Writing Riveting Reviews
Here at Our Reading Den we are all about children reading stories they love and sharing their enjoyment with other children. There is something very satisfying about sharing a book you have loved.
A great way to share a book is to write a book review. A book review helps other readers make a decision about whether a book might be right for them. Reviews are like a sneaky peek at a book.
A Few Pointers
- Start with a couple of sentences about what kind of book it is and what it is about – no spoilers though, you don’t want to give away important parts of the story.
- Share what you liked about the story, what you didn’t like, how you felt about the characters and how the story and the characters made you feel. It can be really helpful to ask yourself some questions about the book – see our list of questions below to get you started.
Questions to ask yourself
- What was your favourite part of the book, and why?
- Were there any parts of the story you didn’t like, and why didn’t you like them?
- Which characters did you like the best, and why?
- Were there any characters you didn’t like, and why?
- How did the book make you feel? Maybe it made you laugh or cry? Scared or excited?
- Was the story a page-turner – did you want to keep reading?
- Did the characters and places feel real to you?
Finish Your Review
Once you have summarised the story, asked yourself questions and put the answers into sentences, have a think about what sort of reader you think would like this book. For example, would it appeal to readers of fantasy books or children who like books that are funny? Do you think the book is aimed at older or younger children?
Finally, login to your Our Reading Den account and write up your review. Don’t worry if you don’t have an account yet you can sign up for one here – pleases make sure you ask for your parent’s help and permission.
That’s it. You are done! You have written a review, shared some book love and helped other children find stories that they can enjoy.
You are officially, and bookishly, awesome.
