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Home » Blog Posts » Book Ideas » The 10 Best Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

The 10 Best Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

Reading novels is a wonderful way to build a love for reading! Here you will find the 10 best novel studies for 4th and 5th graders. These 4th and 5th-grade chapter books keep students engaged because they are interesting and fun to read.

You will also find a FREE printable list of each chapter book with their reading level, Lexile level, and other good-to-know information at the end of the post.

*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the full disclosure here. *

This post is one part of a series on helpful content geared toward literacy instruction in upper elementary classrooms. Here are the other posts to checkout once you’ve read all of this post:

Why You Need to Have Literacy Centers in Your Upper Elementary Classroom
4th Grade Literacy Centers
Teaching Strategies for Reading Comprehension in Upper Elementary Classrooms
Ideas to Help Older Students Who Struggle with Spelling*
Read Alouds for Upper Elementary Students*
How to Use Choice Boards to Run Literacy Centers*
8 Clever Ways to Get Students Writing More*

Posts with * beside their titles have free downloads available!

Why I Recommend Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

I looked across my classroom and couldn’t believe my eyes.

Other than the sound of one selected student reading out loud, you could’ve heard a pin drop.

Every single one of my 4th-graders were glued to their books. Some of them were crying. A few of them had red faces or dropped jaws.

We were engaged in our novel study–a chapter book by Christopher Paul Curtis–titled Bud, Not Buddy. We were only a few chapters in as students listened to the part where Buddy, an orphaned 10-year-old black boy, was being abused by his foster parents.

I use a special bell in my class to get my students’ attention and signal that reading time is over. My hand reluctantly rang the bell and all across the room I heard:

“Noooooo, please let’s have more time!”

“Ms. Marshall, is this book based on a true story? Is there a movie to go with it?”

“Can I take this copy home to read for my reading homework tonight?”

As the loud groans and constant question filled the air, I knew we had ourselves a new favorite chapter book!

This is why I recommend these novel studies for 4th and 5th graders: they keep students engaged and in love with reading !

What Are The Best Chapter Books for 4th and 5th Graders?

When selecting novel studies for 4th and 5th-grade students, I consider the following criteria:

Word or Chapter Count (to decide how long it may take us to complete the novel)
Reading and Lexile Level
Whether it’s an Accelerated Reader book or not (our school is an AR school and I heavily push it in my class)
Gender/ Race /Life-Situation of the main character (I want books that appeal to all my students)

Once I check out these factors, then I read it myself before introducing it to my students.

Each of the 10 books in this list has gone through this process, and have been read several times with my students.

These 10 novel studies for 4th and 5th-graders also have some of the highest ratings on goodreads.com, Amazon book reviews, and other sites. Many of them have even won numerous awards in children’s literature.

Now that you know my process for chapter book selection, let’s dive right into this juicy book list!

First Best Novel Study: Holes by Louis Sachar

I was honestly nervous about introducing this book to my students at first. I knew it would make a great novel study for teaching theme and sequence. But I didn’t know if my students would be able to understand some of the experiences of the main character Stanley Yelnats.

Boy was I wrong!

My students ADORE this book–every single year. Plus, it has been made into a movie. My kids really enjoy comparing and contrasting the novel and the movie once we finish both.

The movie for Holes is FREE for Prime members. You can get 30 Days FREE with my code HERE . #AmazonAd

Second Best Novel Study: From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

This chapter books starts off a little slow (as far as “kid” action is concerned). Once you get a few chapters in, the plot hooks you into the mystery.

If you have students who love solving riddles or reading mystery chapter books, they will love this novel study.

Each year that I’ve read it with my students, I catch a new clue or detail that I didn’t see before. It’s great for teaching plot!

Third Best Novel Study: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

I could write an entire blog post on nothing but Christopher Paul Curtis books! Especially Bud, Not Buddy!

Every year that I introduced this chapter book as a part of our class novel studies, my students display emotions all across the board.

When students’ emotions are activated by what they’re reading, then you know that they are truly engaging with and understanding the text.

I love using this chapter book to teach characterization because the characters in this book are so real and multi-faceted. It is hands-down one of the best novel studies for 4th and 5th-grade students of all reading levels!

Fourth Novel Study: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book was recommended by one of my students after she purchased it from our school book fair.

This novel study is wonderful for teaching empathy and kindness in the classroom. I even incorporated it into our Golden Rule classroom practice.

I also love how the main character is a 5th-grade boy who experiences struggles with fitting in. This is great for helping students feel a sense of connection to the novel.

Being able to relate what they are reading to real-life helps students stay engaged with reading longer texts.

You Might Want to Check Out: How to Help Your Boys Fall in Love with Reading

Fifth Novel Study: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Having a dog as the main character makes teaching personification and other figurative language elements a breeze!

My students (and I) absolutely love this novel. The reading level is 3.9 (as you will see in the FREE printable below), so I often use this as our introductory novel study at the beginning of the school year.

Which works great because I need to teach them the procedures for our novel studies, and they need to ease back into reading deeply after being out all summer.

The first-person narrative of the book makes both of those goals super easy.

Sixth Novel Study: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

This classic chapter book provides rich details and descriptions that are great for teaching imagery.

Students enjoy visualizing the main character’s adventures through the wilderness.

One of my favorite things about this chapter book for 4th and 5th graders is that the main character keeps a journal of his adventures.

So I encourage my students to keep a journal while we read the novel. They are more motivated to write about their daily and weekly lives to compare with the journal entries of the character.

Anything I can do to combine reading and writing practice is a bonus in my book!

Seventh Novel Study: The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

I told you that I love this author right?

All of my students who read Bud, Not Buddy as a 4th-grader can’t wait to read this chapter book as a 5th-grader.

The historical fiction setting gives vivid details about life during the 60’s for African-Americans, from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy.

This author has an amazing way of detailing uncomfortable topics in a kid-friendly way that’s accurate, but also full of humor. My students always give rave reviews about this book.

Eight Novel Study: One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan, a silverback gorilla, steals your heart as the narrator and main character of this amazing read-aloud for 4th and 5th-graders.

He is caged, and his experiences help you see life from an animal’s perspective in a whole new way.

Be sure to check out these reviews on this book from other readers.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited--The Butterfly Teacher

Ninth Novel Study: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Initially, when my students looked at the cover, they whined about reading it. They assumed that it would be “boring” based on the cover illustration.

But this novel is far from boring.

It is one of the best books for novel studies with 4th and 5th graders because it teaches so many essential lessons. I especially like to emphasize having a growth-mindset through the main character of this book.

Esperanza is a wealthy Hispanic girl whose life is turned upside down due to tragedy in her family; her father is unexpectedly murdered. She and her mother are forced to flee their country and become migrant workers in California.

I use this novel study with current events to help students better understand immigration issues in our country.

Plus, building a culturally responsive classroom ranks HIGH on my list as a teacher! One of the ways to do that is by showcasing diversity through book selections.

This novel helps to achieve that goal!

Tenth Novel Study: Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence Atwater and Richard Atwater

Besides the very funny book-based movie starring Jim Carrey, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is hilarious!

I definitely think it is the most fun book for a novel study.

Even though it is far from being realistic fiction, my older kiddos enjoyed the over-the-top scenes of Mr. Popper taking care of his penguins.

Before teaching 4th grade, I taught 2nd grade for four years and I read Mr. Popper’s Penguins with my 2nd graders.

Here’s why I recommend it in this list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders:

My 2nd graders could NOT read this book independently. The word selection and meaning were too complex.
4th and 5th graders CAN read and understand the content of this book independently.
This novel has many high-frequency words and vocabulary words that are recommended for older students.

Bonus Book– Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen

This book is a new edition to my list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders, because I just recently read it at home with my son who is now in 5th grade.

Even though it’s new for us, I highly recommend it as a novel study in the classroom.

My son Caleb could not put it down! He actually finished it in four days. We both enjoyed the deep plot twists and unexpected surprises throughout the story.

My only caution is that it contains content about magic . If your school doesn’t allow books like Harry Potter, then this book probably wouldn’t qualify either. You can check it out here to see for yourself.

Reading and Lexile Levels of 4th & 5th-Grade Chapter Books

For many teachers, novels must be chosen based on their Lexile and reading level. So I created a chart that lists all the information for each chapter book featured in this post.

You can access that free list by entering your email below. Please be aware that many school servers automatically block outside senders. You may have a better chance of grabbing this guide with a personal email address.

22 Responses

With remote learning being the optimal choice I am trying to set up a homeschool curriculum to make sure my child will not miss out on what they would normally get in the classroom. I am not sure how the material will be presented 2020 – 2021 but if it is anything like last year I will be responsible for teaching and the teachers will provide sheets and websites. When doing a novel study do the students read on their own and come prepared to discuss it in class or is it done as a read aloud?

Any feedback is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Erika, Novel studies can be done both ways depending on your kids’ reading level. If your child is motivated to do the reading own his/her own, then you will focus on reading comprehension and activities around what has been read. If this approach doesn’t work for your kid, then set up times to read aloud together. While you read together, pause and ask questions to gauge his/her understanding. Then at the end of your read aloud time together, give him/her an activity related to that chapter OR give a quiz to see what they learned from that reading. Hope this makes sense! Thanks for all you do to help your kids with reading at home. 🙂

I appreciate your list and would love to look at your additional information on each novel. Thank you for sharing!

I was to order the novel for my 10yr old son how can I order please n from where

Hi Daisy, You can order any of these novels using the Amazon links I provided in the post. These are affiliate links that pay a small commission to this site, but they do not cost you anything. I also emailed you more info about books for your son. Enjoy 🙂

Thank you for your novel study suggestions would love to see yourchart that lists all the information about each chapter book.

Thank you in advance

Sure Cara, When you enter your email, you should receive the book list. If you have trouble with it, email me directly: [email protected] Thanks!

Hello, lots of great information. Do you use a basal reading program along with your novel studies?

Hi Cheryl, I used both. Our school requires the basal reading program. I use it to teach specific reading skills.

Then we extend the practice of those reading skills with our class novel studies. -Tanya

Not a bad list- but I’m very shocked by Mr. Popper’s Penguins being on the list. I read that aloud to my 2nd grade class – who followed the story with ease. I would see Mr. Popper’s Penguins as a 2nd/3rd grade novel- not 4th/5th – especially as far as content goes.

Hi Elissa, I also read Mr. Popper’s once when I taught 2nd grade, but–just like you–I also had to read it out loud to them; they were not able to read it on their own fluently with solid comprehension. This novel is great as independent reading with older students, so that they can complete it without the teacher reading it to them. 🙂

Tanya- I teach 3rd, 4th , and 5th grade ELA at a French immersion school. I have a wonderful job and I love the kids. I have a dilemma this year and would love your feedback. I need to teach a whole group novel to guide them through the novel study process and help set up the rest of the year, but then I would like to transition into self selected novel groups. I have some amazing readers as well as some lower readers. I love teaching in small groups and using literacy centers.

My question for you is if you have taught both whole group and small group…and how did you set up your novel selection for the kids if you taught in small groups (all different novels).

Thanks so much! Erin

Erin, I did one novel as a whole class assignment each grading period. But I also had each student complete a self-selected novel study each month with my monthly book reports. Each student had to choose books from a certain genre each month, but they could pick any book within that genre. Then they would complete a different book report project for their book each month. I hope this gives you some ideas of how I did whole class and self-selected novels. Thanks for your question! 🙂

Thanks for the novel study ideas and information on each book.

THANK YOU! I currently teach 4th grade and would love to implement novel studies with my students. I bought a resource for James and the Giant Peach, but couldn’t afford a class set and no one in my school had copies 🙁 I plan on buying a few copies of books each month. I thought about Donor’s Choose as well. Again, thank you for the recommendations and synopsises!

Angela, James and the Giant Peach is a great book choice! I hate it that you couldn’t find a class set. I will do more research on how teachers can get class sets of books for great prices! 🙂 Thanks Angela

Thank you Tanya for this detailed list of grade appropriate novels! I’ve also used Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH with success. Happy reading!

Cathy, This sounds like a really interesting book! I will check it out. Thanks for suggesting it. 🙂

What a great reading list! Thanks for sharing. I especially love that you included a synopsis and why the book is appropriate for 4th/5th grade. Very valuable. I was thinking of reading Fish in a Tree as a novel study. Have you read it?

Becky, Yay! I am so happy this reading list with the synopsis is helpful for you. If you didn’t get a chance to grab the free list with more info on each book, be sure to sign up for that freebie. I haven’t read Fish in a Tree, but I will certainly check it out! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

This has been very helpful as it is my first year teaching 5th grade reading. Thank you!

Maria! Congrats on your first year teaching 5th! I’m glad this list has been helpful for you. Thanks for sharing.

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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

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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

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

how to write a book review | movie response unit | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

⭐ Make MOVIES A MEANINGFUL PART OF YOUR CURRICULUM with this engaging collection of tasks and tools your students will love. ⭐ All the hard work is done for you with NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

This collection of 21 INDEPENDENT TASKS and GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS takes students beyond the hype, special effects and trailers to look at visual literacy from several perspectives offering DEEP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES by watching a SERIES, DOCUMENTARY, FILM, and even VIDEO GAMES.

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.

how to write a book review | writing a book review | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

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!

how to write a book review | 9 text response | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

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

how to write a book review | 9 1 proof read Book review | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

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.

how to write a book review | LITERACY IDEAS FRONT PAGE 1 | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

Teaching Resources

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

BOOK REVIEW GRAPHIC ORGANIZER (TEMPLATE)

how to write a book review | book review graphic organizer | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

101 DIGITAL & PRINT GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS FOR ALL CURRICULUM AREAS

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Introduce your students to 21st-century learning with this GROWING BUNDLE OF 101 EDITABLE & PRINTABLE GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS. ✌ NO PREP REQUIRED!!! ✌ Go paperless, and let your students express their knowledge and creativity through the power of technology and collaboration inside and outside the classroom with ease.

Whilst you don’t have to have a 1:1 or BYOD classroom to benefit from this bundle, it has been purpose-built to deliver through platforms such as ✔ GOOGLE CLASSROOM, ✔ OFFICE 365, ✔ or any CLOUD-BASED LEARNING PLATFORM.

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 .

how to write a book review | book review year 3 | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

BOOK REVIEW VIDEO TUTORIALS

how to write a book review | 2 book review tutorial28129 | How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide | literacyideas.com

Transactional Writing

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How to Write a Book Review- 4th Grade

Yashekia king.

A book review in the fourth grade shows how well a child understands a book and his or her thoughts about the story. This type of review gives more students experience with expressing his or her opinion and critiquing a piece of literature. A book review assignment also can help hone a child’s writing skills. In addition, a book review can encourage a child to read more.

Introduce the book to your reader. Mention the title of the book and underline it, and tell the reader who authored the book. Describe the type of story it is--whether it is nonfiction or fiction; a make believe tale or scary story.

Write what the story’s theme and setting is. This will be the first paragraph of the body of your fourth grade book review. For the theme, explain what the main purpose or idea of the story is -- whether it involves being brave in a hard situation or the value of being kind to one another.

Describe the setting, or the time and place of the story. This could be a long time ago, such as in the 16th Century, or the present day. The setting also could be an imaginary place or a distant country. Mention how much time passes in the story -- whether it is a day or 50 years.

Explain what happens in the story in the second paragraph of your book review's body. In this section, called the plot, tell the reader what the main event or conflict is about and what events lead up to it. Avoid giving away the ending of the story. Also, do not give too many details about what happened in the book so that you will have room to describe your feelings about the book in your review as well.

Explain who the characters in the book are in the third paragraph of your book review's body. Point out the protagonist -- or the main character -- and explain how the other characters in the book help or harm the protagonist. Also, describe who the antagonist is -- the opposing character with whom the protagonist must contend. Describe how the characters look.

Give your opinion about the book in the fourth paragraph of the body of your book review. It is OK to use the pronoun, “I.” Mention whether you liked the story or not and why, and explain whether you learned anything new from the book. Describe what your favorite scene was and who your favorite character was, and why. Explain how the story made you feel at various points -- whether it was funny or sad, for example. Also, write whether you would recommend this book to someone else, and if you would read other books written by the author.

Write your conclusion. The conclusion is just a couple of sentences in which you make a final mention of your overall view of the book. In addition, explain the most important facet of the book you want your readers to know about. Read through your fourth grade book review and check for any spelling or grammar errors.

Check to make sure your book review meets your teacher's requirements for the number of paragraphs and words to include.
Take notes as you read your book so that you know where to find various pieces of information you need for your book review when you begin to write the report.
1 InfoPlease: How to Write a Book Report

About the Author

YaShekia King, of Indianapolis, began writing professionally in 2003. Her work has appeared in several publications including the "South Bend Tribune" and "Clouds Across the Stars," an international book. She also is a licensed Realtor and clinical certified dental assistant. King holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ball State University.

How to Make the Setting of a Book Report

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How to Write a Book Report in APA Format

How to Write a Non-Fiction Book Summary

How to Write Book Reports for Kids

Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School

How to Write a Book Report in the 6th Grade

How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report

How to Write a College Level Book Review

How to Write a Second Grade Book Report

How to Write a College Book Analysis

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Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report

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Writing an Excellent Book Review: A Step-by-Step Guide

‘ So many books, so little time ’, said Frank Zappa. We all love to read storybooks. They are filled with amazing characters, beautiful pictures and so many more things. These books welcome us into their fascinating world, spark our imagination and curiosity and, above all, they bring joy to our life. We then want to share our experience of reading a particular book with our family and friends. Some of us might find it tough to remember all the details at that time. One way of remembering all the wonderful details of the book is by writing them down. So, let’s learn how to write a book review today!

Tips on how to write a book review for children

There are many reasons for learning to write a book review. It helps us share our thoughts and feelings about the book, strengthens our writing skills and sharpens our thinking skills. Now, are you ready to write a book review? Here are a few things that you would want to cover in your book review. Pick up the latest book you have read and let’s get started!

Title, author and other details

Before you even begin to write your book review, you need to write down the title of the book and the name of the author. You may also want to write the name of the illustrator who created the beautiful images in the book. Another good practice would be to write the name of the publisher. You are most likely to find this information on the cover page of your book.

Here’s the order:

Title of the book
Name of the author
Name of the illustrator
Name of the publisher

Book ratings

A Book review is all about your opinion of the book. Hence, you should include something that lets the reader know instantly if you liked or disliked the book. One way of doing this is to give it a rating out of 10 or use the 5-star method. For example, you could give all 5 stars to a great book and 2 stars to a book that you didn’t really like. Remember that your book review must be in line with these ratings, so do this at the end, but leave some room for it on top of the page so that the reader notices it instantly.

Here’s the rating guide:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I loved this book, and I think everyone else will love it too.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I liked this book, and I think most of my friends would like it.
⭐⭐⭐ – It’s a good book, and many will enjoy reading it.
⭐⭐ – I didn’t like this book, but a few of my friends would like it.
⭐ – I didn’t like this book at all, and most of my friends will agree with me.

Summarise the book

Summarise the book in less than 100 words. Be mindful and do not give away too much information about the story. While summarising the book, remember to not give away the surprises in the book. You could describe where the story takes place and the main event in the story.

Here are a few things you can include in your summary:

Moral of the story or a lesson learned from reading the story.
Place and main event of the story; just don’t reveal the surprise here.
Main characters and what kind of people they are.
How easy is the book to understand?

Share things that you liked and disliked about the book

Start by writing about three things that you really liked about the book. You could talk about the words used, the characters and how the story began or ended. Then you could cover things that you disliked in the book; it could be the pictures or even the way the story ended.

Here are a few things you could talk about:

Did you like the way the story was written–beginning, middle and end?
Did you like the ending? Why or why not? Could it be better?
Were the characters and their thoughts explained well?
Were the words easy to understand?
Were there pictures? Did you like them? Why or why not?
Was the story interesting or dull? Why or why not?

These pointers will help you write a book review that covers almost everything about the book. At the end of it, you could also mention if you would like your family and friends to read it as soon as possible or if they can pick another book to read. Remember that writing a book review is not always easy; initially you may find it very hard, but soon with practice you will get better. So keep writing! All the best!

Did you find these tips helpful? Do leave a book review of your favourite book in the comments section.

Mekhala Joshi

“Me-kha-la!” That happens at least once when she introduces herself to new people. She wholeheartedly believes in the quote by Arthur Rubinstein that says – “if you love life, life will love you back”. She is an organizational psychologist and psychometrician. She was a class teacher of 36 adorable girls for two years, grades 2 & 3, as a part of the Teach For India Fellowship. These little girls have a special place in her heart, and when she writes for children, she writes for them!

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Book Review Template

About this printout

Students can use this template as a means of communicating about a book that they have read.

Teaching with this printout

More ideas to try.

As students begin reading books at a young age, it is important to teach them to communicate their thoughts and ideas about the books they read. This template is a good way to teach students to begin putting their thoughts on a text into written form. Students will be able to process the information they read in a given text and process their ideas. Additionally, the Book Review Template allows the teacher to check a student's comprehension of a certain text to assess and inform instruction.

Create a bulletin board with book reviews done by different students. The bulletin board can be organized by different genres of books or in other ways that are useful to students. Students can use this bulletin board as a way to read about their peers' thoughts on different books and to find books that they, too, might enjoy reading.
At the beginning of the school year, do a read aloud and have students each do a book review on the same book that was read to the class. Have select students share their book reviews and/or thoughts on a book. Follow up by having a class discussion about why all of the book reviews are not alike, even though they were done on the same book. This discussion will familiarize students with different opinions and thoughts on the same books, and will also give struggling students a more concrete idea of how to do future book reviews on their own.
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57 Awesome 4th Grade Books You’ll Want To Share With Students

Titles to inspire each one of your fourth graders!

Fourth grade is an exciting time to share books with kids. Whether it’s reading aloud a fascinating nonfiction picture book or compelling personal narrative, hooking a reluctant reader with a new graphic novel, or matching a kid with just the novel they need right now, your fourth grade classroom library should be where it’s at. Old favorites are awesome, but when you’re looking to update the choices on your shelves, check out this big list of recent fourth grade books recommended by educators.

Note: There’s such a huge range of emotional maturity in fourth grade, and you know your students best. A few of these books may be best read aloud and discussed together.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment by Levi Pinfold

Book cover for Paradise Sands as an example of fourth grade books

Four siblings visit a creepy desert hotel and plunge into a haunting adventure. This mesmerizing and mysterious picture book is guaranteed to get your fourth graders talking, wondering, flipping back to check text evidence, and making inferences.

Buy it: Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment at Amazon

2. Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis

Book cover for Heart Berry Bling as an example of fourth grade books

Maggie visits her grandmother for a delicious fry bread lunch and cozy afternoon beading together. Through this relatable personal narrative, kids can learn about Anishinaabe beading and culture, as well as the impact of the Indian Act on First Nations women and families in Canada. This is a fantastic upper elementary picture book—so much to learn and discuss together!

Buy it: Heart Berry Bling at Amazon

3. Noticing by Kobi Yamada

Book cover for Noticing as an example of fourth grade books

Add this beauty to your fourth grade books to encourage mindfulness . A girl and an artist learn together how to notice both the familiar and the unknown.

Buy it: Noticing at Amazon

4. The Little Mermaid retold by Jerry Pinkney

Cover of 'The Little Mermaid; by Jerry Pinkney

Jerry Pinkney’s breathtaking update to a classic, high-interest tale stars a main character of color and has affirming themes of friendship, family, and identity.

Buy it: The Little Mermaid at Amazon

5. Love by Matt de la Peña

This moving title is ageless, but we particularly love how it can get fourth graders talking in more depth about a complex topic.

Buy it: Love at Amazon

6. Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem by Jude Isabella

Cover of 'Bringing Back the Wolves' by Jude Isabella- 4th grade books

This book is a science unit unto itself! In systematic sections, it explores what happened when wolves disappeared from—and then came back to—Yellowstone National Park. Build kids’ understanding of vocabulary about relationships within an ecosystem with this memorable real-world story.

Buy it: Bringing Back the Wolves at Amazon

7. How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford

Book cover for How Do You Spell Unfair? as an example of fourth grade books

This is the nonfiction account of African American eighth grader MacNolia Cox and her trip to the 1936 National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. It puts experiences with racism into relatable contexts for all kids and would be great to spark additional learning and discussion about kids’ experiences with discrimination.

Buy it: How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee at Amazon

8. Glitter Everywhere! Where It Came From, Where It’s Found, and Where It’s Going by Chris Barton

Book cover for Glitter Everywhere as an example of fourth grade books

The awesome thing about sharing nonfiction picture books with fourth graders is how everyone can learn something new. From teaching vocabulary words like “iridescent” to looking at the environmental impact of its microplastic composition, this author answers every imaginable question about glitter! We love how this title shows kids an unconventional nonfiction writing topic too.

Buy it: Glitter Everywhere! at Amazon

9. Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau

Book cover for Stand as Tall as The Trees as an example of fourth grade books

This inspiring story highlights the activism of Kichwa people to stop rainforest deforestation. It reminds us of Lynne Cherry’s The Great Kapok Tree but with more in-depth factual information. It’s a perfect complement to rainforest or ecosystem studies or as part of an exploration of indigenous cultures. The author’s note “Standing Up for Land Around the World” would be a fantastic springboard for small-group research projects on indigenous movements to protect land.

Buy it: Stand as Tall as the Trees at Amazon

10. Becoming Muhammad Ali: A Novel by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander

The book cover for 'Becoming Muhammad Ali' by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander as an example of 4th grade books

Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Written in prose and verse, this book looks at his life from birth to age 17. It captures the budding charisma and youthful personality of one of the greatest sports heroes of all time.

Buy it: Becoming Muhammad Ali at Amazon

11. Sound: Shhh … Bang … POP … BOOM! by Romana Remanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv

Cover of 'Sound: Shh…Bang…Pop…Boom!' by Romana Ramanyshyn

Here’s a perfect example of artistry in informational writing. A neon color scheme and tons of visual features give readers a primer on the topic of sound. Share as part of a science unit on sound or to simply help students up the cool factor in their own nonfiction writing.

Buy it: Sound: Shhh … Bang … POP … BOOM! at Amazon

12. She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm by Katheryn Russell-Brown

Cover of 'She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm' by Katheryn Russell-Brown

This biography chronicles the bold achievements of the first Black person to run for president as a major party candidate. While short in stature, Shirley Chisholm was a strong, influential leader and advocate who made a lasting impact. Your students deserve to be inspired by her!

Buy it: She Was the First! at Amazon

13. Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham and Charles Waters

Cover of 'Can I Touch Your Hair?' by Irene Latham and Charles Waters

When an unlikely pair works on a poetry project together, they think they have nothing in common. The effective back-and-forth format will get kids thinking.

Buy it: Can I Touch Your Hair? at Amazon

14. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth

Cover of 4th grade books 'Out of Wonder' by Kwame Alexander

Award-winning authors Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth have compiled this collection of poems that celebrates poets who have touched their lives and influenced their work.

Buy it: Out of Wonder at Amazon

15. I’m Trying To Love Math by Bethany Barton

$Cover of I'm Trying to love Math' by Bethany Barton as an example of fourth grade books$

After convincing arguments heralding bees and spiders in her previous titles, Bethany Barton uses her powers of persuasion to demonstrate the wide reach, usefulness, and coolness of math. Read this to quell any groans about the relevance of math in the real world.

Buy it: I’m Trying To Love Math at Amazon

16. Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented by Tanya Lee Stone

Cover of 'Pass Go and collect $200' by Tanya Lee Stone

It’s a history lesson from a completely unique angle. Add this to your fourth grade books to use as nonfiction writing mentor texts. Of course, after reading, you’ll need to break out the board game during indoor recess or invite your students to design their own.

Buy it: Pass Go and Collect $200 at Amazon

17. Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went From the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace

Cover of 'Between the Lines' by Sandra Neil Wallace- 4th grade books

This isn’t your typical athlete’s biography. Everyone thought Ernie Barnes should play professional football, but he never gave up on his dream of being an artist.

Buy it: Between the Lines at Amazon

18. So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom by Gary D. Schmidt

Cover of 'So Tall Within' by Gary D. Schmidt

Introduce students to this fascinating and influential woman who worked tirelessly to fight against both racial and gender inequality.

Buy it: So Tall Within at Amazon

19. Flight for Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape From East Germany by Kristen Fulton

Cover of 'Flight for Freedom' by Kristen Fulton

A family secretly builds a hot-air balloon for a nighttime crossing over the Berlin Wall. This compelling story is a perfect-sized slice of history to captivate students. The information provided about the actual construction of the hot-air balloon, both in the text and extensive back matter, could also spark interesting STEM conversations about the design process.

Buy it: Flight for Freedom at Amazon

20. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

Cover of 'The Girl Who Drew Butterflies' by Joyce Sidman

Maria Merian was a brave and passionate scientist who was well ahead of her time. This beautifully written and illustrated chapter book biography offers so many discussion opportunities.

Buy it: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies at Amazon

21. Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! by Marley Dias

Cover of 'Marley Diaz Gets it Done' by Marley Dias

Marley Dias, creator of the #1000blackgirlbooks movement, is an amazing peer role model to teach kids about activism.

Buy it: Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! at Amazon

22. Bat Citizens: Defending the Ninjas of the Night by Rob Laidlaw

Cover of 'Bat Citizens' by Rob Laidlaw- 4th grade books

Great nonfiction challenges readers’ thinking with a clear focus. This fascinating title about bat conservation does just that.

Buy it: Bat Citizens at Amazon

23. Two Truths and a Lie books by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson

Cover of 'Two Truth and a Lie' by Ammi-Joan Paquette

Make discussions about responsible research practices memorable and fun. This innovative series asks readers to separate fact from fiction in short sections ideal for classroom discussion.

Buy it: Two Truths and a Lie books at Amazon

24. You Choose series by various authors

Book covers for You Choose: Wild Encounters series

Hopefully you already have a few titles from this longstanding “Choose Your Own Adventure”–style series mixed into your fourth grade books, but did you know they keep coming out with cool new titles? We love this series for getting kids thinking and talking about their reading. After all, they have to make the decisions about how they’d react when faced with dangerous animals, infamous monsters, and plenty more! Great for small-group or partner reads.

Buy it: You Choose: Wild Encounters at Amazon

Buy it: You Choose: Monster Hunter at Amazon

25. I Survived Graphix series by Lauren Tarshis

Book covers for the I Survived Graphix series as an example of fourth grade books

These popular nonfiction chapter book adventures are now fast-paced graphic novels! You’ll want the entire series for sure.

Buy it: I Survived Graphix at Amazon

26. Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin A. Wilgus and Rii Abrego

Book cover for Grace Needs Space as an example of fourth grade books

We were glad to add this futuristic, inclusive graphic novel to our fourth grade book offerings. Grace can’t wait to travel on her own to visit one of her moms, who works on a space station on a distant moon. Despite the out-of-this-world setting, kids will have lots of connections to how hard it can feel when a highly anticipated experience doesn’t quite go as expected.

Buy it: Grace Needs Space! at Amazon

27. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

This unparalleled graphic novel shares the true story of Somali brothers’ life growing up in a refugee camp. Put this at the top of your stack of fourth grade books to build kids’ background knowledge about the experiences of refugees. We’ve seen many kids finish it and then immediately start it over again!

Buy it: When Stars Are Scattered at Amazon

28. Paws series by Nathan Fairbairn

Book covers in the Paws series as an example of fourth grade books

This graphic novel series is ideal for kids who like the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels . Four best friends who love animals but aren’t allowed to have pets come up with a masterful plan to start a dog-walking business.

Buy it: Paws series at Amazon

29. Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Avery Lee is one of seven siblings, and she wishes she could just have some of her own space! This graphic novel shares all the drama, chaos, and love that happens in a big family. It’s perfect for kids who live in large families themselves or have wondered what it would be like. We adore this author-illustrator team—also check out Allergic —and hope they keep creating together.

Buy it: Squished at Amazon

30. Witches of Brooklyn series by Sophie Escabasse

Book covers for the Witches of Brooklyn series

When Effie moves in with her aunts in Brooklyn and finds out she’s part of a family of witches, everything changes. This graphic novel series has an appealing balance of fantasy and realistic themes about growing up.

Buy it: Witches of Brooklyn series at Amazon

31. Front Desk series by Kelly Yang

Book covers for titles in the Front Desk series as an example of fourth grade books

This delightful series follows the adventures of Mia Tang, who lives in a motel with her immigrant parents. As her parents clean the motel and help other immigrant families, Mia dreams of being a writer. A timely collection of fourth grade books that honors Chinese culture and experiences.

Buy it: Front Desk series at Amazon

32. New From Here by Kelly Yang

Book cover for New From Here as an example fourth grade books

Just go ahead and stock your fourth grade bookshelves with every title Kelly Yang writes! Kids especially love this pandemic-themed story. Ten-year-old Knox has to move suddenly from Hong Kong to California when COVID-19 first begins to spread. The racism he faces in his new home is an unexpected challenge.

Buy it: New From Here at Amazon

33. City Spies series by James Ponti

The book cover for 'City Spies' by James Ponti

In this thrilling series that Stuart Gibbs called “a must-read,” Edgar Award winner James Ponti brings together five kids from all over the world and transforms them into real-life spies. It’s wonderful for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls .

Buy it: City Spies series at Amazon

34. Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj

Cover of 'Count Me In' by Vasha Barjaj as an example of 4th grade books

An uplifting story, told through the alternating voices of two middle schoolers, in which a community rallies to reject racism.

Buy it: Count Me In at Amazon

35. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Mars rover Res (short for Resilience) is not designed to have feelings—but as he observes the humans around him, emotional responses seem to start creeping in. When his Mars mission launches, he has to dig deep to live up to his name. Quick chapters and varying formats and points of view keep readers hooked on this story. It would be a huge hit as a class read-aloud or for coding- and robotics-loving kiddos.

Buy it: A Rover’s Story at Amazon

36. Welcome to Wonderland series by Chris Grabenstein

Book covers for the Welcome to Wonderland series

Kids will race through this zany series about ambitious P.T. Wilkie, who goes to desperate creative lengths to save his grandfather’s Florida motel. It has a perfect blend of humor and inspirational kid power winning over greedy adults. Plus, kids will learn a bit about business. Add these to your fourth grade books to energize reluctant readers.

Buy it: Welcome to Wonderland series at Amazon

37. The Many Fortunes of Maya by Nicole D. Collier

Book cover for The Many Fortunes of Maya as an example of fourth grade books

Maya has a lot on her mind. She loves soccer, music, and her family. But this summer, it feels like things aren’t right. Fresh, readable, and relatable, kids who have experience with parental separation will connect with Maya and appreciate the feel-good ending. The fortune cookie fortunes at the start of each chapter are a fun detail.

Buy it: The Many Fortunes of Maya at Amazon

38. Speculation by Nisi Shawl

When Winna breaks her glasses by mistake, her grandfather gives her a pair that used to belong to her great aunt. She’s in for a huge surprise when it turns out the glasses are magic! They can transport her back in time to learn more about her ancestors—and now it’s up to Winna to solve a crucial mystery. Fantasy-lovers will blaze through this enthralling story, but you can also add this title to your fourth grade books that build kids’ background knowledge about slavery.

Buy it: Speculation at Amazon

39. The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

For as long as Ryanna can remember, it’s just been her and her movie-director dad living a quiet, organized life in California. Then her dad gets a letter from her maternal grandparents on the East Coast inviting Ryanna to spend the summer at their camp. She plunges into a wild extended-family scene and a family mystery, complete with a mysterious treasure map to decipher. Share this fun story with fourth graders as they anticipate summer break, or anytime they need a dose of summer family fun.

Buy it: The Firefly Summer at Amazon

40. The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

Book cover for The Probability of Everything

This recent title gets rave reviews from educators for good reason—it’s breathtaking. Eleven-year-old Kemi shares her experiences and reflections as a catastrophic asteroid approaches Earth. This would make a powerful class read-aloud. Be sure to preview it: You’ll love savoring it solo but also because the ending is a surprise, and the book includes themes you’ll want to know about before sharing with students.

Buy it: The Probability of Everything at Amazon

41. Gold Rush Girl by Avi

The book cover of 'Gold Rush Girl,' by Avi- 4th grade books

Wanting to stay with her father, Tory stows away on a ship heading west to search for gold in 1848. Spot-on details and high suspense make this a vivid, absorbing historical adventure for your collection of fourth grade books.

Buy it: Gold Rush Girl at Amazon

42. Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone

The book cover for 'Shuri: A Black Panther Story' by Nic Stone

Add this to your fourth grade books for students who love the Marvel Universe. This story, written by award-winning YA author Nic Stone, takes readers on an adventure with Shuri, the younger sister of T’Challa (aka the Black Panther).

Buy it: Shuri: A Black Panther Novel at Amazon

43. Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

A beautifully written fantasy novel about a young man setting out on a perilous quest. This book, written by the author of Esperanza Rising , is sure to be well loved by your fourth grade students.

Buy it: Mañanaland at Amazon

44. New Kid by Jerry Craft

Cover of 'New Kid' by Jerry Craft- 4th grade books

Winner of the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature, this is a graphic novel about the struggles of being the new kid in school.

Buy it: New Kid at Amazon

45. Weird Little Robots by Caroline Crimi

The book cover for 'Weird Little Robots' by Caroline Crimi

When two science-savvy girls create an entire robot world, they don’t expect the robots to come alive. But life may be a bit more magical than they thought.

Buy it: Weird Little Robots at Amazon

46. Pumpkin Falls Mysteries by Heather Vogel Frederick

Book covers for Pumpkin Falls mystery series

These stories follow the adventures of Truly Lovejoy, a young girl whose family has moved from Texas to a tiny town in New Hampshire to take over their family’s century-old bookstore. Left largely to her own devices, Truly finds herself chasing down clues found in old books.

Buy it: Pumpkin Falls Mysteries at Amazon

47. Pax books by Sara Pennypacker

Included on the National Book Award Longlist, this poignant tale follows the growing pains of a relationship between a boy and his fox.

Buy it: Pax series at Amazon

48. Dragons in a Bag series by Zetta Elliott

The book cover for 'Dragons in the Bag' by Zetta Elliott

This urban fantasy series begins when Jaxon finds out the mean old lady next door is a witch, and she asks him for his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they’ll be safe.

Buy it: Dragons in a Bag series at Amazon

49. Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Book cover of 'Furthermore' by Tahereh Mafi

Inspired by her childhood love of classic books like A Secret Garden and The Chronicles of Narnia , bestselling author Tahereh Mafi crafts a spellbinding new world where color is currency, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.

Buy it: Furthermore at Amazon

50. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

There are so many levels to this story of an 11-year-old boy and his grandmother’s unconventional road trip. The story packs in tons of background about the Civil Rights era without being preachy.

Buy it: Clean Getaway at Amazon

51. The One and Only series by Katherine Applegate

Book cover for The One and Only Ruby as an example of fourth grade books

Endearing animal characters and perspectives, relatable emotions—this series of instant fourth grade book classics is a delight to kids and teachers alike!

Buy it: The One and Only series at Amazon

52. The Nerviest Girl in the World by Melissa Wiley

Cover of 'The Nerviest Girl in the World' by Melissa Wiley

Pearl lives on a cattle-and-ostrich ranch and dreams of following in her brothers’ footsteps as a stunt double in silent films. This historical fiction title is full of fun and spunk and is great for learning about a storyteller’s voice.

Buy it: The Nerviest Girl in the World at Amazon

53. On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Méndez

Cover of 'On these magic shores' by Yamile Saied Mendez

When Minerva’s mother doesn’t come home from her night shift, Minerva takes care of her younger sisters. Amid grave uncertainty, unexplained events bring bits of comfort. This Peter Pan spinoff layers magical thinking with real themes of resilience, responsibility, and family bonds. It’s a fantastic class discussion novel or one to add to a list of fourth grade books to push independent readers toward deeper comprehension.

Buy it: On These Magic Shores at Amazon

54. Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

Jingwen has lots to cope with between his recent move to Australia and his father’s death, but there’s still room for plenty of humor in this highly readable Own Voices graphic novel. It will particularly resonate with ELL students and those who’ve had to navigate a move to a new place.

Buy it: Pie in the Sky at Amazon

55. Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami

Cover of 'Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh' by Uma Krishnaswami

Part sports novel, part World War II–era historical fiction—with a strong dose of girl power—readers will be cheering for Maria.

Buy it: Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh at Amazon

56. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

Cover of 'Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster' by Jonathan Auxier- 4th grade books

We’re predicting it here: This will become a new classic for kids. It’s a fable that stars a young chimney sweep girl during Victorian times who meets tragic circumstances, but the themes of friendship, acceptance, and resilience are timeless. If you have sensitive kiddos, preview it first before reading aloud.

Buy it: Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster at Amazon

57. We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey

Book cover for 'We're Not From Here' by Geoff Rodkey

This book asks students to imagine they were sent to a completely different planet where they were the outcasts. When it happens to the main character, the situations range from funny to potentially dangerous, but the overall message is timely and meant to make your students think. And isn’t that what the best fourth grade books do?

Buy it: We’re Not From Here at Amazon

Plus, check out our other elementary grade–level book lists:

Best kindergarten books, best 1st grade books, best 2nd grade books, best 3rd grade books, best 5th grade books, which recent fourth grade books are your favorites let us know in the comments, looking for more great book lists subscribe to our newsletters to receive notifications when we post new ones .

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Examples of third grade books including Blue and Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away

60 3rd Grade Books To Add to Your Classroom Library

Third grade should be a year of awesome books. Continue Reading

Book Review

Book Review Examples

Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023

Good Book Review Examples to Help you Write a Great Review

By: Nova A.

Reviewed By: Chris H.

Published on: Mar 30, 2021

A book review is a common assignment that allows the students to demonstrate the author’s intentions in the book. It also provides them with the chance not only to criticize but also to give constructive criticism on how they can make improvements.

The purpose of writing a book review is to come up with your opinion about the author’s ideas presented in the book. On the other hand, a book analysis is completely based on opinions that are relevant to the book.

Writing a review is something that can be done with any book that you read. However, some genres are harder to write. But with a proper plan, you can easily write a great review on any book.

Read some short book review examples in this guide. They will help you understand the key elements of writing a great review in no time.

On this Page

Academic Book Review Examples

If you are assigned to write a book review, referring to some examples will be of great help. In addition, reading examples before starting the writing process will help you understand what elements are needed for a great book review. There are also many review sites online you can get help from.

Academic book reviews follow a fairly simple structure. It usually includes an introduction, middle paragraphs, and a conclusion that sums up all the ideas.

For a great book review, here are the things you need to focus on during the writing process.

The main argument presented by the author
Author’s methodologyAppropriateness for the audience
Relationship to the real world

Have a look at the following book review examples for kids before beginning the writing process.

Book Review Examples for Middle School Students

Book Review Example For Kids

Book Review Examples for High School Students

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Book Review Examples for College Students

Book Review Examples for University Students

How to Write a Book Review - Examples

If you don’t know how to write a book review, look at the following steps.

The first step is to plan and create an outline that includes all the points that you will have to cover in the review. Don’t forget to include all the information about the characters, plot information, and some other parts of the chosen book.

The three parts of a book review are:

1. Provide a Summary

What is the book about? Write about the main characters and what is the conflict that is discussed in the book.

2. Provide Your Evaluation

Share your thoughts about the book and what elements work best.

3. Rate the Book

Rate and recommend the book to others who will enjoy reading this book.

If you need to submit a book review soon, we suggest you start reading some book reviews online. Here you can also find some good book review writing examples to understand how to craft each section of a book review.

Book Review Introduction Examples

Thesis Statement Book Review Examples

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Book Review Conclusion Examples

Critical Book Review Examples

A book review is a critical evaluation of the book, movie, or any other literary work. It has two goals: the first is to inform the readers about the content of the book, and the second is to evaluate your judgment about the book.

A book review is more than a book report. A review is basically a critical essay that evaluates the merits of a literary work. The purpose of writing a book review is not to prove that you have read a book but to show that you think critically about the chosen book.

When you are asked to write a critical book review, you need to identify, summarize and evaluate the ideas of the author. In simpler words, you will be examining and evaluating another person’s work from your point of view.

Science Book Review Examples

A scientific book review will contain the same elements as writing a review for a fiction book; some elements might vary. When you are reviewing a scientific text, you need to pay attention to the writing style and the validity of the content.

Most students turn to non-fictional sources of information. It is important to make sure the information you provide in your review is factual and scientific.

Book review writing can be difficult if you don’t know how to follow the standard protocols. That’s where our reliable book review writing service aims to provide the necessary help.

No matter what your academic level is, we can provide you with the best book review writing help. This type of writing assignment can be tricky and time-consuming. So, if you don’t know how to crack this task, better get professional help.

We at 5StarEssays.com provide exceptional book review writing help. Not only book reviews, but we also provide the best ‘ write an essay for me ’ help to students. Moreover, we also have an AI essay writer to help you with tight deadlines, give it a try now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a book review example.

Here are some steps that will help you to write a book review example.

Start writing with few sentences and describe what the book is all about
Focus on your thoughts
Mention things that you dont like about the book.
Summarize your thoughts.
Give rating to the book.

Thesis, Law

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Book Review - An Easy Guide To Write A Review

Book Review Examples to Help You Get Started

Good Book Review Examples for Students

You might be a professional writer, or you may not have any experience in writing book reviews. Rest assured, we’ll show you how to write perfect book reviews with the help of a sample template and great examples.

See this template to know what you should include in your book review:

Book Review Template

Here is a good book review example for 4th-grade students:

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Book Review Examples for Middle School Students

Reading reviews written by others can help you get a feel and flavor of good book reviews. Learning how to write a perfect book review can help students to:

Critically analyze a text
Give a personal opinion on the text
Improve analyzing and critical thinking skills

Here are some interesting book review examples suitable for middle school students.

Book Review Example for Middle School Students

Book Review Example for Kids

Book Review of Any Book in 300 Words

Science Book Review Example

Book Review Examples For High School Students

Below, you can also find some good book review examples for high school students. These real-life examples can help you get a clear understanding of the standard book review format that you should follow.

Book Review Example for High School Students

Book Review Examples for Class 9

Book Review Example for Grade 10

Book Review Examples for College Students

As a college student, you are required to demonstrate that you have examined the book from different angles. The points you raise in your book review need to be supported with clear facts and evidence.

The following are some interesting critical book review examples for college students to learn how to write a perfect review.

Book Review Example for Class 12

Short Book Review for Students

Conclusion of Book Review Example

Short Book Review Examples for Fiction Books

Fiction book reviews follow the same basic formula as writing book reviews of any other genre. For your help, we have compiled exciting examples of fiction book reviews that you can get valuable assistance from.

Short Book Review Example for Fiction Books

Book Review of Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

“The Hazel Wood” by Melissa Albert is a work of fiction and falls into fantasy and young adult fiction genres. The novel revolves around fantastical fairy tales, and magical realism, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

Here is an example of a comprehensive review of the book Hazel Wood:

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Non-Fiction Book Review Examples

For reviewing a non-fiction book, you are required to describe the book and summarize major points of interest. You should evaluate the author’s contribution to a subject that you may know very little about.

Here is a great non-fiction book review example to help you come up with a critical perspective on a text.

Non-Fiction Book Review Example

Hopefully, with the help of the above examples, you get a better idea of how to write a perfect book review.

To wrap it up,

Writing a great book review is a tricky task, no matter if you are a high school, college, or university student. Book review writing might seem like a simple task, but it requires excellent analyzing and critical thinking skills.

But, not everyone can crack this task easily. They might need additional help from expert book review writers. That’s why our professional ' write my book report ' service offers book review writing help whenever you need it.

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K-12 School Reading List

Recommended reading books for elementary, middle & high school students

Home » Reading lists for Elementary School children » 4th grade reading books for children aged 9-10

4th grade reading books for children aged 9-10

Books for grade 4 . This list of suggested reading books for grade 4 children has been curated and compiled for elementary school children aged 9-10. There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities, including easy readers and more difficult texts. Over the course of a year, these stories should inspire both those who find reading a struggle, and also challenge more confident pupils. This list of 4th-grade reading recommendations includes titles by Varian Johnson, J.K. Rowling, Laura Ingalls-Wilder, Tania Del Rio, Thanhha Lai, Angie Thomas, Arnold Lobel, Rick Riordan and more.

Books for Grade 4 – our recommendations

Nic blake and the remarkables by angie thomas.

Nic Blake is a ‘Remarkable’ in an Unremarkable world. Her quest to harness Manifestor powers takes a thrilling turn when she embarks on a journey to try and save her father from wrongful imprisonment. Blending adventure, magic, and African-American culture, this is an engaging fantasy that’s ideal for whole-class reading.

Funny Girl by Betsy Bird

This eclectic book includes short stories, personal essays, comics, and poetry by female authors such as Lisa Graff, Cece Bell, Jenni Holm, Shannon Hale, and Rita Williams-Garcia. Tales of babysitting nightmares, bathtub fires, and even a Tic Tac up a nostril will have middle-grade readers grinning and wanting to read more.

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Sai hides her family’s criminal background while helping a renowned mapmaker. Seizing the chance to join a dangerous expedition to discover a mythical land of dragons, she unexpectedly uncovers dark secrets. This gripping story explores themes of dreams, who you are, and family history.

Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson

As Anthony Joplin gears up for a prestigious Spades card game tournament, he finds an unlikely partner in Shirley, a Spades whiz. Exploring themes of masculinity, family secrets, and growing up. this compelling story blends card game strategy with tough life lessons. A good text to discuss in book clubs.

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis

An informative and factual middle-grade book, reflecting on the repercussions of the 1957 Indian Relocation Act. Regina and her family are told that her tribe no longer exists and they are forced to move to Los Angeles. Away from the reservation that she’s always known, Regina has to begin a new life. A useful book to spark discussions about race and American identity.

Diverse | Historical

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis

Wings of Fire series by Tui T Sutherland

An epic fantasy story about wars between tribes of dragons. Can Clay Tsunami Glory Starflight and sunny find a way to save the world before it’s too late?

Graphic novel

Fables by Arnold Lobel

A beautifully illustrated book full of classic fables including funny stories and stories which will get your child to think.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Milo is bored with everything and has nothing to do. But one day a tollbooth unexpectedly appears in his room. When Milo goes into the tollbooth he finds himself transported into another world which is far more interesting than his real life. A modern classic.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling

J.K. Rowling’s modern classic about Harry’s discovery of a magical world which ordinary people – muggles – are not aware of. An ideal book to get your child interested in reading.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice travels down a rabbit hole into a strange and unexpected world where nothing is quite as it seems. Danger and uncertainty lurk. This edition has fantastic illustrations to fire your child’s artistic imagination.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

When Roz the robot finds herself unexpectedly marooned on an island, she knows she needs to learn how to survive – fast – in this fast-paced thriller. A more advanced book for grade 4 children.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

The complete set of captivating adventure novels based on Greek gods, myths, and fantastic creatures – told in a modern and fast-paced style.

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

An atmospheric and page-turning mystery novel set beneath the Biltmore Hotel. Children start vanishing – can Serafina and her friend Braeden find out why? A gripping read for grade 4 children.

Six Dots by Jen Bryant

The illustrated life story of Louis Braille and how he invented a system of reading for the blind. Inspiring.

Picture book | Biography

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

When Dad goes out to buy the groceries and takes rather longer than expected; he has some incredible stories to tell about his perilous quest for breakfast cereals – involving pirates, aliens, and wumpires. Very funny.

George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl’s classic tale about the lengths George will go to in order to deal with his horrible grandmother. George invents a medicine that might just cure everything. Ideal for group reading in grade 4.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

A young orphan lives with his Norwegian grandmother who tells him incredible stories about evil witches who can smell children. Then he meets some. Will he find a way to elude them? A favorite book for grade 4 students.

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania Del Rio

An atmospheric mystery story about Warren – the 13th of his line – who is due to inherit a large dilapidated hotel. Somewhere inside is a priceless treasure of myth and legend. Can he battle witches and monsters to find it first?

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A classic tale of the author’s life as a pioneer in Kansas. Beautifully illustrated, this is a tale of family unity in times of frontier hardship.

The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Ghost Ship by Vicki Lockwood

Part of a series, this book is an engaging adventure mystery set in England. Lizzie Brown must solve a mysterious burglary involving a ghost ship. What secrets is the strange seaside town hiding? This is an ideal book for grade 4 readers who are more confident.

Mystery | Adventure

The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Ghost Ship by Vicki Lockwood

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson

An award-winning illustrated book about the childhood hardships of Charles Dickens in nineteenth century London.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A little prince appears before a marooned pilot and goes on a journey to different worlds – each only containing one person. A modern classic with clever illustrations.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Brought up by wolves, Mowgli learns about the world from the animals around him. A classic story – with vivid characters – which inspired the famous Disney film. A great group reading book for grade 4.

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Bartholemew and Hetties are Peculiars – secretive creatures who try desperately to remain invisible to and unnoticed by ordinary people. But when other Peculiars are being killed, they suddenly have to act. A story that is full of magic and suspense.

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

A mouse on a mission decides to travel to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen. A ripping adventure yarn that will thrill 4th grade readers.

Animal story

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

The author’s moving first-person account of leaving Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and moving to Alabama. Poignant, and told in verse. A good book for 4th grade paired reading.

Historical | Autobiography

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Bullies, frenemies and long-lasting true friendships fuel this fast-paced graphic novel story which will appeal to more reluctant readers in grade 4.

The Right Word by Jen Bryant

The fascinating story of Roget’s Thesaurus told through the eyes of Peter Mark Roget as a child. His love of words when he was young grew into a lifetime achievement and the book we know today. Evocative and descriptive this is a great example of historical fiction for younger readers.

The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas

Set in rural nineteenth-century Illinois, Emmy’s grandmother gifts her a special gift for the journey west to Colorado.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

When Opal is sent to buy the groceries, the ten-year-old instead returns with a dog. Not just any dog, Winn-Dixie helps Opal with finding not only new friends but deeply hidden family secrets. A classic, ideal for reading aloud in grade 4.

Extraordinary by Miriam Spitzer Franklin

A powerful story about Pansy who looks forward to meeting her best friend last year, Anna at the next summer camp. But in the year that has passed, Anna’s world has changed completely, and Pansy doesn’t know how to deal with it. A great book for grade 4 to discuss disability and change.

Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers

When Liberty Porter’s father is elected President her life changes completely. She decides to throw herself into her new role as first daughter, but will she persuade her parents to buy her a horse? A funny book that will appeal to reluctant readers.

Frindle by Andrew Clements

When Nick decides to invent a new word for a pen – the Frindle – all his friends start using the word, then the whole town, and pretty soon the new word is out of control. A fun book to read aloud in grade 4.

The Girl With the Glass Bird by Esme Kerr

Edie has been sent away to an old-fashioned boarding school in the countryside. But she’s not there to study. In fact, her uncle has sent her their to spy on Russian royalty and solve the mystery of a missing work of art.

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

A beautifully illustrated and well written collection of Greek Myths which will appeal to readers in the 4th grade.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

In this clever reinterpretation of The Snow Queen, Ophelia goes on a dangerous journey fraught with peril to rescue a boy locked in a room by the scary Snow Queen. Exciting and descriptive, this book is bound to be a hit with more confident 4th grade readers.

Woundabout by Lev Rosen

In this imaginative fantasy, Connor and his sister Cordelia are sent to live in the strange town of Woundabout. When they discover a strange machine, they realize winding it can change everything for the better – but not everyone wants to change. A fascinating story for more advanced readers.

Fantasy | Adventure

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this 4th grade book list, as well as classroom sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or stocking your school library. If you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘worldwide orders’ page which makes this process easy.

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About Tom Tolkien

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This booklist was last updated on July 13th, 2024 and first published in 2017 .

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. 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 be improved? 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 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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How To Write A Book Review: A Student Guide

What Is A Book Review?
How To Write A Book Review
Helpful Tips

If you’ve ever taken an English course or studied literature in any capacity, chances are you’re already very familiar with the idea of a book review. Maybe you’ve even written a book review or two throughout your academic career—hopefully after taking the time to actually read the book in question.

But even with their ubiquity within classrooms around the world, the task of writing a book review can still be daunting. After all, you’re attempting to boil down an entire book into a few short paragraphs! That’s no easy feat. Before you get started on your review, you might be wondering: How much of the book’s plot do I actually need to summarize? Do I need to mention every character in the order that they appear in the story? And what does one talk about in a book review, anyway?

Whether you’re writing a book review for school or just want some helpful tips to level up your Goodreads game, we’ll break down the different sections of a standard book review in this ultimate how-to guide.

What is a book review ?

A book review is a written evaluation of a book in any genre. Often around 500 to 1,000 words in length, book reviews provide a brief summary of the text, analyze its overall merit, and describe the reviewer’s personal opinions and reading experience. Think of it as a more nuanced way of recommending a favorite book— your review serves as your own individual stamp of approval.

If you’ve ever been assigned a book review in an academic setting, you already know that they’re meant to help students retain and further engage with their required reading. But book reviews can also appear outside of the classroom, too. Professional book critics, avid readers, and even bookish content creators may review a book for a major publication, for a personal blog, or on popular book reviewing websites like Goodreads and StoryGraph.

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

In casual conversation, one might use the terms “book review” and “book report” interchangeably. And while book reviews and book reports certainly share a few key similarities, there are some important differences that distinguish the two from an academic standpoint.

Often assigned to students in the K-12 age range, book reports give a strictly objective account of what happened in a book. Think major plot points, main characters, and big-picture ideas. They don’t often include the added elements of critical analysis and a subjective review, which is why they’re typically reserved for younger students with less experience with writing and literature.

Book reviews, on the other hand, are more than just a play-by-play of what happened; they require a higher level of critical thinking and engagement with the text. After providing a brief summary of the text, book reviews typically move into a deeper analysis of literary elements, which could include plot, characters, themes, or even the writing style itself. A book review also usually concludes with the reviewer’s personal thoughts, experience, rating, and recommendation (or non-recommendation) of the book.

Get a better grasp on the nuances that set book reports apart from book reviews with this helpful article.

How to write a book review

Section 1: introduction.

To begin your book review, it’s a good idea to start with a compelling hook that captures your audience’s attention and encourages them to continue reading. Don’t give anything major away in these first few sentences—just focus on setting the tone, creating some intrigue, or presenting an interesting question.

Example: With more than 300 million records sold worldwide and a career in music spanning over six decades, Elton John is easily one of the most prolific artists of all time. The singer’s official autobiography, aptly titled Me , gives readers an up-close-and-personal look at the man behind the music.

Section 2: Summary

Next, briefly recap the book you read with a high-level synopsis. Not only does this help clue your audience in on what the book is even about, but it also sets up your thoughts and opinions regarding the book with some important context.

For fiction book summaries, focus on plot points, primary and secondary characters, and overall themes—just be sure to leave out any big reveals and avoid discussing spoilers that could ruin someone’s reading experience. If you’re reviewing a nonfiction book, you can discuss the author’s main ideas, arguments, or thesis statements by section. Don’t forget to mention any essential information about the book in this section, which can include basics like the title, author, publication year, and whether or not it’s part of a series, for example.

Example: Published in 2019 by Henry Holt & Co., Elton John’s personal memoir aims to capture as much of the British singer, pianist, and composer’s fascinating life as possible. The book begins by recounting John’s early childhood experiences growing up in the suburbs of London then moves into his rise to fame and continued success as a musician and producer today.

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Section 3: Critical analysis

Once you’ve recapped the book and provided your audience with all of the need-to-know details, it’s time to dive a little deeper. The critical analysis section of your book review is where you can start to sprinkle in your own thoughts, feelings, and opinions about the text.

If you’re writing a book review in an academic setting or as an assignment for school, you may be required to write about specific literary elements within the text. (Be sure to refer back to your assignment’s instructions for more information!) But if you’ve got free range to write about anything and aren’t sure where to start, here are a few prompts to get your creative juices flowing:

Characterization: Who are the primary characters, and how do they affect the story? Are they particularly likable or relatable? What do you think their individual arcs represent?
Structure/form: How does structure play a role in storytelling? Does the author write in long, stream-of-consciousness paragraphs or short, quippy vignettes? Do you think the book would have benefited from a different structure?
Writing style: How would you describe this author’s writing style? Is it accessible and conversational or rigid and academic? Does this writing style lend itself well to this specific story or genre?
Themes & ideas: Can you easily identify the story’s main ideas or motifs? What do you think they represent? Are they effective? Why or why not?

Example: I found Elton John’s honesty, vulnerability, and conversational writing style incredibly refreshing as I read this book. It felt less like reading a nonfiction book and more like catching up with a friend. The singer doesn’t pull any punches as he shares everything from delightful anecdotes of his experience as a father to the heart-wrenching details of his struggle with drug addiction. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to live such a public life; I commend and admire John’s continued openness.

Section 4: Conclusion, personal recommendation, and rating (if applicable)

Finally, wrap up your book review by stating whether or not you personally recommend the book to your intended audience. Don’t throw your audience for a loop by bringing up anything new in this section. Your conclusion should be a natural progression from the previous sections—it’s the cherry on top, if you will.

Note: if you’re writing a book review for a school assignment, you may be able to skip this section based on your assignment’s directions. On the other hand, if you’re writing your review for your personal blog or on a popular bookish site like Goodreads or StoryGraph, it may be helpful to include a star rating, too.

Example: I highly recommend this book to longtime fans of Elton John and casual listeners alike. I grew up listening to Elton John’s greatest hits on the radio, and it was so interesting to learn more about his upbringing, creative inspiration, and life experiences in this book.

Like book reviews and reports, the five-paragraph essay is a classic part of any student’s academic arsenal. Learn how to master it here!

Helpful tips for writing a book review

Read (and re-read) your assignment’s directions. Following your teacher or professor’s instructions is key to nailing a book review assignment in an academic setting. You may be required to follow a certain structure, hit a specified word count, or discuss certain literary devices in your review.

Take notes while you read. Especially when it comes to writing the summary portion of the book review, it can be helpful to actively take notes while you’re reading. Note-taking can help you focus on the main ideas and trace narrative through-lines while they’re fresh in your mind, rather than trying to remember every last detail after you’ve already finished the book. Plus, your notes will serve as a helpful cheat sheet to look back on in case you do end up forgetting something.

Remember to proofread! As with any piece of writing, it’s important to check your work for grammar errors, misspellings, and typos. You don’t want to lose credibility (or points on your grade) for silly mistakes.

Don’t be too harsh. Even if you truly despised the book you read, it’s a good idea to write as if the author of the book might read your review one day. Jumping at the chance to tear down someone’s writing is unnecessary; keep your criticism constructive and remember that authors have feelings, too!

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Apr 03

How to write a book review in 3 steps.

If the idea of reading for free — or even getting paid to read — sounds like a dream come true, remember that it isn’t a pipe dream. There are many places aspiring book reviewers can read books for free, such as Reedsy Discovery — a new platform for reviewing indie books. Of course, if you’re giving serious thought to becoming a book reviewer, your first step should be learning how to write a book review. To that end, this post covers all the basics of literary criticism. Let’s get started!

The three main steps of writing a book review are simple:

Provide a summary: What is story about? Who are the main characters and what is the main conflict?
Present your evaluation: What did you think of the book? What elements worked well, and which ones didn’t?
Give your recommendation: Would you recommend this book to others? If so, what kinds of readers will enjoy it?

You can also download our free book review templates and use it as a guide! Otherwise, let’s take a closer look at each element.

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How to write a review of a book

Step 1. provide a summary.

Have you ever watched a movie only to realize that all the good bits were already in the trailer? Well, you don’t want the review to do that. What you do want the summary to do is reveal the genre, theme, main conflict, and main characters in the story — without giving away spoilers or revealing how the story ends.

A good rule of thumb is not to mention anything that happens beyond the midpoint. Set the stage and give readers a sense of the book without explaining how the central issue is resolved.

Emily W. Thompson's review of The Crossing :

In [Michael] 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. Read more...

Here are a few more reviews with well-written summaries for you to check out. The summary tend to be the longest part of the book review, so we won’t turn this post into a novel itself by pasting them all here: Le Cirque Navire reviewed by Anna Brill, The Heart of Stone reviewed by Kevin R. Dickinson, Fitting Out: The Friendship Experiment reviewed by Lianna Albrizio.

Non-fiction summary tip: The primary goal of a non-fiction summary is to provide context: what problems or issues has the book spotted, and how does it go about addressing them? Be sure to mention the authors of the title and what experience or expertise they bring to the title. Check Stefan Kløvning’s review of Creativity Cycling for an example of a summary that establishes the framework of the book within the context of its field.

Step 2. Present your evaluation

While you should absolutely weave your own personal take of a book into the review, your evaluation shouldn’t only be based on your subjective opinion. Along with presenting how you reacted to the story and how it affected you, you should also try to objectively critique the stronger and weaker elements of the story, and provide examples from the text to back up your points.

To help you write your evaluation, you should record your reactions and thoughts as you work your way through a novel you’re planning on reviewing. Here are some aspects of the book to keep in mind as you do.

Your evaluation might focus heartily on the book’s prose:

Donald Barker's review of Mercenary :

Such are the bones of the story. But, of course, it is the manner in which Mr Gaughran puts the bones back together and fills them with life that makes “Mercenary” such a great read. The author’s style seems plain; it seems straightforward and even simple. But an attempt at imitation or emulation quickly proves that simple it is not. He employs short, punchy sentences that generate excellent dialogue dripping with irony, deadpan humour and wit. This, mixed with good descriptive prose, draws the characters – and what characters they are – along with the tumultuous events in which they participated amidst the stinking, steaming heat of the South American jungle, out from the past to the present; alive, scheming, drinking, womanising and fighting, onto the written page.

You can give readers a sense of the book by drawing comparisons to other well-known titles or authors:

Laura Hartman's review of The Mystery of Ruby's Mistletoe :

Reading Ms. Donovan’s book is reminiscent to one of my favorite authors, Dame Agatha Christie. Setting up the suspects in a snowbound house, asking them to meet in the drawing room and the cleverly satisfying conclusion was extremely gratifying. I can picture Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot nodding at Ms. Donovan saying “Well done!”

Not everyone’s tastes are the same, and you can always acknowledge this by calling out specific story elements in your evaluation:

Kevin R. Dickinson's review of The Heart of Stone :

Whether you enjoy Galley’s worldbuilding will depend heavily on preference. Galley delivers information piecemeal, letting the characters, not the author, navigate the reader through Hartlund. A notable example is the magic system, an enigmatic force that lacks the ridge structures of, say, a Brandon Sanderson novel. While the world’s magical workings are explained, you only learn what the characters know and many mysteries remain by the end. Similar choices throughout make the world feel expansive and authentic.

Non-fiction evaluation tip: A book’s topic is only as compelling as its supporting arguments. Your evaluation of a nonfiction book should address that: how clearly and effectively are the points communicated? Turn back to Stefan’s critique for an example of a non-fiction critique that covers key takeaways and readability, without giving away any “big reveals.”

Step 3. Give your recommendation

At the end of the day, your critique needs to answer this question: is this a book you would (or wouldn’t) recommend to other readers? You might wrap up by comparing it to other books in the same genre, or authors with similar styles, such as: “Fans of so-and-so will enjoy this book.”

Let’s take a look at a few more tips:

You don’t need to write, “I recommend this book” — you can make it clear by highlighting your favorable opinion:

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.

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.

Add more punch to your rating by mentioning what kind of audience will or won’t enjoy the book:

Charleigh Aleyna Reid's review of The King of FU :

I would recommend this book to anyone who grew up in the 90’s and would like to reminisce about the time, someone who is interested to see what it was like to be a 90’s kid, or perhaps anyone who is looking for a unique, funny story about someone’s life.

Unless you found the title absolutely abhorrent, a good way to balance out a less favorable book review it to share what you did like about the book — before ultimately stating why you wouldn’t recommend the novel:

Nicola O's review of Secrets of the Sea Lord :

Overall, there are plenty of enjoyable elements in this story and fans of Atlantis and mer mythology should give it a try. Despite this, it does not rise above a three-star rating, and while I had some difficulty pinning down why this is, I concluded that it comes from a surprisingly unsophisticated vocabulary. There are a couple of graphic sex scenes, which is absolutely fine in a paranormal romance, but if they were removed, I could easily imagine this as an appealing story for middle-schoolers.

Non-fiction recommendation tip: As with fiction book reviews, share why you did or didn’t enjoy the title. However, in one of the starkest divergences from fiction book reviews it’s more important than ever that you mention your expectations coming into the non-fiction book. For instance, if you’re a cow farmer who’s reading a book on the benefits of becoming a vegetarian, you’re coming in with a large and inherent bias that the book will struggle to alter. So your recommendation should cover your thoughts about the book, while clearly taking account your perspective before you started reading. Let’s look once more at Stefan’s review for an example of a rating that includes an explanation of the reviewer’s own bias.

Bonus tips for writing a book review

Let’s wrap up with a few final tips for writing a compelling review.

Remember, this isn’t a book report. If someone wants the summary of a book, they can read the synopsis. People turn to book reviews for a fellow reader’s take on the book. And for that reason...
Have an opinion. Even if your opinion is totally middle-of-the-line — you didn’t hate the book but you didn’t love it either — state that clearly, and explain why.
Make your stance clear from the outset. Don’t save your opinion just for the evaluation/recommendation. Weave your thoughts about the book into your summary as well, so that readers have an idea of your opinion from the outset.
Back up your points. Instead of just saying, “the prose was evocative” — show readers by providing an actual passage that displays this. Same goes for negative points — don’t simply tell readers you found a character unbelievable, reference a certain (non-spoiler) scene that backs this up.
Provide the details. Don’t forget to weave the book’s information into the review: is this a debut author? Is this one installment of a series? What types of books has the author written before? What is their background? How many pages does the book have? Who published the book? What is the book’s price?
Follow guidelines. Is the review you’re writing for Goodreads? For The New York Times ? The content and tone of your review will vary a good deal from publication to publication.
Learn from others. One of the best ways to learn how to write a great review is to read other reviews! To help you out with that, we’ve published a post all about book review examples .

Writing book reviews can be a rewarding experience! As a book-lover yourself, it’s a great opportunity to help guide readers to their next favorite title. If you’re just getting started as a reviewer and could use a couple more tips and nudges in the right direction, check out our comprehensive blog post on how to become a book reviewer . And if you want to find out which review community is the right fit for you, we recommend taking this quick quiz:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Finally, if you feel you've nailed the basics of how to write a book review, we recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can review books for free and are guaranteed people will read them. To register as a book reviewer, simply go here !

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