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Every book review is different, but each successful review includes a couple of key elements. As you think about what you want to say in your review, complete these challenges. They're designed to help you work on telling your reader what's most important.
- Describe the setting of the book. How does it compare or contrast to the world you know? A book's setting is one of its most vital components — particularly for a book like To Kill a Mockingbird, which is set in the past. Does the author make you feel like you're a part of the setting? Can you picture the book's setting if you close your eyes? As you write, try to pass on to your reader the sense of the setting and place that the author has provided.
- Describe the book's main characters. Does the writer make you believe in them as people? Why or why not? Think about whether you like the characters and about how liking them or disliking them makes you feel about the book. As you write about the characters, use examples of things they've said or done to give a sense of their personalities.
- Give your reader a taste of the plot, but don't give the surprises away. Readers want to know enough about what happens in a book to know whether they'll find it interesting. But they never want to know the ending! Summarize the plot in a way that will answer some questions about the book, but leave other questions in the reader's mind. You may want to make a list of questions about the book before you begin.
Once you're done with the challenges, you're ready to write a first draft of your review! Take these elements and weave them together into a complete review. Be sure to incorporate some of the writing tips from Step 2, too! When you've finished the first draft, you'll be ready to move on to the revision process.
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