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How to write a book report

A book report is one of the first types of essays you probably learned to write in elementary school. But no matter how many book reports you turn in over the course of your student life, they can still inspire some anxiety and some confusion about the best way to write a book report, especially as you reach the high school and college level.

The good news is that the basics you learned in the early grades will serve you in good stead, since the book report format remains mostly the same. The very same structure and tools you used to dissect Charlotte’s Web and Superfudge will work just as well for Animal Farm and The Handmaid’s Tale . What changes is the depth and breadth of your analysis as a high school and college student.

So, If you are wondering how to start a book report for a college class assignment, here are some of the key pieces of information you need to know.

What is a book report?

Let’s start off with some definitions. In the most general terms, a book report is a summary of a written text, often a fiction novel, but can also include other genres such as memoir and creative non-fiction. It includes an analysis of the different elements and authorial choices that comprise the work, such as tone, theme, perspective, diction, dialogue, etc.

While the analysis should be reasoned and objective, it should also include your opinion and assessment of the impact and overall success of the author’s choices on the final work.

Book reports usually fall into one of the following types:

Plot summary

This type of book report isn’t just a re-telling of the story, it’s a comment on your overall impression of the plot — whether you thought it was engaging or maudlin or vapid, for example — backed up by direct quotes from the text to support your opinion.

Example of a plot summary thesis statement: The plot of Herman Melville’s short story, “Bartleby the Scrivener,” offers a poignant portrait of how depression robs a person of all motivation and momentum in life.

Character analysis

A character analysis zeroes in on a particular character (their characterization and actions) and their impact on the unfolding of the plot and its eventual outcome.

Example of a character analysis thesis statement: In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye , the character of Phoebe, Holden’s bright and precocious younger sister, is a catalyst for rekindling his hope in humanity and reconsidering the choices he’s made in his life.

Theme analysis

A theme analysis looks at the overarching concepts, or themes, that run through a book and that give the text meaning and direction. Themes tend to be broad in nature, such as love, the importance of family, the impact of childhood, etc.

Example of a theme analysis thesis statement: Banana Yoshimoto’s novella, Kitchen , explores the theme of death and how everyone sooner or later has to come to terms with the mortality of the people they love as well as their own.

How to start a book report

The very first step in writing a stellar book report that earns a top grade is actually reading the book. This may seem obvious, but many students make the assignment much harder on themselves by not putting in the time up front to do a thorough and complete reading of the book they’re going to be writing their report on. So resist the urge to skim the text or to rely on the Cliff’s notes version. A nuanced analysis requires a deep grasp of the text, and there is no substitute for focused, firsthand reading.

It’s a lot easier to stick with a book that you enjoy reading! If you have the chance to choose the book you’ll be writing a report on, take some time to select a book that appeals to you, considering the genre, time period, writing style, and plot.

It can be helpful to start thinking about your book report while you are still making your way through your initial reading of the text. Mark down passages that provide key turning points in the action, descriptive passages that establish time and place, and any other passages that stand out to you in terms of their word choice and use of language. This makes it much easier to go back later and start collecting the evidence you’ll need to support your argument and analysis.

Once you finish reading the book from cover to cover, you’ll likely find that your mind is swirling with thoughts, impressions, and burgeoning analyses. At this stage, trying to distill all of these half-formed thoughts into one cohesive report may seem like a daunting task. One way to make this task more approachable is to start by collecting and listing the objective facts about the book. The following list covers the basic elements that should be included in every book report you write, no matter what topic or specific type of book report you’re writing:

• The book’s title and author
• The historical context of the book (when it was written)
• The time(s) during which the story is set
• The location(s) where the story takes place
• A summary of the main characters and action of the story
• Quotes from the book that will function as evidence to support your analysis

With all of the basics in hand, you can start to write your book report in earnest. Just like most other essay types, a well-written book report follows a basic structure that makes it easy for your reader to follow your thoughts and make sense of your argument.

A typical book report will open with an introduction that briefly summarizes the book and culminates with a thesis statement that advances an opinion or viewpoint about it. This is followed by body paragraphs that provide detailed points to flesh out and support that opinion in greater detail, including direct quotes from the text as supporting evidence. The report finishes with a conclusion that summarizes the main points and leaves the reader with an understanding of the book, its aims, and whether or not you feel the book (and its author) was successful in doing what it set out to do. Ideally, the conclusion will also make a statement about how the book fits into the larger literary world.

A book report template you can use for any book report

If you find yourself stuck on how to start a book report, here’s a handy book report template you can use to get things off the ground. Simply use this structure and start filling it in with the specifics of the book you are writing your report on. Feel free to expand upon this book report template, adding more sections as appropriate.

Introduction

Write three to five sentences introducing the book and author as well as important contextual information about the book, such as the publication year and the overall critical reception at the time. Finish the paragraph with your thesis statement.

Body paragraphs

Include at least three body paragraphs that offer detailed information and analysis to support your thesis statement. Each paragraph should contain one idea, backed up with direct quotes from the text alongside your critical analysis.

Write three to five sentences that restate your thesis and summarize the evidence you’ve presented in support of it. Relate your findings to a larger context about the book’s place within both the literary world and the world at large.

Frequently Asked Questions about book reports

A book report follows the format of most papers you write - it will have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Depending on the type of book report, you will fill these parts with the required information.

These are the basic parts that should be included in every book report you write, no matter what topic or specific type of book report you’re writing:

• The historical context of the book and time(s) during which the story is set

The book report is, among other things, also a summary of the plot, main characters, and ideas and arguments of the author. Your book report should help readers decide whether they want to read the book or not.

How many pages a book report should have depends on your assignment. It can be a half page, but it can also have many pages. Make sure to carefully read through your assignment and ask your professor if you are unsure .

A book report is a summary of a written text. A good book report includes an analysis of the different elements and authorial choices that comprise the work, such as tone, theme, perspective, diction, dialogue, etc. A good book report helps the reader decide whether they want to read the book or not.

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How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

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How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example) 

Download for free, specific tips for writing effective book reports..

Write better book reports using the tips, examples, and outlines presented here. This resource covers three types of effective book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. It also features a specific book report example for students.

How to write a book report (+ book report example) 

Whether you're a student looking to show your comprehension of a novel, or simply a book lover wanting to share your thoughts, writing a book report can be a rewarding experience. This guide, filled with tips, tricks, and a book report example, will help you craft a report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of your chosen book.

Looking for a printable resource on book reports? See our Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

What is a book report? 

Book reports can take on many different forms. Writing a book review helps you practice giving your opinion about different aspects of a book, such as an author's use of description or dialogue.

You can write book reports of any type, from fiction to non-fiction research papers, or essay writing; however, there are a few basic elements you need to include to convey why the book you read was interesting when writing a good book report.

Types of book reports 

Three types of effective book reports are plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. Each type focuses on different aspects of the book and requires a unique approach. These three types of book reports will help you demonstrate your understanding of the book in different ways.

Plot summary

When you are writing a plot summary for your book report you don't want to simply summarize the story. You need to explain what your opinion is of the story and why you feel the plot is so compelling, unrealistic, or sappy. It is the way you analyze the plot that will make this a good report. Make sure that you use plenty of examples from the book to support your opinions.

Try starting the report with a sentence similar to the following:

The plot of I Married a Sea Captain , by Monica Hubbard, is interesting because it gives the reader a realistic sense of what it was like to be the wife of a whaling captain and live on Nantucket during the 19th century.

Character analysis

If you choose to write a character analysis, you can explore the physical and personality traits of different characters and the way their actions affect the plot of the book.

• Explore the way a character dresses and what impression that leaves with the reader.
• What positive characteristics does the character possess?
• Does the character have a "fatal flaw" that gets him/her into trouble frequently?
• Try taking examples of dialogue and analyzing the way a character speaks. Discuss the words he/she chooses and the way his/her words affect other characters.
• Finally, tie all of your observations together by explaining the way the characters make the plot move forward.

In the novel Charlotte's Web , by E. B. White, Templeton the rat may seem like an unnecessary character but his constant quest for food moves the plot forward in many ways.

Theme analyses

Exploring the themes (or big ideas that run throughout the story) in a book can be a great way to write a book report because picking a theme that you care about can make the report easier to write. Try bringing some of your thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show the power of a theme. Before you discuss your own thoughts, however, be sure to establish what the theme is and how it appears in the story.

• Explain  exactly  what theme you will be exploring in your book report.
• Use as many examples and quotations from the book as possible to prove that the theme is important to the story.
• Make sure that you talk about each example or quotation you've included. Make a direct connection between the theme and the example from the book.
• After you have established the theme and thoroughly examined the way it affects the book, include a few sentences about the impact the theme had upon you and why it made the book more or less enjoyable to read.

In the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred Taylor, the theme of racial prejudice is a major catalyst in the story.

How to write a book report

1. Thoroughly read the book

Immerse yourself in the book, taking the time to read it in its entirety. As you read, jot down notes on important aspects such as key points, themes, and character developments.

2. Identify the main elements of the book

Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report.

3. Formulate a thesis statement

Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book. This should be a concise statement that will guide your analysis and give your report a clear focus.

4. Create a detailed outline

Plan the structure of your book report. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs each focusing on a different aspect of the book, and a conclusion.

5. Craft the introduction

The introduction should provide basic information such as the book's title and author, and present your thesis statement. It should engage the reader and make them interested in your analysis.

6. Write the body of the report

In the body of your report, discuss in detail the book's main elements that you identified in step 3. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis and to prove your thesis statement.

7. Write a strong conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your analysis, reaffirm your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the overall book.

8. Review and edit your report

After writing, take the time to revise your report for clarity and coherence. Check for and correct any grammar or spelling errors. Ensure that your report clearly communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

9. Include citations

If you have used direct quotes or specific ideas from the book, make sure to include proper citations . This is crucial in academic writing and helps avoid plagiarism.

10. Proofread

Finally, proofread your work. Look for any missed errors and make sure that the report is the best it can be before submitting it.

Book report example 

Below is a book report example on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In  To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee presents a thoughtful exploration of racial prejudice, morality, and the loss of innocence. Set in the small, fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the book centers around the Finch family - young Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Scout's character provides a fresh perspective as she narrates her experiences and observations of the unjust racial prejudice in her town. Her honesty and curiosity, coupled with her father's teachings, allow her to grow from innocence to a more profound understanding of her society's inequalities. The plot revolves around Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, unjustly accused of raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that Robinson is innocent, and the accusation was a product of racial prejudice. Despite compelling evidence in Robinson's favor, he is convicted, symbolizing the power of bias over truth. The theme of racial prejudice is a significant part of the book. Lee uses the trial and its unjust outcome to critique the racial prejudice prevalent in society. For example, despite Atticus's solid defense, the jury's racial bias leads them to find Robinson guilty. This instance highlights how deeply ingrained prejudice can subvert justice. The book also explores the theme of the loss of innocence. Scout and Jem's experiences with prejudice and injustice lead to their loss of innocence and a better understanding of the world's complexities. For example, Scout's realization of her town's unfair treatment of Robinson demonstrates her loss of innocence and her understanding of societal biases. Overall,  To Kill a Mockingbird  is a compelling exploration of the harsh realities of prejudice and the loss of innocence. Harper Lee's intricate characters and vivid storytelling have made this book a classic.

The above is an excellent book report example for several reasons. First, it provides a clear, concise summary of the plot without giving away the entire story. Second, it analyzes the main characters, their roles, and their impacts on the story. Third, it discusses the major themes of the book - racial prejudice and loss of innocence - and supports these themes with evidence from the text. Finally, it presents a personal perspective on the book's impact and overall message, demonstrating a deep understanding of the book's significance.

Book report checklist

Always  include the following elements in any book report:

• The type of book report you are writing
• The book's title
• The author of the book
• The time when the story takes place
• The location where the story takes place
• The names and a  brief  description of each of the characters you will be discussing
• Many quotations and examples from the book to support your opinions
• A thesis statement
• The point of view of the narrator
• Summary of the book
• The main points or themes discussed in the work of fiction or non-fiction
• The first paragraph (introductory paragraph), body paragraphs, and final paragraph
• The writing styles of the author
• A critical analysis of the fiction or non-fiction book

Don't forget! 

No matter what type of book report you decide to write, ensure it includes basic information about the main characters, and make sure that your writing is clear and expressive so that it’s easy for audiences in middle school, high school, college-level, or any grade level to understand. Also, include examples from the book to support your opinions. Afterward, conduct thorough proofreading to complete the writing process. Book reports may seem disconnected from your other schoolwork, but they help you learn to summarize, compare and contrast, make predictions and connections, and consider different perspectives & skills you'll need throughout your life.

Looking for more writing resources? You can find them in our creative writing center .

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• Writing Tips

How to Write a Book Report

5-minute read

• 5th September 2021

A book report is an essay that summarizes the main ideas presented by the author. But how do you write a good book report? Our top tips include:

• Check the assignment instructions so you know what you need to do.
• Read the book , making notes as you go.
• Plan your book report and create an essay outline .
• Write up your report , using examples and quotes to support your points.
• Revise and proofread your work to eliminate errors.

In the rest of this post, we look at how to write a book report in more detail.

1. Check the Assignment Instructions

Book reports come in many different types, so the first thing you should do if you’re asked to write one is check the assignment instructions carefully. Key aspects of the essay instructions to pay attention to include:

• The required length of the book report (and any maximum word count ).
• Whether you will be assigned a book to write about or whether you will be asked to pick one yourself (either from a list supplied by the tutor or based on a set of requirements, such as a book about a set topic).
• What aspects of the book to write about (e.g., will it just be a summary of the book’s content, or will you also need to offer some critical analysis?).
• Any requirements for structuring and formatting your report (e.g., whether to break the essay up into sections with headings and subheadings).

If anything about the instructions is unclear, check it with your tutor.

2. Read the Book and Make Notes

Next, you’ll need to read the book you’re writing about in full, not just skim through or read a synopsis! This means you’ll need to leave enough time before the deadline to read the text thoroughly (and write up your report).

When you are reading, moreover, make sure to take notes on:

• Basic bibliographic details, including the title, author name(s), year of publication, publisher, and number of pages.
• How the book is structured (e.g., whether it uses chapters).
• The overall plot or argument, plus key ideas and/or plot points from each part.
• For works of fiction, important characters and themes.
• Significant quotations or examples you might want to use in your report.

Where possible, make sure to note down page numbers as well. This will make it easier to find the relevant parts again when you’re reviewing your notes.

3. Outline Your Book Report

How you structure your report will ultimately depend on the length (e.g., a short, 500-word report is unlikely to use separate sections and headings, while a longer one will need these to help break up the text and guide the reader) and the assignment instructions, so make sure to review these carefully.

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However, common elements of a book report include:

• An introductory paragraph or section with basic book details (e.g., the title, author(s), genre, publisher, publication date, and intended audience).
• Information about the author’s background and, where relevant, credentials.
• An overview of the book’s plot (fiction and narrative non-fiction), or its main idea (other non-fiction), sometimes with a section-by-section breakdown.
• Information on characters, setting, and themes (fiction and narrative non-fiction), or key ideas and concepts set out by the author (other non-fiction).
• Where required, critical analysis or evaluation of the book.

When planning your book report, then, use your notes and the assignment instructions to outline your essay, breaking it down into clearly defined sections and noting what you will include in each one.

4. Write Up Your Book Report

When it comes to writing up your report, helpful tips include:

• Imagine the reader will be unfamiliar with the book and try to ensure your report covers all the information they’d need to know what it is about.
• Use clear, concise language to make your report easy to follow. Look out for wordiness and repetition, and don’t be tempted to pad out your report with irrelevant details just to increase the word count!
• Use examples and quotations to support your points (but don’t rely too heavily on quotations; keep in mind that the report should be in your own words).
• Follow the formatting instructions set out in your style guide or the assignment instructions (e.g., for fonts, margins, and presenting quotations).

If you use quotations in your report, moreover, make sure to include page numbers! This will help the reader find the passages you’ve quoted.

5. Revise and Proofread Your Work

When you have the first draft of your book report, if you have time, take a short break (e.g., overnight) before re-reading it. This will help you view it objectively. Then, when you do re-read it, look out for ways you could improve it, such as:

• Typos and other errors that need correcting.
• Issues with clarity or places where the writing could be more concise (reading your work aloud can make it easier to spot clunky sentences).
• Passages that would benefit from being supported with a quote or example.

It’s also a good idea to re-read the assignment instructions one last time before submitting your work, which will help you spot any issues you missed.

Finally, if you’d like some extra help checking your writing, you can have it proofread by a professional . Submit a free sample document today to find out more.

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How to Write a Great Book Report

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• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

One assignment has lasted the test of time, uniting generations of students in a common learning exercise: book reports. While many students dread these assignments, book reports can help students learn how to interpret texts and gain a broader understanding of the world around them.  Well-written books can open your eyes to new experiences, people, places, and life situations that you may have never thought about before. In turn, a book report is a tool that allows you, the reader, to demonstrate that you have understood all the nuances of the text you just read.

What's a Book Report?

In the broadest terms, a book report describes and summarizes a work of fiction or nonfiction . It sometimes — but not always — includes a personal evaluation of the text. In general, regardless of grade level, a book report will include an introductory paragraph that shares the title of the book and its author. Students will often develop their own opinions about the underlying meaning of the texts through developing thesis statements , typically presented in the opening of a book report, and then using examples from the text and interpretations to support those statements.  

Before You Start Writing

A good book report will address a specific question or point of view and back up this topic with specific examples, in the form of symbols and themes. These steps will help you identify and incorporate those important elements. It shouldn't be too hard to do, provided you're prepared, and you can expect to spend, on average, 3-4 days working on the assignment. Check out these tips to ensure you're successful:

• Have an objective in mind.  This is the main point you want to present or the question you plan to answer in your report.  
• Keep supplies on hand when you read.  This is  very  important. Keep sticky-note flags, pen, and paper nearby as you read. If you're reading an eBook , make sure you know how to use the annotation function of your app/program.  
• Read the book.  It seems obvious, but too many students try to take a shortcut and simply read summaries or watch movies, but you often miss important details that can make or break your book report.
• Pay attention to detail.  Keep an eye out for clues that the author has provided in the form of symbolism . These will indicate some important point that supports the overall theme. For instance, a spot of blood on the floor, a quick glance, a nervous habit, an impulsive action, a repetitive action... These are worth noting.
• Use your sticky flags to mark pages.  When you run into clues or interesting passages, mark the page by placing the sticky note at the beginning of the relevant line.  
• Look for themes.  As you read, you should begin to see an emerging theme. On a notepad, write down some notes on how you came to determine the theme.
• Develop a rough outline.  By the time you finish  reading the book , you will have recorded several possible themes or approaches to your objective. Review your notes and find points that you can back up with good examples (symbols). 

Your Book Report Introduction

The start of your book report provides an opportunity to make a solid introduction to the material and your own personal assessment of the work. You should try to write a strong introductory paragraph that grabs your reader's attention. Somewhere in your first paragraph , you should also state the book's title and the author's name.

High school-level papers should include publication information as well as brief statements about the book's angle, the genre, the theme , and a hint about the writer's feelings in the introduction.

First Paragraph Example: Middle School Level

" The Red Badge of Courage ", by Stephen Crane, is a book about a young man growing up during the Civil War. Henry Fleming is the main character of the book. As Henry watches and experiences the tragic events of the war, he grows up and changes his attitudes about life.

First Paragraph Example: High School Level

Can you identify one experience that changed your entire view of the world around you? Henry Fleming, the main character in "The Red Badge of Courage", begins his life-changing adventure as a naive young man, eager to experience the glory of war. He soon faces the truth about life, war, and his own self-identity on the battlefield, however. "The Red Badge of Courage", by Stephen Crane, is a coming of age novel published by D. Appleton and Company in 1895, about thirty years after the Civil War ended. In this book, the author reveals the ugliness of war and examines its relationship to the pain of growing up.

The Body of the Book Report

Before you get started on the body of the report, take a few minutes to jot down some helpful information by considering the following points.

• Did you enjoy the book?
• Was it well written?
• What was the genre?
• (fiction) Which characters play important roles that relate to the overall theme?
• Did you notice reoccurring symbols?
• Is this book a part of a series?
• (nonfiction) Can you identify the writer's thesis?
• What is the writing style?
• Did you notice a tone?
• Was there an obvious slant or bias?

In the body of your book report, you will use your notes to guide you through an extended summary of the book. You will weave your own thoughts and impressions into the plot summary . As you review the text, you'll want to focus on key moments in the storyline and relate them to the perceived theme of the book, and how the characters and setting all bring the details together. You'll want to be sure that you discuss the plot, any examples of conflict that you encounter, and how the story resolves itself. It can be helpful to use strong quotes from the book to enhance your writing. 

The Conclusion

As you lead to your final paragraph, consider some additional impressions and opinions:

• Was the ending satisfactory (for fiction)?
• Was the thesis supported by strong evidence (for nonfiction)?
• What interesting or notable facts do you know about the author?
• Would you recommend this book?

Conclude your report with a paragraph or two that covers these additional points. Some teachers prefer that you re-state the name and author of the book in the concluding paragraph. As always, consult your specific assignment guide or ask your teacher if you have questions about what is expected of you. 

• 10 Steps to Writing a Successful Book Report
• The Red Badge of Courage Book Summary
• How to Start a Book Report
• What Does Critical Reading Really Mean?
• Book Report: Definition, Guidelines, and Advice
• How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story
• How to Compare Two Novels in Comparative Essay
• How to Design a Book Cover
• Symbols and Motifs in Literature
• How to Outline a Textbook Chapter
• How to Write and Format an MBA Essay
• How to Write a Response Paper
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• How to Study for an Open Book Test
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Book Report Writing

Book Report Writing Guide - Outline, Format, & Topics

15 min read

People also read

Guide to Crafting an Outstanding Book Report Outline

Creative and Excellent Book Report Ideas for Students

Writing a book report can be a challenging task for students at all levels of education. Many struggle to strike the right balance between providing a concise summary and offering insightful analysis.

The pressure to submit a well-structured report often leaves students feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about where to begin. Unlike a book review that is longer and more detailed, the purpose of writing a book report is to summarize what happened in the story. 

In this blog, we will learn the book report writing, providing you with step-by-step instructions and creative ideas. Whether you're a reader or just starting your literary journey, this guide will help you write book reports that shine. 

So, let's dive in!

• 1. What is a Book Report?
• 2. How to Write a Book Report Outline?
• 3. How to Write a Book Report?
• 4. Book Report Formatting
• 5. Book Report vs. Book Review - How Do they Differ from Each Other? 
• 6. Book Report Templates for Different Grades
• 7. How to Write a Book Report for High School?
• 8. How to Write a Book Report for College Level?
• 9. Book Report Examples
• 10. Book Report Ideas

What is a Book Report?

A book report is a written summary and analysis of a book's content, designed to provide readers with insights into the book's key elements. It's a valuable exercise for students, offering a chance to look deeper into a book's characters, and overall impact. Why are book reports important? They serve as a way to not only showcase your reading comprehension but also your critical thinking skills. They help you reflect on the book's strengths and weaknesses, and they can be a great tool to start a discussion.

How to Write a Book Report Outline?

Before you start writing a book report, it's crucial to create a well-organized outline. A book report outline serves as the roadmap for your report, ensuring that you cover all essential aspects. Here's how to create an effective book report outline:

How to Write a Book Report?

Writing an effective book report is not just about summarizing a story; it's a chance to showcase your analytical skills.

Let’s go through the process of creating a compelling book report that will impress your instructor.

How to Start a Book Report

To start a book report follow the steps below:

• Pick the Perfect Book  Selecting the right book for your report is the first crucial step. If you have the freedom to choose, opt for a book that aligns with your interests. Engaging with a book you're passionate about makes the entire process more enjoyable.
• Dive into the Pages Reading the book thoroughly is non-negotiable. While summaries and online resources can be helpful, they can't replace the depth of understanding gained from reading the actual text. Take notes as you read to capture key moments and insights.
• Document Key Insights Keeping a physical notebook for jotting down important points and insights is a tried-and-true method. This tangible record allows for quick reference when you're ready to write your report.
• Collect Powerful Quotes Quotes from the book can be the secret sauce that adds weight to your report. Choose quotes that align with your report's themes and ideas. These quotes will serve as evidence to support your analysis and perspective.
• Craft Your Report Outline An book report outline serves as your roadmap for creating a structured and coherent report. Ensure it includes all the vital elements, from basic book information to your in-depth analysis. An organized outline keeps your writing on track.

Writing Your Book Report

Now that you've completed the preliminary steps, it's time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Follow these guidelines for an exceptional book report:

• Introduction: Open with a captivating introduction that introduces the book, its author, and your main thesis. This initial "hook" draws readers in and sparks their interest.
• Plot Summary: Concisely summarize the book's plot, including key events, main characters, and the overall narrative. Offer enough information for understanding without revealing major spoilers.
• Analysis: The core of your report, where you dissect the book's themes, characters, writing style, and any symbolism. Back your insights with book quotes and examples, revealing the author's intentions and how they achieved them.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points, restate your thesis, and share your overall evaluation of the book. End with a thought-provoking statement or recommendation to leave readers engaged and curious.

Book Report Formatting

When it comes to formatting a book report, simplicity and clarity are key. Here's a straightforward guide on the essential formatting elements:

Book Report vs. Book Review - How Do they Differ from Each Other? 

The table below highlights how is a book report different from a book review :

What are the SImilarities between Book Report and Book Review?

Here are the things that are added in both a book report and a book review.

• Bibliographic details
• Background of the author
• The recommended audience for the book
• The main subject of the book or work
• Summary of the work and the only difference is that in the review, a critical analysis is also added

Due to the similarities, many students think that both of these are the same. It is wrong and could cost you your grade.

How to Write a Nonfiction Book Report? 

Writing a nonfiction book report may seem daunting, but with a few simple steps, you can craft an informative report. Here's a streamlined guide:

• Read Actively: Carefully read the chosen nonfiction book, highlighting key information. For instance, if you're reporting on a biography, mark significant life events and their impact.
• Introduction: Begin with the author's name, the book's publication year, and why the author wrote the book. Create an engaging opening sentence, such as "In 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' Rebecca Skloot delves into the fascinating world of medical ethics."
• Focused Body: Structure the body into three paragraphs, each addressing crucial aspects. For instance, in a report on a science book, one paragraph could cover the book's key scientific discoveries.
• Concluding Thoughts: Share your personal opinion, if applicable. Would you recommend the book? Mention reasons, like "I highly recommend 'Sapiens' by Yuval Noah Harari for its thought-provoking insights into human history."

Writing a nonfiction book report requires adhering to facts but can still be enjoyable with a strategic approach.

How to Write a Book Report without Reading the Book?

Short on time to read the entire book? Here are quick steps to create a book report:

• Consult Summary Websites: Visit websites providing book summaries and analyses. For instance, SparkNotes or CliffsNotes offer concise overviews.
• Focus on Key Details: Select 2-3 crucial aspects of the book, like major themes or character development. Discuss these in-depth.
• Consider a Writing Service: Utilize professional writing services when time is tight. They can craft a well-structured report based on provided information.
• Offer a Unique Perspective: Differentiate your report by approaching it from a unique angle. For example, explore a theme or character relationship that hasn't been extensively covered by peers.

While challenging, writing a book report without reading the book is possible with these strategies.

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Book Report Templates for Different Grades

Students studying at different levels have different skills and ability levels. Here is how they can write book reports for their respective academic levels.

How to Write a Book Report for an Elementary School?

The following are some book report templates that you can use for your primary or elementary school.

How to Write a Book Report for Middle School

Here are the book report worksheets that you can use to write your middle school book report.

How to Write a Book Report for High School?

Writing a high school book report includes the following steps:

• Read the book thoroughly and with purpose.
• Make an outline before writing the report as a pre-writing step.
• Follow the guidelines and the given format to create the title page for your report.
• Add basic details in the introduction of your book report.
• Analyze the major and minor characters of the story and the role they play in the progress of the story.
• Analyze the major and significant plot, events, and themes. Describe the story and arguments and focus on important details.
• Conclude by adding a summary of the main elements, characters, symbols, and themes.

How to Write a Book Report for College Level?

Follow this college book report template to format and write your report effectively:

• Understand the Assignment: Familiarize yourself with the assignment and book details to ensure proper adherence.
• Read Thoroughly: Read the book attentively, noting essential details about the plot, characters, and themes.
• Introduction: Craft an informative introduction with bibliographic details. 
• Summary: Summarize key aspects like setting, events, atmosphere, narrative style, and the overall plot. 
• Plot: Cover the entire story, highlighting essential details, plot twists, and conflicts. 
• Conclusion: Summarize the story and assess its strengths and weaknesses. Unlike a review, a book report provides a straightforward summary.

Book Report Examples

Book Report of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Book Report of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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Book Report Ideas

Basic ideas include presenting your narrative and analysis in simple written form, while more creative ideas include a fun element. Some notable books to choose from for your book report writing assignment are mentioned below:

• "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
• "1984" by George Orwell
• "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
• "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
• "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien
• "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
• "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
• "The Diary of Anne Frank" by Anne Frank
• "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Need more ideas? Check out our book report ideas blog to get inspiration!

To Sum it Up! Crafting a good book report involves striking the right balance between introducing the book, summarizing its key themes, and avoiding spoilers. It's a delicate art, but with the right guidance you can grasp this skill effortlessly. 

Need expert assistance with writing your book report? MyPerfectWords.com is here to help you out!

If you're asking yourself, "Can someone write my essay for me ?"Our professional writers have the answer. We can write a custom book report according to your personalized requirements and instructions. Get a high-quality book report to help you earn the best grades on your assignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the parts of a book report.

A book report often contains different sections that describe the setting, main characters, and key themes of the story. A common type is an expository one which details what happened in detail or discusses how people feel about it.

Is a report a summary?

No, a summary is more detailed than a book report. A book report is usually based on a short summary of the book, while a standalone summary is more detailed and could have headings, subheadings, and supporting quotes.

How many paragraphs should be included in a book report?

The book report is a typical assignment in middle and high school, usually with one introduction, three body, and one conclusion paragraph.

The number of paragraphs could vary depending on the academic level, with an expert or professional book report having more than three body paragraphs.

How long is a book report?

It should not exceed two double-spaced pages, be between 600 and 800 words in length. Your book report is a written reflection on the content of a novel or work of nonfiction.

How do you end a book report?

Sum up your thesis statement and remind the readers of the important points, one final time. Do not add any new ideas or themes here and try to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Keep reading

How to Write A Book Report

Most students and book reviewers find it difficult to write a book report. A book report often gives you insight into the author and book. It is also a critical and descriptive evaluation of a book. A book report provides a summary of the book, analyze its value, and make the student more critical and thoughtful. The elements which a student should discuss in a book report are

• Plot summary
• Theme analyses

Character analysis

A book report can consist of a single paragraph to a substantial essay . Writing a book report can be a demanding assignment because it needs the reader to explore and write the whole book in comparatively compact space. It will also allow a student to practice his/her literature and language comprehension.

Here are a few more tips for writing an effective and critical book report

Book Report Process

First, you have to select a book and read it thoroughly. Write the category of a book, author and a sentence or two on which you are overviewing. Take the notes and annotation about the selected book so that you will be able to build a solid outline. At any cost, do not approach the online summaries because they do not offer a guaranteed accuracy. Outline each paragraph. Once you are satisfied and ensure that you have covered all the points such as character , element, setting , and plot , etc.

Start a new paragraph and write your views about the book. In the review, you can tell if you would like to recommend this book and why. Some students are instructed to make a glossary as well. To do so, the student has to choose a few words from the text that is specific to the book’s tone . Write the sentences from the book, which includes those words.

In some cases, teachers also ask students to discuss the timeline, turning points , unexpected outcomes, favorite scene, and your feelings while reading it. Focus on wrapping all the stuff neatly and clearly. Remember the book report is supposed to be your voice .

Background Information

Generally, this information is about the author and why he/she wrote this book. The background counts a lot in a book report because it is important to know the authors’ life history, his style of writing, his era, and his thoughts toward literature. Sometimes writers leave behind the footprints of an autobiographical element. The elements like plot, setting, conflicts, character, and dialogues spin around the background information of a writer’s life.

Summary Of The Content

When writing the summary, we recap the primary ideas of the story . It should contain the main idea , the evidence that braces the idea unless it is irrelevant to the essay as a whole. It does not need a conclusion . Recall the entire content of a book along with topics and themes that stood out. To back up your text, you should use some quotes to satisfy your reader. In the end, go through your summary to check your key ideas.

This is the point where you can explore the features (inner and outer) of characters and tell how their traits affect the plot. Discuss what impression character leaves behind. Discuss the gestures, mannerism, and style of talking and dressing of every major character. Spot out whether or not there is a “fatal flaw” that is the reason for conflicts and troubles. Make sure that you have to witness your all arguments and opinions with evidence from the book.

The theme is the core meaning of the story; it can also be called moral . A good story has a well-designed and planned themes that can be applied in real lives. The characters, action motivation , and interconnection reflect the theme.

A plot is the sequence of events which make up the story. These events are related and finely woven together. The plot proceeds and unravels story layer by layer – the beginning, the climax , and then the resolution . The setting in it explains the place and time. Some stories follow a chronological approach, whereas some have a flashback effect of taking the reader back and forth in the story.

Book Name: Snow White and Seven Dwarfs

Author Name Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

The Grimm brothers write this book. It is a German fairy tale which is famous worldwide. It was published in 1812 in the first edition of their collection “Grimm’s Fairy Tale”. The Grimm brothers were philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers, and authors of many stories. Together they brought forward many classic stories like Cinderella and Rapunzel.

It is the story of a girl named Snow White, who had lost her mother at the time of her birth. She is known as the fairest of all and is as white as snow (named by her mother), with pink blush cheeks and a melodious voice. When Snow White’s father marries again, the stepmother cannot bear the sight of Snow White. She is jealous of Snow White’s beauty . The new queen also has a magical talking mirror. She would ask mirror to show who was the most beautiful woman in that land. One day she asked,

“Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of us all?” Unlike the other days, that day mirror replied: “Snow White is lovelier than you.”

Queen plots to murder Snow White. She sends a huntsman in the jungle to murder her, but he takes pity and let her go. She takes refuge in the seven dwarves’ house. The queen finds Snow White and disguised as an old woman, and she gives a poisonous apple. When Snow White eats the apple, she falls into a death-like sleep. As the story moves forward, Snow White is woken by the prince.

The plot is beautifully woven in classical times. Every event moves the story smoothly and perfectly. Conflict is between inner and external beauty. The vivid message which the author wants to convey is that beauty is not in your looks, but it lies within you. Snow White was as pure and clear in her thoughts as her name. She won the heart of every character except queen due to her jealousy. The danger of vanity is also a hidden message. Forest is the symbol of protection as nature looks at humans without any distinction. The names of dwarfs Dopey, Grumpy, Happy and Sneezy, etc., are symbolic. The theme of the story is that selfish desires are dangerous.

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story is retold in many versions because of its uniqueness. However, the message will remain ever popular. To me, it is a wonderful story because people of every age can enjoy it, and the message fits every era. No doubt the inner beauty and purity of thoughts win the hearts.

Book Name: Animal Farm

Author George Orwell

About the Author

This novel is written by George Orwell and published in 1945. He was a novelist, essayist, and critic. He was the man of his thoughts and opinions who threw light on the political movements of his times.

This book Animal Farm is the masterpiece of anti-Soviet satire .  This fable set on a Manor Farm, the story is narrated by a third person. Old Major calls the meeting and announces that he may die soon. He says that the real enemy of the animals are humans. Therefore they should take revenge. When Old Major dies, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealers take charge of rebellions and change the name into Animal Farm. They have declared seven rules or seven commandments. They start working and get a share of food. After a few seasons, pigs take control over other animals. The movement of rebellions spread over England; other animals, start lashing out against humans. They sing a song and celebrate their victory. The inner clashes begin, and the animals turn against each other. The weaker animals like horses, chickens are subjected to heavy labor. One by one, they change the commandment according to their needs, becoming corrupt and start fraternizing with humans for their benefits.

This novel is a revolt against human masters. Napoleon and Snowball exploit other animals. The setting is Dystopia . The plot is well knitted, and every event has an underlying message. The dresses of animals, their way of talking and moving around the farm gives a marvelous touch to the novel. The speeches, songs, and commandments are the beauty of this satire. The names are also symbolic and the setting of farm, its day and night with evil thoughts enhance the message of the author.

Leadership, corruption, lies, and deception are the major themes of this novel. Animal Farm is a great satire which covers the author’s age from every dimension. How the leaders played with the emotions of people and cheated them. The effects of revolution and the right direction of movements play a vital role.

I found this book very interesting allegory . The satire is vivid and beautifully exposes the outcome of the revolution. Sometimes I feel the satire goes to its peak, but later it will change in a dramatic relief which makes the novel easy to understand.

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How to Write a Good Summary for a Book Report

Last Updated: January 28, 2024

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. This article has been viewed 312,934 times.

Many grade school and high school English classes require their students to complete book reports. Often, it is difficult to know what to include and leave out of your report. A summary tells your readers about the most important points and elements of a book you read in your own words. Depending on your teacher's requirements, you may also need to give your opinion of the book, such as what you enjoyed or disliked about it. If you do a little careful prep work, writing a summary for a book report is nothing to be scared of!

Preparing for Your Book Report

• If you can, pick a book on a topic that interests you, as this will make it more enjoyable for you to read.

• Don't confuse a book report with a book review. A book report typically summarizes a book and may offer your opinion on a book, but it usually focuses more on facts about the book. A book review usually describes what a book says and evaluates how the book works.
• If you have any questions, ask your teacher. It's much better to ask questions when you don't understand something than to try to muddle through only to produce work that isn't what your teacher expected.

• Characters. If your book is fiction (or a biography or memoir), keep track of who the major characters are. What are they like? What do they do? Are they different at the end of the book than the beginning? Did you like them?
• Setting. This category mainly applies to fiction. The setting of a book is where and when the story takes place (for example, the Harry Potter novels' main setting is the school of Hogwarts). The setting may have significant influence on the characters and the story.
• Story. What happens in the book? Who did what? Where in the book (beginning, middle, end) do important things seem to happen? Were there any clear “turning points” in the story, where things seem to change from what came before? How did the story resolve? What parts are your favorite parts of the story?
• Main ideas/themes. This category will be slightly different for nonfiction or fiction. Nonfiction may have a very clear main idea, such as presenting a biography of a famous historical figure. For fiction, there will probably be a key theme that runs throughout the book. Think about this in terms of what you learned from the book that you didn't know before reading it. You may find it easier if you take a few notes on each chapter.
• Quotations. A good book report not only tells, but shows. For example, if you really enjoyed the author's writing style, you could use a quotation in your book report that shows why you liked it. A juicy quote that sums up the main idea of the book could also be a good idea. You don't have to use every quotation that you write down in your report, but jot down any quotations that catch your attention.

Drafting Your Book Report

• Pro: You can go in chronological order, which could be helpful when you're summarizing books with a lot of plot elements.
• Con: This kind of organization can be more difficult to figure out if you need to talk about multiple chapters in one paragraph.
• Pro: You can tackle a lot of plot summary in very little space. The paragraphs are clearly divided, so you know what to cover in each one.
• Con: This may not be appropriate if your assignment is mostly to summarize the book rather than give your opinions about it.

• For chronological order: Give each chapter or section of the book its own section. Write down the most important story elements and character developments that happened in each chapter.
• For thematic organization: Put your notes about the various elements, such as characters, plot, and main ideas, into separate sections. Each will become a paragraph.
• When you write your first draft, think about what elements move the story forward, because those will probably be the most important. You can give more detail as you revise, if you want.
• For example, many things happen in Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, but you can't talk about them all. Instead, focus on the overall movement of the story. Begin by explaining what the Hunger Games are and how Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are chosen. Then you would summarize their time in the Capitol, including information on how sponsorship works. Following that, you would summarize the most important moments from the Games, such as Katniss injuring her leg in the fire, the attack by tracker-jackers, Rue's death, the kiss in the cave, Cato's final battle, and the decision to eat the poisonous berries. Then, you would conclude by wrapping up the most important moments from the book's ending.

• Give publication information for the book, including the book's title, author, year of publication, and genre. Your teacher may ask you to include other information. If your book was written by someone important, won an award, or is a best-seller, give that information too.
• For example, a short overall summary of Lois Lowry's The Giver might look something like this: “Lois Lowry's young-adult novel The Giver was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 1993, and it won a Newbery Medal in 1994. It is set in what appears to be a utopian society that thrives on 'Sameness.' There is no hunger, sadness, or poverty in this society. However, this utopia depends on keeping its people from feeling true emotions. This lack of emotion causes serious issues for the main character, Jonas, once he is chosen to become the new Receiver of Memory.”
• For a nonfiction book, summarize the author's main idea or purpose for writing the book. State what you think their thesis is. For example, a short overall summary for the book I Am Malala might look like this: “The youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai tells her incredible true story in I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. This book was published by Little, Brown and Company in 2013. Malala wants to inspire other young people to believe in their power to change the world by sharing her own experience about the value of education and peaceful protest.” [5] X Research source

• For nonfiction, your summary should focus on what you think the author's main idea is and how that idea is developed in the book. What important points does the author make? What evidence or stories from their personal experience do they use to support their points?

• Introductory paragraph: summarize the book in general and gives the publication information.
• Body paragraph 1: summarize Gandalf's plot to get Bilbo Baggins to become a burglar for Thorin Oakenshield and the party of Dwarves. End with Bilbo's choosing to go on an adventure (because this is a major changing point for the character).
• Body paragraph 2: summarize the adventures Bilbo and the Dwarves have, such as almost being eaten by trolls, getting kidnapped by goblins, and Bilbo finding Gollum and the One Ring. There are a lot of adventures, so you wouldn't talk about them all; instead, pick the most important points. You might end with the Dwarves being captured by the Wood-Elves, because this is another "turning point" in the story. Bilbo has to decide whether he is brave enough to rescue everyone.
• Body paragraph 3: summarize the interactions between the Dwarves and the Lake Town people, Bilbo getting into the Lonely Mountain and talking to Smaug, Smaug destroying everything and getting killed (spoiler!), and the many groups of Dwarves, Elves, and Men deciding to fight over the spoils. This is a good place to stop this paragraph, because it's the climax of the story and your reader wants to know the resolution, or how everything turns out okay.
• Body paragraph 4: summarize how Bilbo tries to stop the fighting, the argument Bilbo and Thorin have, the outcome of the battle, and Bilbo coming home to discover all of his stuff is being sold off. You can also talk about how the main character, Bilbo, ends up as a different character than the way he started off. That would be a good transition into...
• Conclusion paragraph: talk about the main ideas of the book and what you learned. You might talk about how important it is to learn to be brave, or how greed is criticized in the book. Then, wrap up with your opinion about the book overall. Would you recommend it to a friend?

• Begin with a VERY brief plot summary. Talk about the type of book it is, where the book is set (Hogwarts, outer space, a mythical past), what the main character is trying to do or learn, and how the plot ends up.
• For example, a paragraph about the characters in The Hobbit would probably focus the most on Bilbo Baggins, the "protagonist" or hero of the novel. It would probably also need to talk a little bit about the other important characters: Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf the wizard. This paragraph would consider Bilbo's character development from someone who starts off afraid of new things to someone who ends up being brave and saving his friends.
• For example, if you were writing about The Giver , you might want to discuss the importance of feelings in human lives. You could also talk about the idea that in order to experience life fully, you have to experience pain as well as pleasure. Another big theme is the idea of becoming your own person: the hero Jonas has to learn how to reject the "Sameness" of society to follow his own path.

• Imagine your conclusion as a way of telling others whether they should read the book or not. Would they enjoy it? Should they read it? Why or why not?

Revising Your Book Report

• As you read, ask yourself: if you were telling this summary to a friend who hadn't read the book, would they understand what happened? Would they have a good idea of whether or not they would like the book?

• For example, instead of beginning sentences with just the word “This” or “It,” remind your reader what happened in the previous sentence. “This” is vague, but “This (contest, lottery, murder)” is clear.

• Don't tell your friend what the book is about or what you're focusing on before you have them read your report. That way, they will have to focus only on what's on the paper -- which is what your teacher will be doing too.

Expert Q&A

• Try to think about how you would tell the story to a person who doesn't know it. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't wait until the last minute! Start early and read and summarize one chapter a day. This will give you less work to do all at once. It also helps to write your summary right away, while it's fresh in your mind. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• For parents: quickly read each chapter's summary. If you can't understand it, tell your child what information you feel like is missing so that they know what they need to add when they revise. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Jake Adams. Scholarship & Admissions Counselor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/703/01/
• ↑ http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/malala-yousafzai/i-am-malala/9780316322409/
• ↑ http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/bookreports.html

About This Article

A good book report summary includes the most important points of the book and explains what your opinion of it is. As you read, take detailed notes of the main characters, the setting, the main ideas, and any important quotations, since this will make putting your book report together a lot easier. Then, when you’re done reading, outline each chapter so you can keep track of everything. When you write your summary, give a basic idea of the book, what it’s about, and what themes it covers, such as growing up, poverty, or perseverance. You should also include when the book was published and if it has won any awards. After this, briefly explain whether or not you liked the book and why. To learn how to revise your book report, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Excel at Junior High Book Reports: Free Book Report Template Inside!

Inside: Thinking of ditching book reports in junior high? Hold that thought! Book reports teach vital skills to teens. Learn how to quickly organize and effectively create comprehensive book reports by using my free book report template, a sample of my comprehensive The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

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In elementary school, book reports are fun and creative. Just grab a book report template, and you’re ready to go. As students progress to middle and high school, the focus shifts towards deeper writing and analytical skills.

If you homeschool, you might think about skipping book reports. But don’t do that! These assignments are more than just a writing exercise, they are crucial for encouraging critical thinking, comprehension, and organizational skills.

The problem is not every student enjoys them. For kids like mine who dislike writing, or those who are more STEM-oriented and prefer literal thinking, book reports can feel overwhelming.

Recognizing that kids like Marc need a bit more guidance in writing and analyzing literature, I created The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide specifically to support him and other teens with organizing and writing comprehensive book reports.

The guide demystifies the book report process by breaking it down into easy steps. It begins with choosing an appropriate book and extends to writing a well-structured report. Each step is clearly outlined, ensuring kids understand what is expected at every stage.

What about kids who hate reading? They can still do book reports!

I believe that sharing read-alouds with teens is a great way to expose them to good literature even if they dislike reading. Don’t give up on the book reports either. Many times I read the books aloud to Marc so I could follow up with questions, delve deeper into the subject, and get him ready to think about book reports. It’s easier to do so when you know the story firsthand.

Pin this image to read the article later. 📌

Why book reports matter in middle school and beyond

When it comes to book reports in junior high, many of us (including myself) have felt the temptation to skip them altogether.

It’s a natural reaction, especially when we see our kids struggling with or dreading these assignments. But before deciding to leave book reports out, it’s worth considering the skills they bring to the table:

• Critical Thinking : Book reports challenge students to analyze a story’s plot, characters, themes, and messages. This kind of analysis fosters deeper thinking and it’s a skill that translates across subjects.

• Comprehension : Reports require students to not just read but engage with the text. This active involvement boosts their ability to comprehend and remember information, skills that are crucial for academic success in all subjects.

• Expression : By expressing their views on a book, students develop their ability to communicate effectively. This develops their communication skills both in written and oral form.

• Organization : Reports teach students how to structure their ideas logically. Organizing ideas in a book and getting out the essentials is extremely difficult and it takes time and patience to master. Book reports offer this opportunity.

• Resilience : By doing something that might appear difficult, teens are only building their resilience. Writing a book report is not something they can do in a couple of hours. It takes days of hard work from actively reading and taking notes, to organizing, planning, and editing their work to make it the best they can make it.

While the initial knee-jerk reaction for us this year was to quickly skim and skip over book reports, particularly since writing isn’t Marc’s favorite, I thought about these benefits and decided to model them as best as I could for him. That’s how my The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide was born.

The Ultimate Book Report Template for junior high

Ever felt stuck finding the right book report template for junior high? So did I! That’s why I rolled up my sleeves and created the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

Writing a book report in upper middle school or high school is challenging. It’s not just about summarizing a story. Students need to learn how to analyze books in depth, but often they don’t get enough guidance on how to do this and we expect them to magically formulate the perfect book report.

When I created this guide, I thought about all the questions and challenges students like my son might face. I wanted to address everything from the basics of writing to the more complex aspects of literary analysis. This guide helps students not only write and summarize but also critically analyze literature. It teaches them how to organize their ideas and express their understanding clearly in writing.

This template is more than just a basic structure for a book report, it is a master guide that teaches students how to analyze literature critically, organize their thoughts, and articulate their understanding in writing. It emphasizes critical thinking, comprehension of literary elements, and structured writing skills, making it a valuable resource for teens.

You can get my full guide on Amazon: Monkey and Mom Homeschool Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

You can also get a 30+ pages free sample of this guide, including a full book report template, checklists, instructions, and examples by subscribing to my newsletter. Remember, this is just a small piece of the full book.

What are the 5 secret ingredients of comprehensive book reports?

What I like telling Marc is that there are almost always recipes for writing a certain assignment. You only need to analyze examples or the rubrics provided to get a sense of direction.

Writing a book report for junior high is not that difficult when kids know what’s expected. So what’s the secret recipe for writing a great book report?

1. Use advanced vocabulary

The main aspect of well-developed book reports and even essays is using advanced vocabulary. Encourage kids to start with simple words in the draft, then spice it up with stronger vocabulary during revisions.

Remind them that it’s not about using big words for the sake of it, but about choosing words that add clarity and depth to the writing

We all know how overused words can affect the level of a written paper. The writing program we use, Structure and Style for Students has special sections of “banned words” prompting kids to select other words instead. This has helped Marc be more creative in his writing and actually open up the thesaurus.

The trick here is not to overdo it, and never encourage them to use words they don’t understand.

2. Master literary analysis

A junior high level book report goes beyond mentioning the author and summary of the book. As the requirements keep increasing, it’s essential to start explaining literary terms to kids and encourage them to start using these terms.

While this is a part of literature, book reports present the perfect opportunity to start using these terms. If your kids only know a few of these, or they are just learning literary analysis, encourage them to only use the terms they know. This not only makes the report sound better, but it also cements the information they have about literary terms.

Literary analysis isn’t easy, but you can help kids to start using terms like ‘narrative’ instead of story, ‘character development/evolution’, or ‘plot’. Their sentences will automatically sound better with a few tweaks.

As always, it’s important kids understand what these all mean and how to integrate them seamlessly into their reports, that’s why I included the most important terms for literary analysis in my Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

A great way to learn how to use these in context is by exposing kids to literary critiques or advanced book reports. Modeling is still very important even in junior high years when kids are transitioning to more advanced requirements. To help, I included both beginner and advanced examples for book reports in my book.

Encourage kids to create a list of expressions and words they like when they see these used in the examples provided. They can refer back to the list when they are writing their own reports to see if they can incorporate them.

3. Start with the rubrics

If you have rubrics or guidelines, start there before planning the book report or using any book report template. There are various requirements for structure and what needs to be included, depending on the school or curriculum you use. Make sure kids know exactly what the requirements are before starting to plan their report.

I included teacher and student rubrics in my book, but use these only if your curriculum or school didn’t provide any.

If the requirements are different, make sure to adapt the book report template I included and change the sections that need to have different information.

4. Critical thinking

Great book reports include personal points of view, connections with other works, and recommendations that are backed up with evidence.

One critical step to make sure your kids have all that included is to ask them to take notes of the way they feel while reading certain sections of the book. This doesn’t have to be extensive.

Also, especially when reading nonfiction, ask kids to dig a little information about the author and the context in which the book was written. They can later use this while reading the book to see if the context influenced the views presented in the book in any way.

Encourage them to think of other similar works, or books written by the same author, or even connect the book with the movie if they’ve seen it and include brief comparisons and parallels between these.

5. Active reading

Maybe the most important prerequisite of a great book report is the act of active reading.

Encourage kids to keep a notebook close while they read and use sticky notes and sticky highlighters to mark pages that impressed them or seemed important to them.

Also, encourage them to take out any quotes that they found memorable. They can use these as evidence when writing their report to back up any claims they make. That’s what makes a great critique.

Active reading is a great way to stay focused and pay attention to what happens in the narrative.

Planning the perfect book report

Creating a standout book report involves a few key stages – before, during, and after reading the book. Let’s walk through each phase to ensure kids are fully prepared to tackle their book report assignments:

Pre-reading

Encourage kids to pick a book that really interests them, not just because it’s short or easy. It’s important they feel connected to the book to stay engaged in the project. For inspiration, we often turn to BookShark ‘s historical fiction reading lists – they’re full of engaging and adventurous choices.

While reading

Ask kids to think about the setting, characters, plot, and themes of the book while they are reading. They should write down any ideas they have on these while they read.

If they have any questions or parts they don’t understand they should note those questions down as well.

Encourage even younger readers to take a moment to think about the kind of language the author uses. Do they notice anything special about it? Can they use this in their report?

Post-reading

Once they finished reading, encourage them to think about the book as a whole. How do they feel about it? What are the highlights of the book and what do they remember most vividly? Did the book change their perspective on anything? Did they learn something new?

After this thinking exercise, it’s time to plan the actual book report, making use of any rubrics, book report templates, and requirements.

In my Ultimate Book Report Master Guide , I broke down every paragraph in a book report to show kids what needs to be included in each. I also added examples of well-structured paragraphs for each part. Depending on the assignment, you might only choose to do part of these.

Here are the main paragraphs:

1. Strong introduction

A good book report has a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. If kids don’t know how to write strong hooks, make sure you cover this with them before asking them to write it.

The introduction should also cover the basics of the book, like title, author, and genre as well as a very condensed summary in 1-2 sentences that outlines the main theme or content of the book.

The introduction should then end with a thesis statement that clearly outlines all the topics that the book report will cover.

2. Body paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a single topic that was included in the thesis statement. These usually include (but aren’t limited to) the summary, setting, characters, and theme. Kids can also be asked to analyze an author’s intent, analyze the mood or tone of a story, and more.

Whenever they craft a paragraph kids should remember to use a topic sentence and then supportive examples. Ask them to think if they can go further by using concrete examples or important quotes to help underline their points.

One trap some kids fall into is they go into too much detail. Remind them they have to choose only the most important and relevant aspects of the story to mention in the book report.

Another trap is simply summarizing what happened in the story. Remind kids to stop and offer their insight into every paragraph they write. Is there anything they noticed that pertains to literary analysis and they can add to cement their topic sentence?

4. Evaluative paragraphs

These are still part of the body paragraphs, but since they are so important and relevant to book reports, I chose to highlight them separately.

Kids should write one or two paragraphs around their opinion about the book (whether they liked it or not) and recommendation (whom would they recommend the book to). This doesn’t always need to be positive but remind them it always needs to be supported by details and examples.

5. Reflective conclusion

A great conclusion will summarize everything covered in the book report. Kids should restate the thesis (preferably in different terms than in the introduction), and reflect the introduction.

Remind kids to also include a last sentence containing the essence of the report and book they read. They will use this at the end to craft a compelling title for their report.

6. Presentation (optional)

If they are required or want to, kids can illustrate the book report or choose to make a presentation, write a theme song, create a video, or include another creative outlet to accompany their report.

Our 7th grade book report choices

For 7th grade this year we are doing BookShark’s history curriculum , so we decided to choose some of the books we will read for history to do our book reports.

Our school, Bridgeway Academy asks 4 book reports per year, so we chose the following (click on the image to see the book on Amazon- affiliate links)

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction, ancient Egypt, and coming-of-age stories.
• Educational value: Offers insights into ancient Egyptian culture, history, and the life of a young protagonist.
• Reading level: Generally accessible to 7th graders with average reading skills.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction set in medieval England and adventure stories.
• Educational value: Provides a glimpse into medieval life and the challenges faced by a young minstrel.
• Reading level: Accessible to 7th graders, though it may require slightly advanced reading skills.

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction, theater, and mysteries.
• Educational value: Offers insights into Elizabethan England, the world of Shakespearean theater, and moral dilemmas.
• Reading level: Generally accessible to 7th graders, although some of the language may be challenging.

The Samurai’s Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction set in feudal Japan, samurai culture, and coming-of-age stories.
• Educational value: Provides a rich portrayal of feudal Japan and explores themes of honor and loyalty.
• Reading level: Accessible to 7th graders, though some passages may require additional explanation due to cultural differences.

How we approach book reports in 7th grade

Since this year is the first year I introduced Marc to literary analysis, I will guide him every step of the way.

We are reading the four books together and I am using the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide to explain every section of a book report to him. He has done book reports in 4th grade , but this time I want him to go beyond merely using a book report template, and into actually writing it as an essay.

So far, we’ve covered The Golden Goblet . You can get the typed version of our book report with the freebie I am offering.

We used the included book report template from my book as an outline which Marc filled in himself. The questions helped guide him. Then I helped him craft a rough draft guiding him with questions and using the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide as a guide.

Once he was done with the rough draft, I encouraged him to change some expressions and words to more advanced ones from our list and I made him read it aloud to me. When we’re both happy, I dictated it to him to write by hand. The Egypt-inspired paper he wrote them on was from my Egypt Printable Writing Pack .

I don’t let him type these, because I intervene quite a bit while he is writing them.

He is capable of creating decent ones on his own, but I see these last two years until high school as perfect opportunities for more modeling. And great writing only happens through constant exposure and modeling.

There’s very slow growth if we allow kids to make the same mistakes over and over again because we fear interfering.

By showing him how a sentence can sound better, how he can replace some of his overused words with stronger ones, I model to him not only advanced writing, but also my whole thinking process.

And he is learning. He tells me a lot of times he wouldn’t have thought of that particular way of putting it and is impressed on how good it sounds. I’ve been doing this with him for years now and I noticed him picking on my habit of wanting to improve his writing with better words.

Wrapping up

It’s no secret that writing book reports can feel overwhelming, especially if your kids are more inclined towards non-humanities subjects. It might even be tempting to skip them altogether. But let’s pause and reconsider.

Book reports are more than just assignments. They’re valuable tools in teaching our teens a range of skills. From building resilience to enhancing critical thinking, and from improving communication to honing organizational and writing abilities, book reports play a crucial role in a teen’s development.

I created the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide with the hope that it makes the journey less daunting for both you and your kids. My goal is to help you guide your children in crafting book reports they can be proud of, contributing to their growth as resilient, lifelong learners. Remember, these skills are built gradually, one step at a time.

So, before you decide to bypass book reports, think about their long-term benefits.

I’m curious to know your thoughts. Do you feel book reports in junior high are unnecessary? Are you relying solely on templates for book reports? Share your strategies and experiences in the comments below. Leave a comment below and let’s talk more.

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I'm a homeschool mom and photographer that loves reading, traveling and writing about our homeschool adventures.

I live in Europe with my 13-year-old son who is a handful to raise and educate. He is gifted in STEM and my opposite in every way. So life is never boring for us.

I've been homeschooling for 7 years ⭐️ now and I feel I still have so much to explore and learn but at the same time, I've gathered a lot of information during these years.

I want to share my ideas and discoveries with you and I love talking to other homeschool parents and learning from them.

"We rise by lifting others" is my favorite motto. That's why I love sharing and helping whenever I can. So don't shy away from dropping me a line. I always love hearing from you 🤗

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Book Report

What is a Book Report & How to Write a Perfect One

Published on: Jan 26, 2022

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Writing a book report is a terrifying experience for many students. The terror begins with reading and understanding what you're reading but then continues as your thoughts become paper in front of you.

Have you ever been assigned a book report and thought, ‘Ugh! This is going to be terrible?’ Well, we're here to help. 

Below you can find a helpful guide to understand how to write a perfect report. Here we have also provided some sample book reports and a free book report template for your help. 

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What is a Book Report?

A book report is an informative piece of writing that summarizes the novel and presents some brief analysis on its main elements like plot, setting, characters.

This could either be a work of fiction or nonfiction with a tone covering everything from serious to humorous.

A book review is not the same as a book report.

Although they may look similar, one requires in-depth analysis and an objective point of view while the other is more descriptive and subjective.

Some course instructors may ask students to add relevant themes of the book and plot elements into their book reports. But, on a very basic level, a book report is an extremely simple form of review for any given text - no matter what its genre or author.

How does a book report writing benefit you?

Writing a good report will help students to improve their analytical and communication skills. They also get the opportunity to practice expressing themselves through creative or critical thought about the different aspects of books they read.

Assessing the Book Before Writing the Review 

Before delving into the content of a book, it's essential to gather some key information. Begin by noting the following details:

• Author: Who authored the book? Are you familiar with any other works by this author?
• Genre: What category does the book fall into—fiction, nonfiction, biography, etc.? 
• Which audience would find this type of book appealing? Is this your typical genre preference? Do you enjoy reading books within this genre?
• Title: How does the title impact you? Does it pique your interest? Does it align well with the book's content?
• Pictures/Book Jacket/Cover/Printing: Analyze the book jacket or cover. What does it convey? Is it an accurate representation of the book? Did it generate excitement for you to read it? Are there any illustrations or images within the book? If so, what type are they, and do they captivate your interest?

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Book Report Outline

Writing a book report becomes more manageable when you follow a structured outline. Here's an outline you can use as a guideline for your book report:

How to Write a Book Report? - H2

Writing a book report involves several key steps that can help you effectively communicate your understanding and analysis of a book. Here's a guide on how to write a book report:

Introduction

• Begin with an engaging introductory paragraph that includes the book's title, author, and publication information.
• Provide a brief overview of the book's genre and main theme.
• Include any initial reactions or expectations you had before reading the book.
• Summarize the main plot or central idea of the book without giving away major spoilers.
• Highlight key events, conflicts, and characters that drive the narrative.
• Focus on the most significant aspects of the story and avoid excessive details.

Analysis and Evaluation

• Analyze the author's writing style, storytelling techniques, and use of literary devices.
• Discuss the book's strengths and weaknesses, supporting your statements with examples from the text.
• Evaluate how effectively the author conveys their message and engages the reader.
• Consider the book's impact on you personally and its relevance to broader themes or issues.

Themes and Messages

• Identify the main themes or messages explored in the book.
• Discuss how these themes are developed throughout the narrative.
• Provide specific examples or quotes to support your analysis.

Character Analysis

• Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships.
• Discuss their motivations, personalities, and how they contribute to the story.
• Use examples and quotes to illustrate your points.
• Summarize your main points and overall assessment of the book.
• Offer your personal opinion on the book, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.
• Reflect on the impact the book had on you and who you would recommend it to.

Formatting and Proofreading

• Structure your book report into paragraphs with clear topic sentences.
• Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
• Ensure your report is well-organized and follows a logical flow.
• Citations may be required if you quote or reference specific passages from the book.

Remember, a book report is not just a summary; it also involves critical analysis and interpretation. 

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive and insightful book report that effectively conveys your understanding.

Book Report Examples

Before you head into the writing process of your book report, it's a great idea to take some time and look at examples of other people's book reports.

In this way, you'll see how others have written their own work in an engaging manner that will inspire creativity on your part as well.

Book Report Sample

Book Report on Harry Potter

Book Report on Matilda

Book Report on Pride and Prejudice

Book Report for Kids

Book Report MLA Format

Book Report Worksheet

High School Book Report Template

Non-Fiction Book Report Template

Book Report Template 4th Grade

3rd Grade Book Report Template

Book Report Ideas

Picking a book for your report can be an intimidating task. You don't have any idea which books to read or what the professor will prefer, but there are some ideas of different subjects you could write about:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Fault in Our Stars book report
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
• Hunger Games book report
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Charlotte's webbook report

If you are still not sure about how to write a book report that will help you earn an A, then our essay writer AI is the perfect solution for you. Consider taking professional essay writing assistance from one of our experienced writers who specialize in this area.

No matter if you need help with your college essay, book review, book report, or full-length research paper, we provide essay writing service for students . Contact our expert essay writing service today to get the best assistance with all your academic tasks! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main parts of a book report.

The main parts of a book report are the bibliography, characters, setting, themes, and plot. These four elements form a descriptive book report. However, most reports that you will read in high school or college are expository-based, meaning they explore an idea rather than discuss it. 

Are book reports essays?

A book report is, quite simply, an essay about a book. A book report is a type of essay that students are asked to write by their teachers. Different formats for this writing assignment may be used, but the most common one is expository style (i.e., telling about something). 

How long should a book report be?

Your book report should not exceed two double-spaced pages, and it should be somewhere between 600 and 800 words in length. 

What is a thesis in a book report?

After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic. This sentence is the thesis statement and serves as an overview of what will be discussed in this paper. 

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Book Report: Different Formats, Types, and Book Review

Introduction to book report.

A book report is of different types and formats.

A most common form of book reports are

• Plot summaries
• Theme and character analysis.    

How to write a book report?

• Specify the kind of book report
• Include the title of the book
• Put the name of the author
• Indicate the time when the story takes place.
• Mention the location of events taking place in the book.
• List the names of the characters briefly describing each one of them.
• Add quotations in order to back up your opinions.

Book Report Format:

1. Introduction (2-3 sentences , including a “topic” sentence) Include:

The title (underlined) and author of the book

Why did you choose the book (if this applies) or how it fits into our history program this year (if this applies)?

What kind of story is it?

Fiction (made up): Fantasy, Science fiction, Realistic fiction, Historical fiction, Mystery, or Traditional Literature (folktale, myth, fable, fairytale)?

Non-Fiction (true) Narrative nonfiction , Biography, Expository nonfiction, or Informational?

2. Body (1-2 paragraphs supporting the topic and including the following):

In this section you want to describe the main parts of a story: theme, setting, characters, and plot (not necessarily in that order – paragraph 1). Then you give your opinions about the book (paragraph 2).

The Theme is the main idea of the story. Some examples might be the importance of friendship/hope/honesty/integrity/etc. or how to be courageous in a difficult situation. Tell what you think the theme is and how you know (example from the book).

The Setting is the time and place of the story. Is it set a long time ago or now?  Does it take place in another country or in an imaginary place?  How much time passes in the story – a day? a year? A lifetime?

The Characters are who the story is about. The main character is called the protagonist. Who are the other important characters? Do they help or hinder the protagonist?

The Plot is what happens. You want to briefly tell what the story is about. What is the main event or conflict? What things led up to it? What happens as a result? How does the story end?

Conclusion (2 sentences)

This is just a sentence or two, to sum up your report. Give your overall opinion of the book and the most important thing you want other people to know about it.

Difference between Book Report and Book Review:

Book review.

A book review is more about analysis and evaluation where students are required to identify the author’s main message and ideas as well as to understand the meaning of symbolic elements present in the text.

Book Report

Book reports are all about explaining topical details and the storyline of the book. Those writing this type of assignment are to present biographical information about the author of the book (year of birth, marital status, his/her education and worldview, etc.). After the biographical information, there should be a brief summary of the book content – the main characters and the development of the plot.

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Topic sentences and signposts make an essay's claims clear to a reader. Good essays contain both.  Topic sentences   reveal the main point of a paragraph. They show the relationship of each paragraph to the essay's thesis, telegraph the point of a paragraph, and tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph that follows. Topic sentences also establish their relevance right away, making clear why the points they're making are important to the essay's main ideas. They argue rather than report.  Signposts , as their name suggests, prepare the reader for a change in the argument's direction. They show how far the essay's argument has progressed vis-ˆ-vis the claims of the thesis. 

Topic sentences and signposts occupy a middle ground in the writing process. They are neither the first thing a writer needs to address (thesis and the broad strokes of an essay's structure are); nor are they the last (that's when you attend to sentence-level editing and polishing). Topic sentences and signposts deliver an essay's structure and meaning to a reader, so they are useful diagnostic tools to the writer—they let you know if your thesis is arguable—and essential guides to the reader

Forms of Topic Sentences

 Sometimes topic sentences are actually two or even three sentences long. If the first makes a claim, the second might reflect on that claim, explaining it further. Think of these sentences as asking and answering two critical questions: How does the phenomenon you're discussing operate? Why does it operate as it does?

There's no set formula for writing a topic sentence. Rather, you should work to vary the form your topic sentences take. Repeated too often, any method grows wearisome. Here are a few approaches.

Complex sentences.   Topic sentences at the beginning of a paragraph frequently combine with a transition from the previous paragraph. This might be done by writing a sentence that contains both subordinate and independent clauses, as in the example below.

 Although  Young Woman with a Water Pitcher  depicts an unknown, middle-class woman at an ordinary task, the image is more than "realistic"; the painter [Vermeer] has imposed his own order upon it to strengthen it. 

This sentence employs a useful principle of transitions: always move from old to new information.  The subordinate clause (from "although" to "task") recaps information from previous paragraphs; the independent clauses (starting with "the image" and "the painter") introduce the new information—a claim about how the image works ("more than Ôrealistic'") and why it works as it does (Vermeer "strengthens" the image by "imposing order"). 

Questions.   Questions, sometimes in pairs, also make good topic sentences (and signposts).  Consider the following: "Does the promise of stability justify this unchanging hierarchy?" We may fairly assume that the paragraph or section that follows will answer the question. Questions are by definition a form of inquiry, and thus demand an answer. Good essays strive for this forward momentum.

Bridge sentences.   Like questions, "bridge sentences" (the term is John Trimble's) make an excellent substitute for more formal topic sentences. Bridge sentences indicate both what came before and what comes next (they "bridge" paragraphs) without the formal trappings of multiple clauses: "But there is a clue to this puzzle." 

Pivots.   Topic sentences don't always appear at the beginning of a paragraph. When they come in the middle, they indicate that the paragraph will change direction, or "pivot." This strategy is particularly useful for dealing with counter-evidence: a paragraph starts out conceding a point or stating a fact ("Psychologist Sharon Hymer uses the term Ônarcissistic friendship' to describe the early stage of a friendship like the one between Celie and Shug"); after following up on this initial statement with evidence, it then reverses direction and establishes a claim ("Yet ... this narcissistic stage of Celie and Shug's relationship is merely a transitory one. Hymer herself concedes . . . "). The pivot always needs a signal, a word like "but," "yet," or "however," or a longer phrase or sentence that indicates an about-face. It often needs more than one sentence to make its point.

Signposts operate as topic sentences for whole sections in an essay. (In longer essays, sections often contain more than a single paragraph.) They inform a reader that the essay is taking a turn in its argument: delving into a related topic such as a counter-argument, stepping up its claims with a complication, or pausing to give essential historical or scholarly background. Because they reveal the architecture of the essay itself, signposts remind readers of what the essay's stakes are: what it's about, and why it's being written. 

Signposting can be accomplished in a sentence or two at the beginning of a paragraph or in whole paragraphs that serve as transitions between one part of the argument and the next. The following example comes from an essay examining how a painting by Monet,  The Gare Saint-Lazare: Arrival of a Train,  challenges Zola's declarations about Impressionist art. The student writer wonders whether Monet's Impressionism is really as devoted to avoiding "ideas" in favor of direct sense impressions as Zola's claims would seem to suggest. This is the start of the essay's third section:

It is evident in this painting that Monet found his Gare Saint-Lazare motif fascinating at the most fundamental level of the play of light as well as the loftiest level of social relevance.  Arrival of a Train  explores both extremes of expression. At the fundamental extreme, Monet satisfies the Impressionist objective of capturing the full-spectrum effects of light on a scene.

 The writer signposts this section in the first sentence, reminding readers of the stakes of the essay itself with the simultaneous references to sense impression ("play of light") and intellectual content ("social relevance"). The second sentence follows up on this idea, while the third serves as a topic sentence for the paragraph. The paragraph after that starts off with a topic sentence about the "cultural message" of the painting, something that the signposting sentence predicts by not only reminding readers of the essay's stakes but also, and quite clearly, indicating what the section itself will contain. 

Copyright 2000, Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University