noah’s soldiers attack, and Sky realizes that everything she believed about Noah is wrong. Mesmerizing and exciting!

Song for a Whale  by Lynne Kelly REALISTIC / DEAF Iris is a lonely Deaf girl who feels alone at her school and in her immediate family. She identifies with Blue 55, the loneliest whale in the world whose song is at a different hertz than other whales. Iris uses her compassionate heart, intelligence, and tinkering skills to write and record a whale song that Blue 55 will hear so he’ll know that he’s not alone. Her subsequent adventure is profoundly life-changing.  This is a heartening, poignant story that gives readers insight Deaf children, the richness of Deaf culture, and the life-changing power of compassion.

Legend of the Dream Giants  by Dustin Hansen  FANTASY A beautifully   crafted story about a young, naive giant named Berg who  doesn’t want to be like the monstrous Ünhold giant. But Berg is manipulated and becomes a prisoner. His friend Anya tries to help Berg see what’s really happening, but Berg believes the human’s lies until tragedy strikes.  This is a story about trust, hope, belonging, friendship, and truth.

Allies  by Alan Gratz HISTORICAL FICTION Written from many different voices about one day in history, readers easily can see the massive amount of cooperation, planning, and troops from different countries involved in D-Day (when the Allies invaded France at Normandy.)  We hear from an American teenage soldier who was born in Germany, a French Algerian girl whose mom is a recently captured spy,  a Canadian paratrooper who lands in the wrong spot, and an American black medic. It’s violent, with terrible losses, racism, and injuries, but the fighters persist despite everything to accomplish their goal — to take back the area for the Allies. 

I Can Make This Promise  by Christine Day REALISTIC An important, heartfelt story about growing up, family, and finding your identity in the context of adoption, the historical maltreatment of Native Americans, and the mystery of your own heritage.  When Edie unexpectedly finds a box of photos and letters from the woman she suspects was her mom’s birth mother, it prompts a journey to discover the truth of her Native heritage. 

Beneath the Swirling Sky   (The Restorationists)  written by Carolyn Leiloglou, illustrated by Vivienne To  FANTASY Vincent learns his mom’s greatest secret when his little sister Lili wanders INTO a painting–and doesn’t come out! His cousin Georgia leads him through paintings, corridors, and museums to find Lili. At the same time, she explains their family’s talent –they travel into paintings to protect the art from other nefarious travelers. They track Lili to where she’s been kidnapped by a mysterious Lady. But they are captured, too. Forced to attend the Lady’s training, it becomes clear that the Lady is using stolen children and art to gain power and wealth. Even still, Vincent never expects the horrifying truth of who the Lady really is!  Fast-paced and exciting with unique world-building, this art-filled, faith-implied,  illustrated  adventure will captivate readers from cover to cover.

Dead City  by James Ponti PARANORMAL / SCI-FI (series) Molly’s recruited to hunt zombies in New York City, just like her mother, who is dead.  Or is mom actually a  zombie ? And why is she trying to contact Molly? This is a terrific action-adventure-mystery book series for 6th graders with a zombie focus.

The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid  by Matt Wallace COMING OF AGE / BULLYING An outstanding, surprisingly philosophical, poignant story about dealing with bullies, growing in confidence, and the complexities of human beings.  Matt doesn’t think he can survive 3 more years of  middle school  bullying so he writes supervillain Master Plan who is also a “gentleman of size”, asking for help. Surprisingly, Master Plan emails back with helpful, sage advice but is Master Plan actually looking out for Max or for himself?

The Fog Diver  by Joel Ross DYSTOPIAN  (series) The world is covered by a deadly “fog” that kills humans, so the humans live only on the highest mountain peaks. Our heroes, a band of scavenging orphans, are trying to find something in the world below that they can sell in order to travel to another city where they can treat the cloud sickness of their beloved mother figure.  Tweens reading this book will love the suspense, the fascinating world, the characters, and the happily ever after. 

Anyone But Ivy Pocket  by Caleb Krisp HUMOR (series) I read many parts out loud to my kids while I was reading this book because they were just so funny!! Now my kids are addicted to this series, too and even talk about it as one of their favorite years later.  Quirky but lovable Ivy’s adventures involve a sinister ghost, a mystical jewel, and a surprising destin y.

The Outcasts: Brotherband Chronicles  by John Flanagan ADVENTURE / FANTASY 6th graders love this well-written book series of a young, fatherless boy named Hal whose mom was an Araluen slave.  To survive the town’s prejudice against him, he is helped by another outcast, his dead father’s former shipmate, a one-armed recovering drunk . When it’s time for his Brotherband training, he becomes the leader of a rag-tag group of boys. They’ll compete against better, stronger teams who don’t always play fair. The stakes are high and Hal must win even with his group of misfits.

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk  by Natasha Farrant HISTORICAL FICTION If you want a new favorite warm-hearted adventure with brave kids, dogs, and a happy ending, you don’t want to miss this captivating and beautiful story.  The war has made Ben an orphan –again. All that he has left are his dog and his dad’s boat, the Sparrowhawk. When a policeman gets suspicious of Ben’s living situation and his new friend, Lotti’s abusive guardians try to kill her rescue dog, the two friends set off on the boat for France to find Ben’s missing older brother. The boat isn’t meant for a channel crossing but the two kids are determined to make it work…but it won’t be easy. Nor will it be easy to find Ben’s missing brother in a country decimated by war.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief  by A.F. Steadman FANTASY In Skandar’s world with bloodthirsty  unicorns  and unicorn riders, he’s denied as a unicorn rider until a mysterious woman sneaks him in.  He learns he and his unicorn have the forbidden 5th spirit element like the evil Weaver who has been wreaking destruction and stealing unicorns.  His new friends help him hide the magic and control his unicorn, who hates pretending to be a water elemental. But he and his unicorn’s elemental magic may be the only ones who can stop the Weaver.

Refugee  by Alan Gratz HISTORICAL Follow three distinct, alternating stories about being displaced from your country, on the run, and in danger.  First is a young  Jewish  boy who escapes from Nazi Germany on a ship to Cuba, only to be turned away from the Cuban port and sent back to Europe. Next is a Cuban girl in the 1990s who, with her family and neighbors, flees in a homemade raft to the United States at great peril. Last is a Syrian boy whose home is bombed in a country at war. He and his family travel a great distance to find a country that will allow them shelter. Gatz skillfully connects all three stories with a satisfying, realistic conclusion.

Escape from Atlantis  by Kate O’Hearn SCIENCE FICTION (series) Don’t miss this wildly inventive, exciting, and thought-provoking adventure.  Riley, her dad, her cousin, and her aunt are sailing in the Bermuda Triangle when they’re attacked by a leviathan. Riley and her unpleasant cousin, Alfie, wake up on an island with overly friendly, rule-centered people including half-animal people. They soon learn the sinister truth of the rule-centric community and are determined to escape.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library   by Chris Grabenstein ADVENTURE (series) Kyle and a few classmates win a sleepover at the new town newly created library by game-creator Mr. Lemoncello.  The silly Mr. Lemoncello devises a fun way to get OUT of the library — you can only get out if you solve the puzzles around the entire library. Will the kids work together or will it be every child for himself?  BOX SET

Blended  by Sharon Draper REALISTIC Isabella spends one week with her dad and his girlfriend, the next week with her mom and her boyfriend, and she hates it.  She feels like nowhere is home, she’s always visiting. And her parents, one who is white and one who is black, don’t get along. Tensions between the families get worse when both parents decide to remarry — on the same date. Add to this hurtful race issues like when she and her stepbrother are pulled over because he’s Black. This middle grade book captures Isabella’s feelings as she searches for who she is in her own story.

The Monster Missions  by Laura Martin  DYSTOPIAN If your tweens like adventure, fast-paced action, cool world-building, and heroic kids, then give them this book next!  In a post-apocalyptic world covered by water, Berkly rescues her ship from a sea monster and is taken to a mysterious submarine to hunt monsters. When their sub is hijacked by pirates, she uses the sea creatures in the aquarium tanks to stop them.

Rump  by Liesl Shurtliff FRACTURED FAIRY TALE  (series) In this powerful story from Rumplestiltskin’s  perspective , you’ll read how Rump discovers who he is and grows into his potential.  It takes some work, but Rump learns he’s trapped in his mom’s magical “rumple” which requires him to make straw into gold for any trade that another person offers. This is what the miller takes advantage of, leaving Rump without options or any control. With the help of his troll friends, his friend Red, and his aunts, Rump finds a way to stop the magical curse and give the queen back her child.

Black Brother Black Brother  by Jewell Parker Rhodes PREJUDICE / COMING OF AGE / FENCING Twins with very different skin colors, one whiter and one darker, are treated differently, most noticeable at their school.  Donte is unfairly accused of something and when he tries to defend himself, the police are called, and he’s suspended from school. Not to mention, a popular guy at his school calls Donte “black brother” because he’s darker than his twin, Trey. Donte starts fencing to get revenge but as he trains, he finds that he’s smart, good at fencing, and courageous. If you think the world still isn’t racist and colorist, read this compelling story, and you’ll see that we still have a long way to go.

Greetings From Witness Protection  by Jake Burt ADVENTURE A winsome story of adventure and finding where you belong.  Nicki leaves the group home to live with a family in the witness protection program.  She likes her newest foster family and takes her role seriously. She must stay vigilant against potential threats, not stand out, and try to keep her kleptomania under control. As she grows closer to her new family, both their past and hers catch up to them.

Whale of the Wild  by Rosanne Parry, illustrated by Lindsay Moore ENVIRONMENT / OCEAN / ANIMALS Beautiful, this story about two orca siblings separated from their families, trying to find food and their seasonal home, is filled with adventure and danger and suspense.  After her mother loses a calf, Vega leaves her pod to bury her little sister, her brother chasing after her. Then, a Tsunami hits and they both are lost from their pod. Vega, a stranger, and her little brother travel together toward recognizable landscapes and hopefully, food. As they journey, they meet other orca pods with different customs and who eat different foods, as well as other sea creatures. 

Daughter of the Deep  by Rick Riordan SCI-FI ADVENTURE Get ready for action, intrigue, plot twists, and super-cool technology in the book for 6th graders!  Ana’s freshman class at her specialized marine and naval academy are the only survivors after the academy is blown up. As the class races to escape on a ship, their chaperone reveals that Jules Verne’s novels based on Captain Nemo are mostly true and Ana’s the only surviving relative of Captain Nemo. They must thwart the first of many attacks and then evade the enemies to find Nemo’s infamous ship, the Nautilus. 

A Place to Hang the Moon  by Kate Albus HISTORICAL FICTION An absolutely wonderful, heartwarming historical fiction story with close-knit siblings who stick together and eventually find their forever home.  Evacuated from London during  WWII  these siblings need to find a new home. Unfortunately, their placements are horrid. It’s only the library and the kind librarian who help them survive the bullying and hunger. Unfortunately, the librarian is deemed “unsuitable” to be their foster mother since her missing husband is German. When things go from bad to worse in their latest home, can the children fight for a home with the librarian no matter what the town thinks?

The Worst Class Trip Ever  by Dave Barry HUMOR While on a class trip to Washington D.C., Wyatt and his best friend, Matt, are positive they’ve discovered a plot to blow up the White House.  Wyatt’s crush, Suzanna, helps the friends make a plan, and as you can imagine, disaster and humor strike as the kids try to stop the bombing.

Ali Cross  by James Patterson MYSTERY ADVENTURE If you want an enthralling adventure & mystery that you can’t put down, read this one next.  It’s Christmas Eve and Ali’s friend Gabe is missing, his FBI agent dad is falsely accused of murdering an old man, and someone broke into their house while they were at church and stole his dad’s service weapon. Ali knows he has to try to fix things, starting by finding his friend Gabe. Don’t miss book two,  Like Father, Like Son .

Jinxed  by Amy McCulloch SCIENCE FICTION  (series) Tech company MONCHA makes computerized pets called bakus that act like smartphones and computers. Lacey finds an unusual, half-destroyed cat baku and rebuilds it using a 3D printer and found parts. She starts competing with other kids at her prestigious school in the battle of the bakus. When Jinx doesn’t follow the rules, it leads to two bad things — his capture and the discovery of a sinister truth about the MONCHA company.  Fantastic, fast-paced, and thought-provoking.

The Canyon’s Edge  by Dusti Bowling ADVENTURE Written in verse , this is a heart-wrenching, heart-stopping, suspenseful adventure about  Nora and her dad’s climb into a Sonoran Desert canyon for the first time in the year since Nora’s mom died. Just as Nora tells her father she hates him, a flash flood careens through the canyon, carrying her father and their supplies away. Alone and terrified, Nora forces herself to find shelter and keep searching for her father, even with the venom from a scorpion bite slowing her down.

Odd and the Frost Giants  by Neil Gaiman FANTASY If your child hasn’t learned about  Norse mythology , this will be a great (short) intro!  To end the long winter, Odd must journey to find Asgard, a city under siege from the Frost Giants.  A wonderful, nail-biting adventure and a great book to read for 6th graders.

A Tale of Dark and Grimm  by Adam Gidwitz FANTASY (series) Bloody and macabre, Hansel and Gretel abandon their terrible parents in order to find better ones –ones that won’t try to kill them.  The narrator warns us of the bloody things to come. While he’s sometimes distracting, for the most part, his snarky voice kept me from getting too freaked out by the gruesome parts. Once in the wild forest, Hansel transforms into a ravenous, hunter-beast, and Gretel continues on her own. 

The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams  written by Mindy Thompson HISTORICAL FICTION  /  TIME TRAVEL In this historical  time-travel  story,  Poppy’s family’s magical bookshop is open to anyone from any time period if they need it!  But it’s losing its magic. Dark creeps in, influencing the customers with anger and lies. Even worse, Poppy’s brother, Al, in his grief over his best friend’s death in WWII, is taken over by the Dark. And Papa is very sick. Poppy must save both the shop and her brother, but how?  I loved this sweet, exciting, and unique story, and so will anyone who loves bookstores, stories with themes of good vs. evil, family, and awesome heroes.

Brothers Keeper  by Julie Lee HISTORICAL FICTION Based on her grandmother’s escape from North Korea, this historical fiction story is  a powerful read that captures the fearful culture of North Korea, the marginalization of females, and the bond between siblings.  As war erupts between North and South Korea, Sora and her family decide to flee from North Korea while they still have a chance. As they continue south, they experience death, kidnapping, starvation, killings, and winter’s brutal cold with the Red Army marching right behind them. Amazingly, the two siblings make it south, where they’re reunited with their family.

Across the Desert   by Dusti Bowling  REALISTIC / DRUG ADDICTION Jolene is a brave girl who has been secretly dealing with her mother’s opioid addiction and makes a daring (and foolheartedly) trek to the desert to rescue her only friend. She steals her mom’s phone and credit card and takes the bus as close as she can to Addie’s location, planning to walk to find Addie. On the bus, she meets a kind and helpful teenager named Marty who, despite Jolene’s reluctance and mistrust, helps Jolene.  The story is about trust, relationships, boundaries, addiction, survival, and family.

Tornado Brain  by Cat Patrick MYSTERY  / NEURODIVERSITY When 7th grade Frankie’s former best friend, Colette, vanishes, Frankie begins to look for clues on her own. As she does, we see how complicated it is to be in her brain.  Loud noises, changes, touch, and so many things affect her intensely. Frankie realizes that Colette was trying to finish the list of dares that they made up when they were younger. The mystery of Colette’s whereabouts keeps every moment of the story suspenseful. It’s a brilliant, touching first-person story that gives us insights into a neurodivergent character’s brain in a suspenseful mystery story.

To Catch a Cheat  by Varian Johnson MYSTERY (series) Someone is trying to frame Jackson for a prank he didn’t even commit  — and they’re doing a great job of it! It will take months to prove the video is falsified and by then Jackson will have missed the robot contest due to his punishment. Jackson and his friends are determined to prove their innocence but it won’t be easy. This is a great adventure filled with twists and turns.

When the World Was Ours  by Liz Kessler HISTORICAL FICTION  /  WWII Three friends in Vienna, Leo, Max, and Elsa, become separated by war, location, and ideology. Leo and Elsa are  Jewish , so their path includes ghetto housing, escape, and prison camp. But, Max is not Jewish and to gain the approval of his brutal Nazi father, he pursues Nazi beliefs, despite the nagging voice that reminds him that his friends weren’t “dogs” or less than human.  The story’s conclusion weaves together their stories in a heartbreaking, beautiful ending that will leave you with a lot to discuss humanity, morality, hope, and love.

Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties  by Kellye Crocker I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting! Ava’s dad surprises her with a visit to his girlfriend in the mountains of Colorado. This is a big problem for Ava because 1) a GIRLFRIEND? and 2) the mountains are DANGEROUS! (Ava knows!) Even though the Girlfriend’s daughter Z is nice, Ava wants to go home, so she sabotages the trip. But they don’t go home and Ava ends up hurting her new friend Z and her new ally, the Girlfriend, who is keeping a big secret.  This is an emotional, multi-layered story of change, family, growing up, and living with anxiety with a main character you will adore.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life  by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, illustrated by Laura Park FUNNY What a totally hilarious premise paired with fantastic writing!  Rafe’s goal in middle school is to break every single rule.  You can imagine how his plan will go, right? Filled with cartoon-like illustrations, this good book for 6th graders is going to crack you up and be a hit with 6th grade kids.

Farther Than the Moon  by Lindsay Lackey REALISTIC Houston wants to find a way for his brother Robbie to go to space even though there’s never been an astronaut with CP. At space camp, he meets his astronaut grandfather for the first time –and is rejected. Plus, he’s fighting with his fellow crewmates. Then, Houston gets surprising advice from the person he least expects–about taking responsibility for his actions and putting the crew first. When he apologizes to his crew, it changes everything for the better.  This stor y  helps us   see someone as MORE than their disability and is filled with wisdom, heartfelt writing, and relatable and interesting characters.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict  by Trenton Lee Stewart MYSTERY  9-year-old Nicholas Benedict, a genius orphan with narcolepsy, lives in a poorly run orphanage where he’s maltreated and bullied.  In this prequel to the series, Nicholas discovers there’s a treasure somewhere in the orphanage. While he and his friend search, he finds a way to improve life for all the kids living there. Boxed set  here .

Sweep  by Jonathan Auxier HISTORICAL FICTION Set in Victorian London, this is a beautiful, bittersweet story about a young girl and her protector  golem . To survive, Nan works for a cruel chimney sweep who uses children to make himself richer. When another sweep tries to burn Nan alive, a charcoal golem, formerly a piece of charcoal left to her by Sweep, emerges to save her. She and her growing protector golem, Char, find a new place to live but must stay vigilant so her old master doesn’t find them. On their own, they are helped by a street boy and a kind Jewish teacher.

A Seed in the Sun  by Aida Salazar  HISTORICAL FICTION A tender and poignant middle-grade  novel in verse  showing an important time in history, the power of collective voices against injustices, and a girl finding her strength.  Lula’s family are migrant workers. When Lula’s mom gets sick from pesticides, they can only get her medical care if they join the worker strikes started by Phillipino migrant workers. Eventually, her violent dad is convinced to join the strike which transforms their family, gives the girls hope, and helps Lula’s mom get health care.

The Night Diary  by Veera Hiranandani HISTORICAL FICTION Written in a diary as letters to her Mama,  Nisha shares how her life is turned upside down when the British rule of India ends in 1947, splitting the country into two  — the Muslim north where she lives becomes Pakistan and the Hindu south remains India. Even though Nisha’s mom was Muslim, Nisha, her brother, her doctor Papa and her grandmother are forced to leave their home in the north because they are Hindu. There’s violence everywhere; nowhere is safe, not even the trains. It’s a harrowing journey and confusing time. One of the best books for 6th graders to teach about this historical time.

All of Me  by Chris Baron REALISTIC / BODY IMAGE Ari’s lonely since his dad left, and he’s  bullied for being fat and Jewish.  Ari hates being fat so much that one day, he hurts himself. So, his mom helps him start a diet which works to help him lose weight –but it doesn’t fix everything. As Ari grows into himself, he is supported by a kind rabbi who accepts him unconditionally offering patience and wisdom.  Soon, Ari realizes that he’s more than his weight.  This is a moving and powerful story with heart and hope.

Pippa Park Raises Her Game  by Erin Yun REALISTIC / KOREAN CULTURE Korean-American Pippa is a great basketball player but her guardian older sister won’t let her play unless her grades improve. Math tutoring by a cute, rich boy leads to a scholarship at a prestigious private school and Pippa uses the new school to reinvent herself, hiding her background from the popular kids (not wealthy, from a rival middle school.)  Ultimately,   Pippa decides not to be ashamed of her working-class family, her culture, or her friends. 

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis FANTASY Fast-paced with Celtic mythology, read about a foster child attending a magical school and searching for answers about her mysterious heritage.  Kelcie is a foster kid raised in the human world. At the Academy, she discovers that she’s a mistrusted elemental called a Saiga, a mistrusted elemental, and finds friends who help her learn about her unique powers. They’ll also fight the monsters who continue to attack Kelcie. 

Skyborn Sparrow Rising  by Jessica Khoury FANTASY  (series) Ellie is an orphan Sparrow girl in a world of avian-human caste system who flees the orphanage so she can compete for a coveted spot in the knight training school. She travels with a group of thieves and their friendship and adventures open her eyes to who is actually honorable and heroic. She also discovers that the stolen gargol eye has powerful healing properties.  This fantasy adventure checks all the boxes with a courageous main character and complicated companions, an interesting world, and lots of surprises.

Lifeboat 12  by Susan Hood HISTORICAL FICTION Thinking Hitler will invade England next, Ken’s family sends him to safety in Canada. But,  Ken’s ship is torpedoed and sunk only days into the journey.  Written in verse, this is a moving account of bravery as Ken, several other kids, a priest, the ship’s only woman, and members of the crew spend weeks adrift at sea in an ill-stocked lifeboat. You’ll read about their swollen feet, dehydration, and starvation as well as the stories and songs that helped keep the kids distracted and somewhat hopeful. Ultimately, you’ll be left with a sense of amazement at the resiliency of the human spirit. 

The Serpent’s Secret ( Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1)  by Sayantani Dasgupta INDIAN  MYTHOLOGY (series) This story pulls you in from the first page.  Kiranmala discovers on her 12th birthday that she’s a princess from another realm and her parents are trapped in a black hole type place.  But there’s a lot more she’ll learn — like who her real parents are (yikes!) and that demons can be your friends. The prince’s demon grandma, Ai-Ma, is my FAVORITE character. She says things like “ Be good, sweet beetle-dung toadstools. ” Okay, Kiranmala’s parents are super awesome, too. You’ll love every second of this entertaining, Indian mythology adventure.

Keeper of the Lost Cities  by Shannon Messenger FANTASY (series) I stayed up all night to finish this book –it was fantastic! Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. And Sophie has a secret;  she’s a Telepath and not human . She must leave the human world for the Elvin world where she’ll face danger from both worlds. Her only hope is to regain the memories about her past.

Origami Yoda  by Tom Angleberger HUMOR / MAGICAL REALISM (series) A funny but poignant story of middle-school angst and discovery! Unpopular Dwight can make origami Star Wars characters. When his puppet of Yoda comes to life, just like Yoda, the origami Yoda is wise and helpful during the many trials of Dwight’s middle school experience.

Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows  by Ryan Calejo FANTASY Get ready for an exciting adventure filled with Latin American and Spanish mythology!  This story is the perfect balance of action, dialogue, & description interspersed with Spanish words and phrases. Charlie Hernández’s house burns down, his parents go missing, and he is sent to a foster home. But it’s when he grows HORNS, the WINGS, and meets the MYTHS in real life — like calacas, mukis, and El Justo Juez — that he’s really freaked out. Fortunately, a  persistent classmate Violet Rey (also his crush) helps Charlie follow the clues to find out what happened to his parents — and discover what it has to do with La Mano Peluda and the prophesied Morphling who is meant to save the world.

Words on Fire  by Jennifer A. Nielsen HISTORICAL FICTION Nielsen deftly captures the history of Lithuania’s book smugglers as well as the fundamental truth that books give readers freedom from oppression; books keep alive a language, culture, and identity, no matter how hard someone tries to erase it.  Audra doesn’t know her parents are book smugglers until they are arrested by the Cossacks. She flees to their contact’s house, not wanting anything to do with smuggling books. Part of her reluctance is because she herself can’t read or write but she slowly learns and develops a passion for stories. Not only that, she became a clever smuggler.

A Wrinkle in Time   by Madeline L’Engle SCI-FI  (series) I’ve read this book so many times, I can’t count — many times with my classes as a read aloud — and every time it’s just as fantastic. (That doesn’t always happen with books.)  A Wrinkle in Time  is a remarkable, well-written  adventure in space that deals with the overarching theme of good vs. evil.  Meg and her brother, Charles Wallace, and friend, Calvin, set off to find her scientist father who disappeared while researching tesseracts.

The Language of Spells  by Garret Weyr, illustrated by Katie Harnett FANTASY Beautiful storytelling! Grisha is a dragon who spends a few hundred years enchanted as a teapot. Once he’s a dragon again, he meets a lonely girl whose first and only friend is him. Grisha slowly begins to remember that an evil wizard has imprisoned other dragons.  He and Maggie decide to find the missing dragons and free them — no matter the cost. And there will be a cost. The ending is HEARTBREAKING but so, so good.

Running Out of Night  by Sharon Lovejoy HISTORICAL FICTION  I highly recommend this  powerful story of two maltreated girls who hope for a better future.  The narrator is a white girl in the south who is nothing more than a slave to her family, she doesn’t even have a name. She meets and joins a runaway slave who is escaping the horrific brutality of slavery and separation from her family. Together they find kindness and hope with a Quaker family.

The Adventurers Guild  by Zach Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos FANTASY Get ready for your new favorite  middle grade fantasy  adventure series. Zed and Brock don’t want to be chosen for the Adventurers Guild. Nobody does.  Unlike the mages or merchants guild, the adventurers must leave the safety of their walled city to fight the monsters who live on the outside.  Unfortunately, Zed and Brock are picked as Adventurers. And before they can finish training, Zed, Brock, and others are sent outside the city on a fact-finding mission that uncovers treachery, fiendish beasts, and Zed’s untapped magic. Imaginative world-building, intriguing plot twists, and complex characters kept me enthralled from page one!

Swim Team  by Johnnie Christmas REALISTIC / GRAPHIC NOVEL Bree and her dad move to Florida, where she has to take Swim 101 at school . But she ditches because she can’t swim and is afraid. luckily, her neighbor and babysitter is a former swim team captain, and she teaches Bree how to swim. When Bree accidentally makes the swim team, she learns about teamwork and friendship. This is a wonderful feel-good story about failure, perseverance, and teamwork.

Ghost Boys  by Jewell Parker Rhodes REALISTIC This book brilliantly  addresses the very real issue of police violence against black children, but it does not vilify or stereotype.  The author shows us the complexity of issues and the humanity of a police officer from the perspective of his daughter. After Jerome is shot by her father, he becomes a ghost. Sarah is the only one who can see and talk to him. Except for the other ghost boys who he’ll find out were also killed in racially motivated violence. 

Race to the Sun  by Rebecca Roanhorse FANTASY / MYTHOLOGY The compelling, well-written story jumps into the action immediately when Nizhoni, from the Diné (Navajo) people, sees a monster (disguised as a human) at her basketball game.  Making matters worse, it’s her dad’s new boss who kidnaps her dad and wants her little brother, too. She escapes with her brother and best friend to ask the Spider Woman for help, learning that she and her brothers are the descendants of the Hero Twins. Her journey challenges her with heroic trials to meet the Sun who will give her weapons to fight the monsters and culminating in a fierce battle between the good guys and the monsters. 

The Shape of Time (Rymworld Arcana)  by Ryan Calejo SCI-FI  /  TIME TRAVEL Our hero, Antares, is kidnapped and taken to a prison in another world. He meets two other prisoners who explain that his world is flat and surrounded by a world outside the edges called Rymworld. Rymworld is in peril from a group of mystics who seek to control time. Antares escapes prison with his friend, Magdavellía, but they’re almost immediately kidnapped AGAIN by space pirate aliens.  Encountering one problem after another, the friends race to find the mysterious star artifact and, possibly, Antares’ missing parents. Detailed, creative world-building, this is a thrilling adventure that many kids will love.

Brick Dust and Bones  by M.R. Forunet  GHOST STORY Marius Grey is a 12-year-old Cajun Cemetery Boy and student. But he’s also working nights as a monster hunter  to earn mystic coins for a  really  important spell that will bring his mother back to life…and time is running out. In desperation, Marius decides to hunt one of the most dangerous monsters in the swamp, a rougarou, even though his only friend, a monstrous mermaid, doesn’t want Marius to risk his life. The story is compelling and entertaining, with a heroic main character who loves his mom more than anything. You won’t be able to put this one down!

The Bridge Home   by Padma Venkatraman REALISTIC Set in India, Viji and her little sister Rukku run away from an abusive father and sick mother. They meet two friendly brothers and join them under a bridge, scrabbling to survive by collecting trash. Unfortunately, Rukku gets a terrible cough and fever, and what happens next will almost destroy Viji. Ultimately, it is the kindness of her new family that helps her see more in the future than misery. It’s an honest, eye-opening story that reveals the plight of many homeless children in India and yet, finds a way to be hopeful, too.

Amal Unbound  by Aisha Saeed HISTORICAL FICTION Amal’s life is turned upside down when she offends a regional Pakistani overlord and is forced to leave her home and school to work in his home as a servant  — indefinitely. She finds her inner strength and fights back, freeing herself and the other household slaves. The author deftly sets the scene of rural Pakistan. Readers will feel transported, feel the injustice, and cheer for Amal’s bravery.

Paper Wishes  by Lois Sepahban HISTORICAL It would be hard as an author not to vilify this country for sending thousands of Japanese Americans to prison camps. But this author doesn’t. She just skillfully shares the evocative story of 10-year-old Manami of Washington State, who is sent with her family to a dusty camp, leaving behind her beloved dog, Yujiin, and everything else they owned. Devastated, Manami stops speaking. Her story is painful, sprinkled with hope, and all too real. Please read this with your kids– it’s important.

Midnight Without a Moon  by Linda Williams Jackson HISTORICAL (series) Rose Lee Carter is a girl who is raised by her grandma and father, works in the cotton fields, and is best friends with the preacher’s son.  She dreams of leaving Mississippi for the north like her mom and aunt, especially after the white men who killed Emmett Till are found not guilty in a real-life historical trial.

Do graphic novels count as good books for 6th graders?

Yes! Reading graphic novels requires literacy skills and strategies including sequencing, drawing inferences, and predicting. The graphic novels of today are fully developed narrative stories with a story arc and complex characters. Reading books like graphic novels counts as reading books!

What are good books for a 6th grade book club?

Go to this list  of books to find recommendations for your book club. That being said, any book on this list that interests your child or student can be good to read and discuss.

What book from this list should tweens read first?

Whatever looks interesting to your readers should be the book they read. There’s something for everyone on this book list.

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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Book Review Template for Kids (Tips & Activities)

• July 21, 2019
• Kids Printables

Aren’t your kids interested in reading more books? How can you enhance their understanding skills after reading a book? 

Here is a solution ! How about asking them to write a review? Don’t be funny you say ! No, I am just saying if you have colorful “ Book Review Templates” for kids , you can actually ask them to write what they understood.  

Ask your kids to share their point of view and discuss about it with their friends and family. While this is a small circle, writing a review about the book will help them introduce it a bigger circle or people, at the same time improve their thinking and writing skills.

You might want to check out book templates for kids , who are interested in compiling or writing a book. 

Your kids read books? Do they have the habit of sharing their view about the books? Do they share their review about every book they read? Or do you want your kid to write review about the books they read? Do you want to teach them on how to write a book review? Well, this topic is help and satisfy all the above needs.

Yes, In this article we are going to see in detail about what is book review and how to make your kids write a book review. We are here to help you with the wonderful set of templates that will help teach your kids and encourage them write review about books. All you have to do is just a click away, select the template you like from here, download it, print and teach your kids on how to write a book review with the help of it. All these templates are available for free and you can download and use it anytime, anywhere.

What are Book Review Templates?

First of all let us see what is book review template and what are the components in it to be filled. As the name says, it is nothing but the template to write review about books, which will help you teach your kids on how to write a book review and what all needs to be included/excluded while writing a book review. Below are some of the components that needs to be filled in order to complete a Book review.

• Title – Name of the book
• Author/Illustrator – Name of the Author and/or Illustrator of the book
• Word difficulty – They need to predict the difficulty level they had while reading the book. For Example, Too easy, Just right, Medium, Too hard,
• Did your like the book/Rating – This is to rate the book. As it is for kids, it can be represented with the STAR rating. If not, by numbers. For example, 4.2 out of 5. Or you can ask them to describe the book in one word by proving them a set of words to choose. For example, Exiting, boring, impressive, stupid, funny, sad, heart warming, interesting, excellent, entertaining, educational and so on.
• Summary in one sentence – Ask them to summarize the story of the book in a sentence, that needs to be short and crisp.
• Characters – Describe in brief about the character involved in the book.
• What was your favorite part of the book? / What I liked best – This will help them recollect the memories of reading the book and describe their favorite part in the book.
• What I didn’t like – Ask them to summarize the part of book which the kids did not like
• Draw your favorite character from the book – If it is a picture book or activity book that would contain more pictures and images, then you can guide them to draw their favorite character from the book.
• Draw your favorite scene from the book – every kids will have a favorite part from the book and you can encourage them to visualize their favorite scene, which in-turn will develop their drawing skills also.
• Recommendation – They can tick mark the box. For example, Highly Recommended, Reasonable, Not recommended.
• Reviewer Name – Your kids name who is writing the review.
• Date – date on which the review was written.

These are few of the points that must be covered as part of a book review. Apart from this the kids can add anything extra as part of the template while writing the review.

Are your kids exited to write a book review? Wondering how to guide them on it? Then we are here to help you, as we have provided wonderful set of book review templates for kids in this page that will attract your kids. Do you want to make one on your own? Well, that is allowed as well. All you have to do is to just chose your template from here and download it for free. As we have designed it for your ease, you can just edit the template as per your need by changing the font, background, borderline of the template etc and create/make your own Book review templates within seconds,without spending even a single penny from your pocket. Is it not amazing? Create one instantly and help your kids write a book review.

Uses of Book review template?

Let us see below the uses of writing a book review.

• Will help the kids to improve their creative writing skills and reading comprehension.
• Will encourage the kids to share their opinion
• Will help others to decide on whether to read/purchase the book or not.
• Will provide the in-depth analysis of the story and content of the book.
• Will capture the main theme of the book and help readers understand the author’s style.

These are few of the benefits of writing a book review. Apart from these it will improve their book reading skills and increase their interest to read more books and write review for those.

How to use – Book review template for teaching in classroom

In order to help teachers with book review templates and few sample activities that would help them teach in the classroom,we have listed few activities as below to make their work easy:

• Providing Sample Book review – You can take few sample reviews written by others for a book and share it in the classroom for the kids to basically understand what is a book review and what are the basic elements and points to be captured while writing a book review. Best source to teach them is from the famous/favorite magazine or even newspaper.
• Together read a book review – Pick up an appropriate and favorite book review and read it aloud along with the students in the classroom. Cover everything from title of the book, author, brief summary of the book, strengths and weakness and your own personal opinion about the book.
• Provide a book to review – Provide a book or a short story to read in the classroom and write their review about it. Encourage them to make note of the key points of the story Post which you can read the review they have written and correct those along with the students.
• Questions about the book – Provide a book review template template and guide them with few questions that will help them recollect the incidents in the story and come-up with a good review. Questions should cover on the genre of the book (whether it is Comic or fantasy or detective or humor),  about the favorite part of the book, likes and dis-likes, about the main characters of the book, briefly about the author of the book, did they enjoy reading the story, etc. Also ensure to have their reviews explained in details. 
• Classroom flip book review activity – Prepare a flip book with an interesting topic and introduce it to the students. Provide them with a book review template from him as per your wish and let them write review on the flip book. This will help them improve their thinking capacity as well.

  How to use – Book Review template for students

Making children write a book review is a great way to motivate them to read lot of books. Having said that let us see few activities  that will help them learn and write a good and perfect book review.

• Book review activity Packet – You can choose a sample book for the students to read, be it a short-story or fun book or a comic story. To start with you can provide them a book under their favorite genre which will help them read it with full involvement and write a good review. Then you can choose a template from here for there to express their thought and opinion about the book and write a review.
• Character book review Activity – Decide a book for the student to read, preferably a picture book or fun book. Later you can collect the pictures of the different characters in the book and make cards out of it. Once the student completes the book, you can provide these cards carrying different characters in the book and as them to write review about each character. This will help children to understand and judge themselves with how much involvement they have read the book.

All the activities listed above looks awesome right? Waiting to involve your kids/students in reading books and write a review for the book? Then you can involve them in any of the above activities. To start with, you can make them read a book of their favorite genre, which will help them practice writing a book review at initial times.

Can Book Review Template help kids to learn science?

In order to make students develop their interest towards science, you can introduce it to them through book review activity as well. Wondering how? Here is an example for you to help them develop their interest towards science. You can create a Flip book with different forms of energy (like heat, sound,chemical,thermal etc) or any other science related topics like state of matter or chemical changes, with the pictures related to it. You can ask students to make a research on each of the picture in the flip book, hence introducing science to them.

Help them in understand it which in-turn will make them write good reviews. Later, once they complete the flip book, provide them with few book review templates and as them to write their opinion about each science topic in the flip book, that will help them know their understanding about the science and develop interest towards science. Similarly you can make them read various science related fun books (like 11 Experiments That Failed or Ada Twist – Scientist) which will introduce science to them and ask them to write review for the same.

Tips to help your kids write a book review

Writing a book review is not an easy task for the children at initial times. Below are you tips which will help you guide your children to write a good book review.

• Motivate them to make note of the important points while reading the books. This will help them remember the favorite characters and scenes in the book.
• Make them ask questions about the book to come-up with an perfect book review.
• Guide them to have a structure for the book review they write. For example , starting from the Author to the strength and weakness of the book.
• You should be ready to proofread it at the end. Once the kids complete writing a review, you should have a check on it for any spelling mistakes, meaning of the phrases and help them correct their mistakes in the next review.

Do’s and Don’ts of a Book review

Having discussed in details on how to write a book review, we shall now see the do;s and dont’s while reviewing a book.

• Provide a short phrase/title that will explain your review’s content.
• Be very specific in describing what you liked or did not like in the book. Do not generally say “it was bad”,”not satisfactory”. Describe why was it bad and not satisfactory.
• Do not drag the review too long. Make it crisp and brief. Do not completely summarize the book.
• Do not criticize it badly just because it was not as how you expected.
• Describe your favorite character and be very careful and conscious in what you say about the story to avoid controversies.

Following these  points along with the tips, you can select any of the activities along with the book review template from our page and teach your kids on how to write a good book review.

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Read With Jenna Jr. 2024: See all 29 books on the kid-friendly reading list

Summer vacation means more time for reading — for fun! Jenna Bush Hager is here to help with her annual Read With Jenna Jr. list, designed for kids across an array of ages.

"The list has everything. It has picture books. It has middle grade. It has books for young adults. It has books for boys and girls alike. It has something for everyone," she tells TODAY.com.

The list is comprised of a "diverse group of awesome authors" offering picks across age ranges: Picture books, middle grade books and YA picks.

As with the books she chooses for her adult book club, Jenna has one criteria: "Books that are impossible to put down."

Download and print the entire list here .

Jenna has passed on her love of reading to her kids, Mila, 11, Poppy, 8, and Hal, 4.

“We read every night together as a family,” Jenna once told TODAY. “Teaching a kid or watching a kid learn how to read is evolutionarily one of the most beautiful things that can happen as a parent."

She said she tries to "model reading" whenever possible, to signal that reading is a worthwhile way to pass the time.

“I’m not worried about raising a reader because we model reading all the time,” the avid bookworm said. “They’ll come into my room, and I’ll be reading.” 

As to what they're reading? Jenna lets them pick. When Mila read "The Summer I Turned Pretty," a YA book, Jenna encouraged her, even though it broached subjects like dating.

“I would so much rather my kids read something and get to come to their mom’s bedside and say, ‘Hey Mom, I didn’t quite get this,’ and me be able to lead the conversation than her having ‘influencers’ do that for her,” Jenna said. “That’s what I believe, and I’m the daughter of a librarian.”

Below, find her RWJ Jr. picks for 2024, and see what's appealing to the kid in your life.

Picture books

"endlessly ever after: pick your path to countless fairytale endings" by laurel snyder.

"Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairytale Endings!"

This picture book allows the reader to become the storyteller and choose their own path throughout the fairytale, changing the story as they go. The best part? It can be read over and over with different endings so it never gets old!

"My Thoughts Have Wings" by Maggie Smith

"My Thoughts Have Wings"

Poet Maggie Smith writes a calming story for little ones who struggle to turn off their thoughts at night, highlighting the power of love when it comes to soothing bedtime anxiety.

"Maxine Gets A Job" by Alexandra Garyn and Bryan Reisberg

"Maxine Gets a Job"

As a talented dog, Maxine the Fluffy Corgi feels it's time to get a job. She starts by trying some of her other friends' jobs like lifeguarding and pulling sleds, but she fails each time. By the end, Maxine figures out that the key to finding the right job is doing what she loves.

"Gaga Mistake Day" by Emma Straub and Susan Straub

"Gaga Mistake Day"

Grandma-grandchild playdates, especially with Gaga, are always filled with silly antics like bubble baths with overflowing bubbles and lots of pre-dinner sweets. Gaga is mischievous and goofy, and she inspires grandma-grandchild duos everywhere to act spontaneously.

"Perla The Mighty Dog" by Isabel Allende

"Perla the Mighty Dog"

Perla the mighty dog is as lovable as she is loud whens she roars. When Perla finds out her human brother Nico Rico is being bullied at school, she steps in to help him stand up for himself against the bully.

"Floof" by Heidi McKinnon

"Floof" by Heidi McKinnon

Floof is a floofy, mischievous cat with lots of friends to see, hobbies to do and work to accomplish. Follow Floof through a humorous cat to-do list that also teaches the importance of self-love, self-love and self-belief.

"All I Need to Be" by Rachel Ricketts

"All I Need to Be"

Bestselling author, spiritual activist and racial justice educator Rachel Ricketts teaches children mindfulness-based practices to utilize when faced with fear, anxiety and racial injustice. Ricketts encourages children to look within themselves and celebrate who they are.

"Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn" by Shannon Hale

"Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn"

After deciding he wants to become a mermaid, Unicorn garners the help of his best friend Kitty. But the DIY project doesn't go as planned, and Unicorn doesn't feel so beautiful in the aftermath. Kitty eases his insecurities, hoping to make him feel like his enchanting self again.

"I’ll See You in Ijebu" by Bunmi Emenanjo

"I'll See You in Ijebu"

"I'll See You in Ijebu" follows a young Catholic girl growing up in a busy city in Nigeria as she discovers and learns to embrace the family traditions of her Muslim extended family as they celebrate Eid al-Adha.

"A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison" by Carole Boston Weatherford

"A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison"

Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison made an impact on the world around her through words. But how did her discover her love for writing and storytelling? Author Carole Boston Weatherford details Morrison's upbringing and path to becoming a literary titan.

Read with Jenna Jr. Middle Grade Book Picks

"alone" by megan freeman.

"Alone"

After devising a plan for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, 12-year-old Maddie wakes up in a mysteriously abandoned town with no one to rely on, except a Rottweiler named George and the books she can read. Throughout the experience, Maddie begins to trust herself and comes up with creative solutions to the challenges she encounters.

"The Mystery of Locked Rooms" by Lindsay Currie

"The Mystery of Locked Rooms"

12-year-old Sarah Greene and her two best friends, Hannah and West, are escape room enthusiasts, and there's only one more left for them to beat in their town. However, after Sarah finds a foreclosure notice on her front door, she abandons that plan and begins to worry for her family. Her friend Hannah tells her about the rumored treasure hidden in an abandoned fun house. The trio decides to use their escape room skills to find the potential treasure.

"The Adventures of Invisible Boy" by Doogie Horner

"The Adventures of Invisible Boy"

Let's face it — we've all wished we were invisible at one point of another. In "The Adventures of Invisible Boy," that wish comes true for Stanley after a big spill at the science fair. He's able to do anything he wants without anyone knowing!

"Summer at Squee" by Andrea Wang

"Summer at Squee"

Chinese American tween Phoenny Fang is planning the best summer ever with her friend Lyrica Chu at the Chinese cultural overnight camp they attend each year together. When she arrives, she learns that there are new campers who don't share the same experiences as she does and that the things that have always connected her to her culture may make other campers feel excluded.

"Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All" by Chanel Miller

"Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All"

Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu has always felt a little invisible. Then, she meets her new friend, Iris, who has just arrived from California, and finds she's about to embark on the most exciting summer of her life. Magnolia is determined to return all the lonely socks that were left behind in her parents' New York laundromat, and nothing is going to stop her from solving the mystery of every missing sock. While on her journey, Magnolia discovers that things begin to fall into place when you have the courage to venture into the unknown with every new experience.

"Bridge to Bat City" by Ernest Cline

"Bridge to Bat City"

After her mother passes away, a 13-year-old Opal has to move in with her Uncle Roscoe to live on their family farm. While there, Opal forms a unique connection through music with him, in addition to an unusual friendship with, get this, a group of orphaned, music loving bats. When a large mining company threatens the bats' cave, Opal will have to scheme to not only save her new friends and prove to the town that both she and the bats belong exactly where they are.

"Tree. Table. Book" by Lois Lowry

"Tree. Table. Book."

This tale tells a story of two best friends named Sophie across generations. Young Sophie is your average kid. She goes to elementary school, hangs out with her neighbors, Ralphie and Oliver, and oh yeah, has an elderly best friend ... also named Sophie. Older Sophie is the greatest friend that young Sophie could ever ask for, especially when going through the growing pains of fitting in. But when older Sophie starts to lose her memory, younger Sophie fears she will lose her friend forever. With the help of her friends, she sets out to restore older Sophie's memory, and learns valuable lessons along the way, especially about love.

"Mid-Air" by Alicia D. Williams

"Mid-Air"

This touching novel tells the story of Isaiah, a sensitive young man grieving the loss of his closest friend Darius. In this book we see Isaiah struggle to adapt in a society that expects him to become a tough adult, especially after the most life changing event he just went through. But that's just not Isaiah. See its the summer before he and his friend Drew head off to high school, and they had plans to spend it doing all their favorite things, like watching martial arts movies and skateboarding, all with their friend Darius. So now instead, Isaiah is determined to live this summer up by breaking every record he and Drew can think of in honor of Darius. Along the way, Isaiah deals with the growing pains of change, and discovers what that means for him and his complicated friendship with Drew.

Read with Jenna Jr. Young Adults Picks

"the girls i’ve been" by tess sharpe.

"The Girls I've Been"

The daughter of a con artist is held captive in a bank heist in this, gripping, female-empowering thriller, and she will have to use every technique she's ever learned in the book to stay alive.

"Black Girl You Are Atlas" by Renée Watson 

"Black Girl You Are Atlas"

Renée Watson explores her experiences growing up as a young Black girl in Portland at the crossroads of race, class, and gender in this semi-autobiographical book of poems.

"Rules for Rule Breaking" by Talia Tucker

"Rules for Rule Breaking"

In this young adult rom-com that embodies the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope, two Korean American teenagers embark on a college road trip together, where they discover that the reasons they've been rivals their entire lives may actually make them the perfect couple.

"Summer Nights and Meteorites" by Hannah Reynolds

"Summer Nights and Meteorites"

Jordan Edelman is over dating. Given her past messy dating life, she has sworn off boys for the summer. Jordan's determined to keep this pact with herself, but when she accompanies her father on his Nantucket research trip she meets a cute boy named Ethan Barbanel who complicates her desire to stay single for the summer.

"Powerless Trilogy" by Lauren Roberts

"Powerless"

Perfect for Sarah J. Maas readers everywhere, this young adult romantasy tells the story of a strong prince and an average girl involved in a forbidden romance that pits them against one another as they attempt to survive the harsh restrictions of their kingdom. 

"The Third Daughter" by Adrienne Tooley

"The Third Daughter"

While on a mission to derail a long-standing prophecy, an attraction forms between two girls, Sabine and Elodie, both from opposite ends of the track, but with one common mission in mind. This slow-burn LGBTQ romance tells the story of betrayal, sisterhood, and polarizing emotion in the pursuit of power. 

"This Book Won’t Burn" by Samira Ahmed

"This Book Won't Burn"

Noor Khan is forced to spend her senior year at a new school, far from every person and thing she has ever known and loved after being abandoned by her father. Noor, still in shock from moving a million miles away with her mom to start a new life and being deserted, only wants to graduate and survive this miserable year. However, she finds herself challenging the status quo when hundreds of books at her new school that feature queer and BIPOC authors are at risk of being removed. 

"Check & Mate" by Ali Hazelwood

"Check & Mate"

Mallory Greenleaf has sworn off her one true love: Chess. Her only focus is on her mother, her sisters, and her insufferable job, ever since her favorite sport caused her family to fall apart four years ago. However, unable to fully quit cold turkey, Mallory reluctantly agrees to compete in one final charity match and unintentionally defeats infamous chess player, Nolan Sawyer. While Mallory can't stand Nolan, an unlikely attraction and romance begins to form between the two chess lovers that shakes up Mallory's life for the better.

"I Hope This Doesn’t Find You" by Ann Liang

"I Hope This Doesn't Find You"

In this snarky yet romantic story, star student Sadie Wen finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation when all of her strongly worded emails, mostly targeted against academic rival Julius Gong accidentally, get sent out. As if this couldn't be any more of a nightmare, now the whole school knows how Sadie feels about them, and are appalled. To her surprise, Julius finds Sadie's honesty refreshing and intriguing. Can you say enemies-to-lovers?

"One True Loves" by Elise Bryant

"One True Loves"

This captivating young adult rom-com tells a tale of self-discovery from the perspective of high school graduate, Lenore Bennett. Struggling to figure out what exactly she wants to study in college, Lenore embarks on a European cruise with her parents where she meets high-strung Alex Lee who has a ten-year plan for his life all mapped out. Both fascinated and irritated by Alex’s ability to have it all figured out, the two teens bond over their differences, and Lenore finds that Alex may even be able to help her figure out exactly what she’s been looking for.

"Blood at the Root" by LaDarrion Williams

"Blood at the Root" by LaDarrion Williams

“Blood at the Root” follows Malik, a teenager on the run, whose life changed forever after his mother disappeared and he discovered he had uncontrollable magical powers. After hiding those powers ever since, he reconnects with his long-lost grandmother who has ties to the magical university his mother once attended. There, he discovers his powers and his identity. at the Root” follows Malik, a teenager on the run, whose life changed forever after his mother disappeared and he discovered he had uncontrollable magical powers. After hiding those powers ever since, he reconnects with his long-lost grandmother who has ties to the magical university his mother once attended. There, he discovers his powers and his identity.

"Blood at the Root"

at the Root” follows Malik, a teenager on the run, whose life changed forever after his mother disappeared and he discovered he had uncontrollable magical powers. After hiding those powers ever since, he reconnects with his long-lost grandmother who has ties to the magical university his mother once attended. There, he discovers his powers and his identity. at the Root” follows Malik, a teenager on the run, whose life changed forever after his mother disappeared and he discovered he had uncontrollable magical powers. After hiding those powers ever since, he reconnects with his long-lost grandmother who has ties to the magical university his mother once attended. There, he discovers his powers and his identity."Blood at the Root" follows Malik, a teenager on the run, whose life changed forever when he was just a child and his mother disappeared. After discovering he has uncontrollable powers, he decides to keep them hidden until he reconnects with his long-lost grandmother, a legendary conjurer. He attends the magical university his mother once went to, discovering his powers and identity."what she's been looking for. lood at the Root" by LaDarrion Williams

Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. Previously, she covered culture at Refinery29 and Oprah Daily. Her superpower is matching people up with the perfect book, which she does on her podcast, Blind Date With a Book.

Laura Millar is an NBC Page on the TODAY Digital team. She recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Film, Television and Media. Some of her personal interests include reality TV, horror movies and Harry Styles.

Jennamichelle Merolla is part of the TODAY Page program and graduated with her master's in integrated marketing communication this past December.

All About The Details

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Absolutely stellar service from All About the Details! Cindy was fabulous and such a pleasure to work with. She orchestrated my Sons christening with impeccable precision and thoughtfulness. From the elegant tablescapes to the seamless coordination of vendors, every detail was handled with the utmost care. Cindy and her team went above and beyond to ensure the event was not only beautiful but also stress free for us. I cannot recommend All About the Details highly enough for their professionalism, creativity and dedication for making our baby's special day unforgettable!

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