good fiction books for book reports

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The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12 .

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

The Apothecary, Book 1

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

Goodbye Stranger

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Genesis Begins Again

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

A Long Walk to Water

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

One Crazy Summer

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

The Red Badge of Courage

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

Thoughtful sci-fi about the price of beauty.

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

All-American Muslim Girl

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

Long Way Down

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

My Name Is Not Easy

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.

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• Coming-of-Age Books
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• How Comics Helped My Kid Love Reading

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable), you might also like.

Expand Your Readers’ Palates With a Book Tasting

A perfect way for kids to nibble on a book. Continue Reading

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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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15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get your students excited to read

Not all students are excited to read a book. So how can you make reading a book more engaging and fun? This is a huge challenge for most teachers, so I hope I can help you out!

Here’s what you’ll find in this blog post (click on the title if you want to jump to the section directly)

5 tips to get your students excited about reading

• 15 creative and digital book report lesson plans (free & ready to use!)
• The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment (your students get to choose!)

Instructions on how to use these digital book report lesson activities

Before you dive into the book reports, you have to get your students excited about reading first. In this previous post about reading, I’ve listed 10 tips that will encourage your students to read . I’ve come up with 5 more amazing tips! Here we go:

1. Use AR apps

Here are a few apps with amazing storylines and AR books.

• Wonderscope , for example, is an excellent storytelling tool. It uses augmented reality to transform ordinary places into real-time stories. Students also learn to read with the app. They ask questions to the characters in the story and listen to the characters’ answers.
• The Ghostkeeper’s journal and field guide : This book is an immersive adventure for readers aged 10 and up, offering several AR experiences to enhance the storyline. These are accessed via a mobile app “ Ghost-o-Matic ”.
• Bookful creates an engaging reading experience and brings stories and characters in books to life. The app holds the world’s largest 3D/AR library with hundreds of titles from leading publishers and brands such as: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, DK’s Encyclopedia, and children’s favorites such as Barbie, My Little Pony, Thomas & Friends, Transformers, and The Smurfs.

2. Escape lessons

Here are 3 fun ready-to-use escape lessons to spark your students’ joy of reading:

• A Halloween Murder : Let your students investigate the murder of the victim: Brat Spook. When they find the murderer, they get their “inspector” badge. Let them look for evidence in the murder scene, talk to suspects, analyze lab results, and so on!
• Finding Rudolph : Save Christmas by helping Santa find back Rudolph. Students go through different challenges, talk to eye-witnesses, and follow Rudolph through a winter maze, so Santa can deliver all the presents to the children.
• Easter Bunny Substitute : Can your students find a good Easter Bunny replacement? In the last breakout game for the classroom, the Easter Bunny is hurt, so your students need to interview the possible applicants and take tests to replace the Easter Bunny themselves. If they succeed in the challenges, they get an Easter Bunny substitute badge.

3. Storytelling

If you bring cultural elements into your lessons by telling a story, your students will be more eager to learn. Storytelling makes students want to “live the story”. And they do this by reading it. If your story is strong enough, your students will love learning and reading. They will even remember the lesson content better.

Here’s a fun & ready-to-use example: The life of William Shakespeare

4. First chapters

5. Books & sleepovers

You can even add different parts to your sleepover. For example, let students read their favorite passage in a book of choice out loud, and 1 hour before bedtime, all your students take their book and read in silence. Or how about creating cozy themed corners? Fantasy, science fiction, detectives,… When your students are reading in themed corners, they get the full experience. They can even dress up as a character in their book whilst reading.

15 Creative and digital book report lesson plans

Step 1: Get your students excited about reading. ✅ Step 2: make sure they don’t lose their interest when you’re announcing the book report assignment! ☑️ This part can be demotivating.

As the lower grade students often still get fun book report assignments, the higher grade students often get a dull worksheet where they have to describe the characters and give a summary. Change up your book report assignments with these creative, free & ready-to-use lesson ideas.

Take a look at all these ready-to-use and free digital book report activities. They’re all made with BookWidgets . You can even make exercises like these yourself in your own BookWidgets account.

Keep on reading to find out how to use these exercises in your lessons.

How did your students experience the book? Let them fill the glasses with drawings of the storyline/the book. The glasses represent the view of the students. Students can get really creative and use the toolbar at the bottom to draw and type.

You can ask your students to present their book report artworks to the other students as well. This way, your students can explain what’s on their drawing.

2. Bookworm

3. Timeline

This interactive book report asks your students to create a timeline of the story. When did what happen, chronologically? The have to add the biggest events in the story to the timeline.

4. Comic book

In this book report exercise, your students have to write a comic book based upon the book they’ve just read. When they click on the “start” icon, they can choose fitting text balloons to go with their story.

Here are three other fun websites that let students create comic books: Storyboard That , Comic Life , and Toonytool . They already give you creative templates and drawings. This is a bit easier for students. This way, they don’t have to start from scratch.

5. Character portrait

6. Randomness task

Just… add a little spice. I’ve turned the ordinary book report task, where students have to describe characters, the setting, plot, etc., into an exciting one. Your students don’t know yet what they’ll have to describe. They spin the randomness wheel and their task appears. The fun thing about this one is that all of your students will write a different book report.

7. Book cover

Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you’ve read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc.

8. Character family tree

This digital mind map exercise allows your students to add boxes with text and connect them to each other. This is perfect for a book report activity focusing on the characters in their book.

9. Facebook Profile

Modern days call for modern book report lesson ideas. Image the main character having a Facebook profile. What would be on it? That’s exactly what your students have to figure out here. Create a Facebook profile about the main character.

10. Book Collage

Here, students have to add 10 pictures or images that have to do with the book. They can do so by clicking on the photo icon and adding images into their collage.

11. Mirror selfie

In this creative book report, students have to dress up like the character in their book, including holding 3 attributes that refer to the personality of the main character. They have to take a picture or mirror selfie of themselves dressed up, and add that picture to the whiteboard. You can ask them to come forward and present their images and explain why they’ve chosen those specific attributes.

The fun thing about all of these exercises is that they work on smartphones as well. So in this case, students can just open the exercise on their smartphones, take a mirror selfie with their phones and add it to the mirror in the digital whiteboard exercise.

12. Email to the author

Your students have the chance to write a friendly email or letter to the author of the book they just read. Students have to share:

• their opinion;
• the character in the book they liked most, and why;
• their favorite part of the book and why;
• questions that they have about the book.

If you have an email address of the author, ask your students to submit their works to you, the teacher, first. After having given feedback on their letters, they can make some changes and send it over to the author.

If you have the author’s postal address, it’s much more fun to write a classic letter.

13. Conversation between characters

There is something called a “texting thumb” or a “smartphone pinky”. This shows that students like to send texts. A lot of them. So why not include it in your book report lesson plan? In this digital book report, students have to invent a conversation between two characters in their book.

14. Movie vs. Book

A lot of books have a movie version too. If your students choose a book that also has a movie, it’s interesting to let your students make a comparison. With this book report exercise, you’re also sure your students actually read the book instead of just watching the movie and write a summary of the movie and not the book.

15. Emoji summary

The last exercise is also one students can relate to. Nowadays, we use emojis after almost every sentence when we’re communicating with friends. Emojis also have a strong meaning and can be used to express feelings or say something without actually saying it.

The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment

All these book report exercises are so much fun and yet they don’t take up a lot of time. Perhaps they just ask your students to only describe a certain part about the book. Cue… the planner widget.

With this type of BookWidgets activity, you can combine several lessons into one. You can let your students take matters into their own hands and choose which book report activities they’d like to finish.

It’s actually pretty easy. Your students read the instructions in the instructions widget and then start adding at least three book report activities to their planner. They finish the activities, submit them to their teacher, check off their planner, and that’s it!

Above, you can find the 15 ready-to-use book report activities. You can use these lesson examples for free. Since they’re all made with BookWidgets, I’ve listed them in this BookWidgets group . Here’s what you need to do:

• Click on this link . It will immediately bring you to the group with all of the book report activities. If you don’t have a BookWidgets account yet, you’ll have to sign up first for free .
• Duplicate all the book report activities. Click on the settings wheel , select all widgets , click on the settings wheel again, choose duplicate selected widgets . Choose where you want to save the activities in your BookWidgets account.
• Go to your saved book report lessons. You can now click on the black dropdown arrow next to the ‘Show’ button of a particular exercise and select Edit . You can make some changes to this activity (if you want). If it’s perfect for you, click on Share in the upper right corner.
• Share this link with your students. When they click on it, they can fill it out. A lot of the book report examples above have been made with BookWidgets’ Whiteboard widget, in which students can use the tool menu at the bottom to switch tools (draw, type,…), and to switch colors. When done, they can submit the book reports to you by clicking on the envelope in the upper right corner.
• As a teacher, you go to “Grades & reporting” in BookWidgets to find your students’ answers.

Of course, now that you’ve got your own BookWidgets account, you can also create book report activities or other assignments yourself!

Attention! Once your free trial runs out, you’ll only be able to use the widgets you’ve already finished/shared with students. While your BookWidgets account will still work and you’ll still get your students’ results with the free BookWidgets version, you won’t be able to duplicate widgets nor create new widgets yourself anymore.

So that’s it! I hope these lesson ideas are useful for your classroom or at least give you lots of new ideas for your book report lessons! You can even create ones yourself!

Create your first digital book report with BookWidgets

Have fun, share this with fellow teachers and keep on rocking your classroom!

Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education.

BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

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A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Fact Checked

• Researching
• Drafting the Report
• Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . 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. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,421,841 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

• Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
• Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
• Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

• For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
• Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

• Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

• Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
• Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
• Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
• Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
• Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

• Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
• Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
• Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

• For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

• Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
• Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
• Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
• Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
• Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
• Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
• Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
• Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
• Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

• Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

• For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
• When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
• Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

• For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
• Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

• Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

• For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

• For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
• Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

• You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
• For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

• For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

• Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
• When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

• Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
• Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

• If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
• Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

• For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
• Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

• Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
• Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
• Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

• Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
• ↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
• ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
• ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
• ↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Interesting Books to Write a Book Report

Book reports serve as valuable tools for enhancing reading comprehension, critical thinking, and written communication skills. They provide an opportunity for students to engage with literature on a deeper level, exploring themes, characters, and literary techniques. However, the effectiveness and enjoyment of writing a book report greatly depend on the book chosen for analysis. By selecting interesting and captivating books, students can immerse themselves in compelling narratives, thought-provoking ideas, and rich literary landscapes.

Book reports go beyond simply summarizing the plot; they encourage students to analyze and interpret the text, develop their own perspectives, and express their thoughts eloquently. Through book reports, students can sharpen their ability to articulate their ideas, form arguments, and provide evidence to support their claims. These skills are essential not only for academic success but also for future professional endeavors.

But if have some problems with such an assignment, we can help you. You can buy custom book report from Exclusive-Paper.com online. We will assign a professional writer for your paper, who will satisfy all your needs.

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Benefits of Choosing Interesting Books

Choosing an interesting book is crucial for fostering enthusiasm and motivation in students. Engaging books captivate their attention, making the reading experience enjoyable and immersive. When students are genuinely interested in the content, they are more likely to delve deep into the story, connect with the characters, and empathize with their struggles. This emotional connection enhances comprehension and retention, leading to more insightful and well-rounded book reports.

By exploring a diverse range of genres, students are exposed to different perspectives, cultures, and ideas. They expand their horizons, develop empathy, and gain a broader understanding of the world around them. Interesting books also offer ample opportunities for critical analysis, encouraging students to question the text, uncover underlying themes, and engage in discussions about important issues.

In this article, we will explore a variety of categories that encompass a wide range of fascinating books for writing compelling book reports. From gripping mysteries and captivating science fiction to thought-provoking non-fiction and timeless classics, each category will present a selection of notable books that are sure to pique the interest of students and ignite their passion for reading and writing.

As you embark on your book report journey, remember that the key to a successful report lies in the selection of an engaging book that resonates with your interests. So, let us now delve into the captivating world of literature and discover the many gems that await us in each category.

Fiction Books for Review

Fiction books offer readers an escape into imaginative worlds filled with intriguing characters, captivating plots, and thought-provoking themes. In this chapter, we will explore three exciting categories within fiction: Mystery and Thrillers, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. Each category presents a list of fourteen notable books that will undoubtedly spark your curiosity and provide ample material for an engrossing book report.

Mystery and Thrillers Books

"Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn Dive into the mind-bending tale of a troubled marriage and a woman's disappearance, filled with twists, deception, and psychological suspense.

• "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins Enter a world of unreliable narrators and gripping suspense as a woman becomes entangled in a mystery surrounding a missing person.

"The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown Uncover the secrets of an ancient society and follow a thrilling quest for hidden treasures, all while navigating a web of historical intrigue.

"The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides Delve into the psychological depths of a woman who has been silent since she was accused of a brutal murder and the therapist is determined to uncover the truth.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson Immerse yourself in the dark and intricate world of computer hacking, corporate corruption, and unsolved mysteries in this gripping Swedish thriller.

"The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) Join private detective Cormoran Strike as he investigates the suspicious death of a famous supermodel, unraveling a web of secrets and deception.

"Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn Journey into the twisted mind of a journalist returning to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls, unearthing dark family secrets along the way.

"The Woman in the Window" by A.J. Finn Explore a suspenseful tale of an agoraphobic woman who witnesses a crime from her window, plunging her into a world of doubt, danger, and paranoia.

"The Snowman" by Jo Nesbø Follow detective Harry Hole as he tracks down a serial killer whose calling card is a chilling snowman left at each crime scene.

• "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty Unravel the mysteries surrounding a murder in a seemingly idyllic beachfront town, where secrets, lies, and complex relationships intertwine.

"In the Woods" by Tana French Accompany detective Rob Ryan as he investigates the murder of a young girl in a case that eerily mirrors his own childhood trauma.

"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt Step into an elite New England college where a group of students becomes entangled in a web of secrecy, leading to a shocking act of violence.

"The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield Explore a gothic mystery as a young biographer is drawn into the dark and haunting tale of a reclusive and enigmatic author.

"Before I Go to Sleep" by S.J. Watson Witness the journey of a woman with anterograde amnesia as she tries to reconstruct her memories and uncover the truth about her past.

Science Fiction Books for Review

"Dune" by Frank Herbert Immerse yourself in a complex and epic science-fiction saga set in a distant future where interstellar politics, religion, and ecology collide.

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card Follow the young prodigy Ender Wiggin as he navigates a futuristic world, training for a war against an alien species known as the Formics.

"1984" by George Orwell Enter a dystopian society ruled by totalitarianism, surveillance, and the suppression of individuality, where one man dares to rebel against the system.

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley Explore a future society where scientific advancements have eradicated suffering, but at the cost of individual freedom and emotional depth.

"The Martian" by Andy Weir Join astronaut Mark Watney as he fights for survival on Mars after being left behind by his crew, using his ingenuity to overcome numerous challenges.

"Neuromancer" by William Gibson Venture into the world of cyberspace, hackers, and artificial intelligence as a washed-up computer hacker takes on a dangerous mission.

"Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson Enter a near-future world where a computer virus threatens to unravel society, mixing elements of virtual reality, ancient mythology, and high-stakes adventure.

"Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline Immerse yourself in a virtual reality treasure hunt set in a dystopian future, where the discovery of a hidden Easter egg becomes a quest for both fortune and survival.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood Witness a chilling tale of a society where women are reduced to reproductive roles, exploring themes of oppression, resistance, and the power of storytelling.

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury Enter a world where books are outlawed, and firemen burn them, following the story of one fireman who begins to question his role in suppressing knowledge.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins Experience a thrilling dystopian tale where teenagers are forced to fight to the death in an annual televised event, igniting a rebellion against a tyrannical regime.

"Foundation" by Isaac Asimov Embark on a journey through the vast galactic empire as Hari Seldon predicts its impending collapse and establishes a plan to preserve knowledge and civilization.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" by Pierre Bismuth, Michel Gondry, and Charlie Kaufman Explore the intricacies of memory, love, and identity as a man undergoes a medical procedure to erase memories of a failed relationship.

"The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin Venture into a world where gender is fluid, following the story of a human envoy navigating a planet populated by androgynous beings.

Fantasy Books

• "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling Embark on the magical journey of a young boy who discovers he is a wizard and enrolls in a school of witchcraft and wizardry.

"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien Join Bilbo Baggins on his unexpected adventure as he accompanies a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from a fearsome dragon.

"A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin Enter the immersive world of Westeros, where noble houses vie for power in a rich tapestry of political intrigue, warfare, and mythical creatures.

"The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis Step through the wardrobe into the enchanting realm of Narnia, where talking animals, epic battles, and epic quests await.

"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss Embark on an epic tale of a gifted musician and magician named Kvothe as he recounts his journey from humble beginnings to legendary status.

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman Explore a world where ancient gods walk among mortals, following a protagonist caught in a conflict between old and new deities.

"Mistborn: The Final Empire" by Brandon Sanderson Immerse yourself in a world where a chosen few possess the power to manipulate metals, as a band of rebels rises against an immortal tyrant.

"The Magicians" by Lev Grossman Journey with Quentin Coldwater as he discovers a magical land called Fillory and grapples with the complexities and dangers of the magical world.

"The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch Enter a world of elaborate heists, political intrigue, and swashbuckling adventures as a skilled thief navigates a city ruled by crime.

"The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson Venture into the captivating world of Roshar, where diverse characters and magical abilities are embroiled in a war for the future of their world.

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho Follow a young Andalusian shepherd boy as he embarks on a journey in search of a hidden treasure, learning profound life lessons along the way.

"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman Experience a haunting and magical tale as a middle-aged man revisits his childhood and encounters a family of supernatural beings.

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke Enter an alternative history version of England, where two magicians revive the practice of magic, leading to a clash of old and new traditions.

"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of a mysterious circus that appears only at night, setting the stage for a competition of magical prowess and forbidden love.

These fourteen books in each category provide a glimpse into the vast array of captivating fiction available for book reports. Selecting any of these titles will undoubtedly provide a wealth of material for analysis, discussion, and exploration. So, choose a category that intrigues you the most and embark on a literary adventure like no other.

Non-Fiction Books to Review 

Non-fiction books offer a wealth of knowledge, providing readers with insights into real-life experiences, historical events, and scientific discoveries. In this chapter, we will delve into three captivating categories within non-fiction: Biography/Autobiography, History, and Science. Each category presents a list of fourteen remarkable books that will not only educate and inform but also inspire you to embark on a captivating book report journey.

Biography/Autobiography Books

• "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank Step into the poignant and powerful world of Anne Frank as she documents her experiences while hiding from the Nazis during World War II.

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley Discover the influential life and transformative journey of civil rights leader Malcolm X, exploring his experiences, beliefs, and activism.

• "Educated" by Tara Westover Follow the inspiring story of Tara Westover, who grew up in a strict and abusive household but went on to earn a Ph.D. from Cambridge University.
• "Becoming" by Michelle Obama Gain insights into the life and accomplishments of former First Lady Michelle Obama as she shares her personal journey and the impact of her role.

"Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson Dive into the compelling biography of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., and explore the visionary mind behind revolutionary technological innovations.

• "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot Investigate the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were unknowingly used for scientific research, leading to groundbreaking medical discoveries.

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl Reflect on the profound experiences of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl as he recounts his time in Nazi concentration camps and explores the meaning of life and human resilience.

• "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls Delve into the memoir of Jeannette Walls, who grew up in poverty with eccentric parents but went on to achieve success as a journalist and author.
• "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom Experience the remarkable true story of Corrie ten Boom, who, along with her family, helped Jews escape the Nazis during World War II and endured imprisonment in a concentration camp.
• "I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban" by Malala Yousafzai Discover the inspiring journey of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who fought for girls' education and survived an assassination attempt.

"Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand Follow the incredible life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and World War II prisoner of war, as he endures unimaginable hardships and finds strength in the face of adversity.

"Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race" by Margot Lee Shetterly Discover the untold stories of the brilliant African-American women mathematicians who made significant contributions to NASA during the Space Race.

"Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela Journey with Nelson Mandela as he shares his extraordinary life, from his childhood in rural South Africa to becoming a renowned anti-apartheid activist and the first black President of South Africa.

"Leonardo da Vinci" by Walter Isaacson Immerse yourself in the life and achievements of the renowned artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, exploring his remarkable talents and enduring legacy.

History Books to Review

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari Take a captivating journey through the history of Homo sapiens, exploring the evolution of our species and the significant milestones that shaped our world.

"The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson Uncover the intertwining narratives of architect Daniel Burnham and serial killer H.H. Holmes, set against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.

"The Guns of August" by Barbara W. Tuchman Dive into a detailed account of the events leading up to World War I, examining the political, military, and social dynamics that shaped the conflict.

"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn Challenge traditional historical narratives as Howard Zinn presents a perspective of American history from the viewpoints of marginalized communities and social movements.

"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William L. Shirer Explore the comprehensive history of Nazi Germany, from Hitler's rise to power to the eventual collapse of the Third Reich.

"The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration" by Isabel Wilkerson Follow the stories of three individuals who participated in the Great Migration, a massive movement of African Americans from the South to Northern and Western cities.

"1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" by Charles C. Mann Challenge conventional beliefs about the pre-Columbian Americas and explore the diverse and advanced civilizations that thrived before European contact.

"Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond Examine the factors that shaped the course of human history, from the rise of civilizations to the impact of geography, technology, and disease.

"The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England" by Dan Jones Discover the tumultuous history of the Plantagenet dynasty, exploring the power struggles, wars, and influential figures that shaped medieval England.

"The Civil War: A Narrative" by Shelby Foote Delve into a comprehensive and gripping account of the American Civil War, offering insights into the military strategies, key battles, and the people involved.

"The Silk Roads: A New History of the World" by Peter Frankopan Explore the interconnected history of civilizations along the Silk Road, spanning from ancient times to the present day, and the influence of trade on global events.

"The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough Follow the inspiring journey of Orville and Wilbur Wright as they develop and successfully achieve powered flight, revolutionizing modern transportation.

"The Cold War: A New History" by John Lewis Gaddis Analyze the ideological, political, and military tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, examining the lasting global impact.

Science Books

"The Gene: An Intimate History" by Siddhartha Mukherjee Delve into the captivating exploration of genetics, unraveling the history, impact, and ethical implications of the gene on human life and society.

"The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" by Siddhartha Mukherjee Examine the history, science, and societal impact of cancer, exploring the relentless pursuit to understand and conquer this complex disease.

"Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson Explore the groundbreaking work that shed light on the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, igniting the modern environmental movement.

"The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins Delve into the concept of the gene's influence on evolution, as Richard Dawkins presents a thought-provoking exploration of the role of genes in shaping life.

"Cosmos" by Carl Sagan Embark on a cosmic journey as Carl Sagan explores the wonders of the universe, blending science, philosophy, and storytelling to ignite curiosity and wonder.

"The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan" by Robert Kanigel Discover the extraordinary life of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, who made groundbreaking contributions to number theory despite facing immense challenges.

"The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" by Elizabeth Kolbert Examine the ongoing mass extinction of species caused by human activities, exploring the profound impact of our actions on the Earth's biodiversity.

"The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World" by Peter Wohlleben Delve into the fascinating world of trees, uncovering their complex communication systems, social structures, and remarkable abilities.

"The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution" by Walter Isaacson Discover the interconnected stories of the individuals who pioneered the digital age, from Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing to Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

"The Emperor's New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics" by Roger Penrose Engage with the thought-provoking exploration of consciousness, artificial intelligence, and the fundamental nature of reality, presented by renowned physicist Roger Penrose.

"Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren Follow the personal and scientific journey of geobiologist Hope Jahren, who explores the wonders of plants, her struggles in the male-dominated scientific field, and the beauty of perseverance.

Classic Literature Books to Review

Classic literature stands the test of time, offering readers profound insights into the human condition, enduring themes, and timeless storytelling. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of classic literature that has shaped literary canon and continues to captivate readers across generations. From enduring love stories to profound social commentaries, these books provide a wealth of material for engaging and insightful book reports.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen Delve into the world of witty social commentary and romantic entanglements as Elizabeth Bennet navigates love, societal expectations, and the complexities of class.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee Explore themes of racial injustice, morality, and the loss of innocence through the eyes of Scout Finch in this powerful coming-of-age story set in the Deep South.

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë Follow the journey of Jane Eyre as she faces hardships, discovers her independence, and finds love in this classic tale of resilience and self-discovery.

"Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville Embark on the epic adventure of Captain Ahab's relentless pursuit of the great white whale, Moby Dick, in this symbolic exploration of obsession, revenge, and humanity's place in the natural world.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties and the tragic tale of Jay Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream.

"Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky Delve into the psychological depths of a young man named Raskolnikov as he grapples with guilt, morality, and the consequences of his actions.

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë Explore the tempestuous love story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Yorkshire moors.

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger Follow the disillusioned and rebellious Holden Caulfield as he navigates adolescence, alienation, and the complexities of the adult world.

"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes Journey with the delusional yet endearing knight-errant Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panza as they embark on chivalrous adventures and confront the blurred lines between reality and imagination.

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley Engage with the cautionary tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation, exploring themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing god.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde Enter the world of decadence, beauty, and moral corruption as Dorian Gray's portrait reflects the true nature of his soul in this dark and philosophical exploration of hedonism and morality.

"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne Examine the consequences of sin and guilt as Hester Prynne bears the scarlet letter "A" in this introspective tale set in Puritan New England.

"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy Immerse yourself in the sweeping epic of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, following a diverse cast of characters and exploring themes of love, war, and the human capacity for change.

Young Adult Fiction Books

Young Adult (YA) fiction encompasses a rich and diverse genre that caters to the interests and experiences of young readers. These books tackle a wide range of themes, from self-discovery and friendship to adventure and coming-of-age. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of captivating young adult fiction novels that will engage, inspire, and provide excellent material for book reports.

• "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green Experience a heart-wrenching and poignant love story between two teenagers with cancer, as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and mortality.
• "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins Enter a dystopian world where teenagers are forced to fight to the death in an annual televised event, igniting a rebellion against a tyrannical regime.
• "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky Follow the introspective and transformative journey of Charlie as he navigates high school, friendships, and his own mental health struggles.
• "Divergent" by Veronica Roth Immerse yourself in a dystopian society divided into factions, as a young girl challenges societal norms and uncovers the truth about her identity.
• "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner Join a group of teenagers trapped in a maze with no memory of their past, as they navigate deadly challenges and unravel the mysteries of their confinement.
• "The Giver" by Lois Lowry Explores a seemingly perfect society where all choices and emotions are controlled, following a young boy who discovers the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface.
• "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher Delve into a thought-provoking exploration of the aftermath of a teenage girl's suicide, as she leaves behind a series of cassette tapes detailing the reasons for her decision.
• "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell Experience the heartwarming and bittersweet romance between two misfit teenagers as they navigate the complexities of family, first love, and societal expectations.
• "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas Witness the powerful story of Starr Carter, a teenager caught between two worlds, as she becomes an advocate for justice after witnessing the police shooting of her childhood friend.
• "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli Follow Simon Spier, a high school student navigating the challenges of coming out as gay while dealing with friendship, romance, and the complexities of identity.
• "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo Enter the world of a daring heist orchestrated by a group of skilled criminals in a fantastical setting filled with magic, adventure, and intricate character dynamics.
• "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak Experience the power of words and the resilience of the human spirit through the eyes of Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Nazi Germany during World War II.
• "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie Follow Junior, a Native American teenager, as he navigates life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and attends a predominantly white high school, grappling with issues of identity, friendship, and family.

Contemporary Fiction Books to Review

Contemporary fiction reflects the realities, challenges, and complexities of the modern world. These novels explore a wide range of themes and offer readers a glimpse into the diverse experiences of individuals navigating contemporary society. In this chapter, we will delve into a selection of engaging contemporary fiction novels that provide a rich tapestry for book reports, offering insights into the human condition and the ever-evolving nature of our world.

• "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng Enter a suburban community and explore the intertwined lives of two families, delving into themes of motherhood, identity, and the complexities of privilege.
• "Normal People" by Sally Rooney Follow the compelling on-again, off-again relationship between Connell and Marianne as they navigate love, friendship, and the challenges of young adulthood.
• "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Experience the story of Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman navigating race, identity, and love as she moves to the United States and later returns to Nigeria.
• "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini Embark on a powerful journey that explores friendship, betrayal, and redemption against the backdrop of Afghanistan's tumultuous recent history.
• "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead Follow the harrowing journey of Cora, a young slave, as she escapes from a Georgia plantation and seeks freedom using an actual underground railroad.
• "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman Dive into the life of Eleanor Oliphant, a socially awkward and fiercely independent woman, as she learns to confront her past and form meaningful connections.
• "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi Follow the generational journey of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, and their descendants, spanning from 18th-century Ghana to modern-day America.
• "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara Explore the lives of four friends in New York City, delving into themes of trauma, friendship, and the search for meaning and belonging.
• "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt Immerse yourself in a captivating coming-of-age story as Theo Decker navigates loss, art, and the pursuit of identity in the aftermath of a tragedy.
• "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens Follow the remarkable journey of Kya Clark, a young woman living in the marshes of North Carolina, as she navigates isolation, prejudice, and a murder investigation.
• "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles Step into the elegant world of Count Alexander Rostov, who is placed under house arrest in a luxury hotel in Moscow and finds unexpected connections and purpose.

Memoirs Books

Memoirs provide a unique glimpse into the lives and experiences of individuals, offering readers personal narratives filled with insights, reflections, and life lessons. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of compelling memoirs that invite readers to walk in the shoes of extraordinary people and gain a deeper understanding of their journeys. These memoirs offer rich material for insightful and thought-provoking book reports.

• "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis" by J.D. Vance Explore the author's personal journey as he reflects on his Appalachian upbringing, grappling with poverty, addiction, and the challenges faced by the working class.
• "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed Follow Cheryl Strayed's transformative solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, as she confronts personal demons and finds healing in nature.
• "The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country" by Helen Russell Experience the author's humorous and insightful exploration of Danish culture and lifestyle as she and her husband relocate to Denmark.
• "Just Kids" by Patti Smith Immerse yourself in the memoir of singer-songwriter Patti Smith, as she reflects on her artistic journey, friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and the vibrant New York City art scene of the 1960s and 1970s.
• "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride Discover the dual narrative of James McBride as he explores his own identity and the remarkable life of his white Jewish mother, who raised twelve children in a racially divided society.

Historical Fiction Books to Review

Historical fiction transports readers to different eras and places, combining rich historical details with imaginative storytelling. These novels allow us to experience pivotal moments in history and delve into the lives of characters living in those times. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of captivating historical fiction novels that provide a vivid backdrop for book reports, offering a blend of historical accuracy and compelling narratives.

• "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett Enter the medieval world of twelfth-century England, following the construction of a magnificent cathedral and the intertwining lives of its builders and inhabitants.
• "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr Set during World War II, this novel tells the parallel stories of a blind French girl and a German boy, highlighting the power of resilience and human connection.
• "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett Immerse yourself in 1960s Mississippi, as three women cross racial boundaries and join forces to write a book that exposes the experiences of African American maids.
• "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel Delve into the court of Henry VIII through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, a key figure in the political and religious upheaval of Tudor England.
• "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Enter post-World War II Barcelona, where a young boy named Daniel becomes enthralled with a mysterious book that leads him into a labyrinth of secrets and intrigue.
• "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden Explore the world of geishas in pre- and post-World War II Japan, following the captivating journey of a young girl named Chiyo as she becomes a renowned geisha.
• "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco Step into a fourteenth-century Italian abbey, where a Franciscan friar investigates a series of mysterious deaths, uncovering a web of secrets and religious intrigue.
• "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory Immerse yourself in the Tudor court as the Boleyn sisters, Anne and Mary, compete for the attention and affections of King Henry VIII, with dramatic consequences.
• "The Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini Journey to Afghanistan from the 1960s to the early 2000s, following the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, as they navigate love, loss, and the political turmoil of their country.
• "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon Travel through time to eighteenth-century Scotland and twentieth-century Britain as Claire Randall finds herself torn between two worlds and two loves.
• "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead Follows the harrowing journey of Cora, a young slave, as she escapes from a Georgia plantation and seeks freedom using an actual underground railroad.
• "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant Explore biblical history through the eyes of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, as she narrates the story of her family and the lives of women in ancient times.
• "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker Discover the life of Celie, an African American woman in the early twentieth century, as she confronts the harsh realities of racism, sexism, and the power of love and resilience.

Cultural Books

Cultural books offer readers a window into different cultures, traditions, and perspectives from around the world. These books celebrate diversity, broaden our understanding of different societies, and encourage empathy and appreciation for cultural differences. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of captivating cultural books that provide unique insights and serve as excellent sources for book reports, inviting readers to explore the richness and complexity of various cultures.

• "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan Delve into the lives of four Chinese-American immigrant families and their daughters, as they navigate the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the clash of Eastern and Western cultures.
• "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri Follow the journey of Gogol Ganguli, a first-generation Indian-American, as he grapples with the challenges of cultural assimilation, family expectations, and self-discovery.
• "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho Embark on a spiritual journey with Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, as he seeks his personal legend and encounters diverse cultures along the way.
• "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri Explore the lives of characters from different cultures and backgrounds in this collection of short stories, which delves into themes of love, longing, and the complexities of human connection.
• "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe Enter the world of Okonkwo, a respected warrior in a Nigerian village, as he grapples with the clash of traditional Igbo culture and the arrival of European colonialism.
• "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz Follow the life of Oscar, a Dominican-American nerd, as he navigates love, family, and his connection to Dominican history and culture.
• "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros Experience life through the eyes of Esperanza, a young Mexican-American girl, as she shares her experiences growing up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Chicago.
• "The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga Explore the contrasting worlds of wealth and poverty in modern-day India through the eyes of Balram Halwai, a chauffeur who rises from servitude to entrepreneurship.
• "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy Enter the world of the twins Rahel and Estha, as their lives unfold against the backdrop of a changing Kerala, India, exploring family, love, and societal constraints.
• "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie Follow Saleem Sinai, a boy born at the stroke of midnight on India's independence day, as his life intertwines with the history of his nation, reflecting the complexities of post-colonial India.
• "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi Experience the coming-of-age memoir of Marjane Satrapi, as she recounts her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and her subsequent journey to adulthood in Europe.
• "The Samurai's Garden" by Gail Tsukiyama Journey to a small coastal village in Japan in the late 1930s, as a Chinese painter named Stephen befriends the locals and learns the value of love, friendship, and inner strength.

Contemporary Science Fiction/Fantasy Books to Review

Contemporary science fiction and fantasy novels combine imaginative storytelling with thought-provoking explorations of technology, society, and the human condition. These books transport readers to captivating worlds filled with scientific advancements, magical realms, and thrilling adventures. In this chapter, we will explore a selection of contemporary science fiction and fantasy novels that provide a blend of entertainment and profound ideas, making them ideal choices for engaging book reports.

• "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline Immerse yourself in a virtual reality world called the OASIS, as Wade Watts embarks on a quest filled with '80s pop culture references, high-stakes challenges, and a race against corporate greed.
• "The Martian" by Andy Weir Follow astronaut Mark Watney's struggle for survival after being stranded alone on Mars, using his resourcefulness and scientific knowledge to overcome the hostile environment.
• "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel Journey through a post-apocalyptic world where a traveling theater troupe brings hope and art to scattered communities, exploring the power of human connection and the resilience of the arts.
• "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman Explore the hidden world of London Below, a realm of magic and mystery, as Richard Mayhew discovers an underground city filled with fantastical creatures and supernatural adventures.
• "The Fifth Season" by N.K. Jemisin Enter a world plagued by cataclysmic seismic events, as characters with extraordinary powers navigate a broken society and face the impending destruction of their world.
• "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard Delve into a dystopian world divided by blood, where Mare Barrow, a commoner with a mysterious power, finds herself caught in a web of political intrigue, rebellion, and betrayal.
• "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang Follow Rin, a war orphan with shamanic powers, as she enters a prestigious military academy and becomes embroiled in the brutal conflicts of an empire inspired by Chinese history.
• "Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi Embark on a West African-inspired fantasy journey as Zélie fights against oppression, harnessing the power of magic and leading a revolution to restore magic to her people.
• "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman Enter a future world where death has been conquered, and a group of individuals known as Scythes are tasked with controlling the population through the art of killing.
• "The City of Brass" by S.A. Chakraborty Explore the mythical city of Daevabad, a richly detailed world inspired by Middle Eastern folklore, as Nahri, a skilled con artist, discovers her true identity and becomes entangled in political intrigue.
• "A Darker Shade of Magic" by V.E. Schwab Travel between parallel versions of London as Kell, a powerful magician with the ability to traverse worlds, embarks on a dangerous adventure involving forbidden magic and a relic that could change everything.
• "The Power" by Naomi Alderman Imagine a world where women develop a deadly electrical power, turning gender dynamics upside down and raising thought-provoking questions about power, gender roles, and societal structures.
• "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir Follow the intertwined stories of Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, in a brutal and oppressive empire, as they challenge the system and fight for freedom.
• "The Broken Earth" trilogy by N.K. Jemisin Venture into a world of earth-shattering cataclysms and complex societies, following characters with extraordinary abilities who struggle against a backdrop of prejudice, power struggles, and ancient mysteries.

Conclusion 

In this article, we have explored a diverse range of books across various genres, providing a wealth of options for captivating book reports. From fiction to non-fiction, classic literature to contemporary works, and cultural books to science fiction and fantasy, each chapter has presented a selection of compelling titles that will engage readers and spark their curiosity.

Through the power of literature, books allow us to embark on incredible journeys, gain new perspectives, and deepen our understanding of the world. They offer a gateway to different cultures, eras, and experiences, encouraging empathy, critical thinking, and personal growth.

Whether you're drawn to the vivid characters and intricate plots of fiction, the insights and wisdom found in non-fiction, or the imaginative worlds of science fiction and fantasy, there is a book for every reader. Each category presented in this article offers a unique lens through which we can explore the human condition, historical events, cultural diversity, and the wonders of the imagination.

When writing a book report, remember to immerse yourself in the narrative, pay attention to the author's style and themes, and consider the impact the book had on you personally. Engage with the characters, their struggles, and their triumphs, and analyze the social, historical, or cultural contexts in which the story unfolds. Don't hesitate to express your own opinions, reflections, and connections to the book.

Books have the power to educate, entertain, and inspire. They ignite our imaginations, broaden our perspectives, and foster a love for reading that lasts a lifetime. So, embrace the joy of exploration and discovery, and let the pages of these remarkable books transport you to new realms of knowledge and imagination.

As you embark on your book report journey, remember that the most important aspect is your engagement with the book and the ideas it presents. Each book is an invitation to delve deeper into its themes, characters, and messages. So, choose a book that resonates with you, embark on an adventure of reading and reflection, and let your book report be a testament to the power and beauty of literature.

Happy reading and writing!

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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. 

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Please Note: A Beka does not sell their materials to Exodus Books. The following overview is meant to help you evaluate A Beka as a curriculum, and give you some other options to consider as well.

Designed as supplements to A Beka’s reading and literature programs, these are simply reprints of older books for students to read and report on. There are no teacher editions, no review questions, and only some of them have any kind of introduction or forward; a few are lightly illustrated.

To be used for middle and high school students, these books are either explicitly Christian or illustrate important virtues like perseverance and courage. Many are biographies of key figures from Elizabeth I to David Livingstone to Booker T. Washington. Others are historical fiction like The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott or On His Own by Horatio Alger, Jr.

Texts vary in length, but all of them are unabridged book length. A Beka calls them Book Report Books since students are to read them and write a précis of plot and characters as well as analysis of the book’s themes. There is nothing specifically directing this sort of assignment in any of the texts, however, so you could just as well use other books of your own choosing for the same purpose.

If you’re concerned about the content of your kids’ reading material these are safe choices, chosen as much for their literary quality as for their moral nature. There is also plenty of history—in the biographies it is straightforward, in the historical fiction it is present but less blatant. For educational and character-building literature that you won’t have to screen beforehand, these are good choices.

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The only book review templates you'll ever need.

Whether you’re trying to become a book reviewer , writing a book report for school, or analyzing a book, it’s nice to follow a book review template to make sure that your thoughts are clearly presented. 

A quality template provides guidance to keep your mind sharp and your thoughts organized so that you can write the best book review possible. On Reedsy Discovery , we read and share a lot of book reviews, which helps us develop quite a clear idea what makes up a good one. With that in mind, we’ve put together some trustworthy book review templates that you can download, along with a quick run-through of all the parts that make up an outstanding review — all in this post! 

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

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Book review templates for every type of review

With the rapid growth of the book community on Instagram, Youtube, and even TikTok, the world of book commentary has evolved far beyond your classic review. There are now many ways you can structure a book review. Some popular formats include:

• Book reports — often done for school assignments; 
• Commentary articles — think in-depth reviews in magazines and newspapers; 
• Book blog reviews — short personal essays about the book; and
• Instagram reviews — one or two-paragraph reviews captioned under a nice photo. 

But while the text in all these review styles can be organized in different ways, there are certain boxes that all good book reviews tick. So, instead of giving you various templates to use for different occasions, we’ve condensed it down to just two book review templates (one for fiction and one for nonfiction) that can guide your thoughts and help you nail just about any review. 

⭐ Download our free fiction book review template  

⭐ Download our free nonfiction book review template  

All you need to do is answer the questions in the template regarding the book you’re reading and you’ve got the content of your review covered. Once that’s done, you can easily put this content into its appropriate format. 

Now, if you’re curious about what constitutes a good book review template, we’ll explain it in the following section! 

Elements of a book review template

Say you want to build your own book review template, or you want to customize our templates — here are the elements you’ll want to consider. 

We’ve divided our breakdown of the elements into two categories: the essentials and the fun additions that’ll add some color to your book reviews.

What are the three main parts of a book review?

We covered this in detail (with the help of some stellar examples) in our post on how to write a book review , but basically, these are the three crucial elements you should know: 

The summary covers the premise of the book and its main theme, so readers are able to understand what you’re referring to in the rest of your review. This means that, if a person hasn’t read the book, they can go through the summary to get a quick idea of what it’s about. (As such, there should be no spoilers!) 

The analysis is where, if it’s a fiction book, you talk more about the book, its plot, theme, and characters. If it’s nonfiction, you have to consider whether the book effectively achieves what it set out to do. 

The recommendation is where your personal opinion comes in the strongest, and you give a verdict as to who you think might enjoy this book. 

You can choose to be brief or detailed, depending on the kind of review you’re writing, but you should always aim to cover these three points. If you’re needing some inspiration, check out these 17 book review examples as seen in magazines, blogs, and review communities like Reedsy Discovery for a little variation. 

Which review community should you join?

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

Which additional details can you include?

Once you’ve nailed down the basics, you can jazz things up a little and add some personal flavor to your book review by considering some of these elements:

• A star-rating (the default is five stars but you can create your own scales); 
• A bullet-point pros and cons list; 
• Your favorite quotation from the book; 
• Commentary on the format you read (i.e., ebook, print, or audiobook);
• Fun facts about the book or author; 
• Other titles you think are similar.

This is where you can really be creative and tailor your review to suit your purpose and audience. A formal review written for a magazine, for instance, will likely benefit from contextual information about the author and the book, along with some comment on how that might have affected the reading (or even writing) process.

Meanwhile, if you’re reviewing a book on social media, you might find bullet points more effective at capturing the fleeting attention of Internet users. You can also make videos, take creative pictures, or even add your own illustrations for more personal touches. The floor is yours at this point, so go ahead and take the spotlight! 

That said, we hope that our templates can provide you with a strong foundation for even your most adventurous reviews. And if you’re interested in writing editorial reviews for up-and-coming indie titles, register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery !

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Have a book report submission deadline and want to know how to write one? We’re here to help! Book reports are vital in academics, helping students sharpen their understanding and critical thinking, while for authors, they offer a deep dive into a text’s composition and stylistic elements.

In this article, we will understand how to write a good book report. It’s a skill that not only helps you get more out of what you’re reading but also lets you create a report that truly reflects how good the book is. Let’s get started!

Ace your assignment with a perfect book report! Learn more

Firstly, let us understand what is a book report.

What is a book report?

A book report is an in-depth analysis, an objective summary of a book’s main content and arguments. Book reports discuss a book’s content, structure, and themes. Far from just a recap of the plot outline , a book report examines the details of a book’s narrative, offering insights into the characters, themes of the story , and the author’s writing style. 

Note: A book report is usually assigned to students from secondary schools to colleges. As per book report format, book reports are typically 500–1000 words long.

Elements of a book report

A proper book report outline consists of the following elements:

• Introduction: Think about how to start a book report with an engaging opening. Mention the book’s title, author, genre, and a brief plot summary. State your main theme or viewpoint.
• Content summary: Give a clear, summary of the plot. Highlight key events and turning points. Avoid spoilers.
• Analysis and perspective: Examine the key characters, their traits, motivations, development, and plot roles. Explore major themes, symbols, and motifs, and their narrative effect. Review the author’s style and perspective, and their impact on the story.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points. Restate your overall impression of the book and possibly suggest who might enjoy it or what kind of readers would benefit from it.
• Citations and references (if necessary): If you have used external sources or have been influenced by other analyses, make sure to cite these references properly to avoid plagiarism.

By following this book report outline, your book report will be comprehensive, informative, and engaging.

How to write a book report

Before learning how to do a book report, it is important to remember that following a book report format is essential. 

Here’s how to write a book report:

• Read the book carefully: Start by reading the book thoroughly. Take notes on key points, characters, themes, and any passages that stand out.
• Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts and notes into an outline. This will be your roadmap and will help keep your writing focused.
• Write the introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that provides basic information about the book, including the title, author, and a brief synopsis.
• Develop the body: You can follow your outline or a book report template to write the body of your report. Discuss each element (plot, characters, themes, etc.) in separate paragraphs or sections.
• Conclude your report: Summarize your main points and offer your final thoughts and evaluation of the book.
• Review and revise: Finally, review and proofread your report for clarity, coherence, and correctness. Make sure to correct any grammatical mistakes and ensure your report flows logically.

Taking a look at a few examples of book reports will help you understand how to do a book report easily.  So let’s explore some book report examples next.

Book report examples

Starting with book report examples, let’s look at a book report example on The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.

Introduction: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is a powerful and poignant diary that gives an intimate glimpse into the life of a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust.

Summary: The diary chronicles Anne Frank’s life from 1942 to 1944, during which she and her family hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The entries detail her daily life in the secret annex, her thoughts, fears, and hopes for a better future.

Analysis and themes: Anne’s diary is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Themes of hope, the cruelty of war, the innocence of youth, and the power of writing shine through her words.

Conclusion: Diary of a Young Girl is more than just a diary; it’s a moving narrative that brings to light the horrors of war and the timeless strength of hope and human dignity. Anne Frank’s voice continues to resonate with readers around the world, making this book a must-read for understanding history and humanity.

Now let’s look at a fiction book report example on Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Introduction: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a thrilling fantasy novel that introduces us to a world where Greek gods and mythology come to life in the modern era.

Summary: The story follows Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers he is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. After being accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, Percy embarks on a dangerous adventure across America to find the real thief and prevent a war among the gods.

Analysis and themes: Riordan’s novel is rich in Greek mythology and cleverly intertwined with modern-day settings and issues. Themes of identity, friendship, and bravery are prominent as Percy navigates the challenges of being a demigod. The book also explores the concept of good vs. evil and the importance of understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is an engaging and imaginative novel that offers a fresh perspective on Greek mythology. It’s a captivating read for young adults, effectively combining action, humor, and life lessons, making it a standout in the genre of fantasy fiction.

Book report template

You can easily write a book report using our free book report template.

It’s clear that writing a book report is more than a mere academic exercise; it’s an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of literature and gain insights. 

By using the provided template and examples as starting points, you’re well on your way to writing insightful and compelling book reports. Also, to make your book report perfect, we are always here to help you with our expert editing and proofreading services ! 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a book report be, what should a book report include, how to conclude a book report, how to write an introduction for a book report, what is the purpose of a book report.

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12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

Whether you’re teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they’re more than just a test or essay.

Below, you’ll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.

Choose your favorite projects to offer to students as options on a book report project choice board.

Create a Board Game

When I gave “create a board game about the book you read” as a book report option for my students, I was pleasantly surprised at the results! Quite a few students excitedly chose this option and created some really fun-looking games centered on their books. 

This is a great project choice if you’re looking for something that students can’t create by just Googling the book.

Here are some tips and suggestions for assigning a board game book report:

• Give clear parameters and requirements to keep students on track, such as requiring game elements to represent certain literary elements of the book they read.
• Provide suggestions for game components and materials – encourage students to consider the game play and elements of their favorite board games and to use materials they already have at home to create them.
• For a whole-class novel study, consider allowing students to work in teams to create the novel-based board games, then setting aside a class period for students to play each others’ games and see who wins!

If you’re looking to save time… clear directions handouts, lots of suggestions, and a handy grading rubric for a board game post-reading assessment are all included in this resource . Take a look! 

For more independent reading response ideas, check out this post with ideas for fun post-reading projects.

Create a Journey Box

Engaging students in authentic conversations about books is a passion for Carolyn of Middle School Café .  In traditional oral book reports, students simply get up in front of the class and read a summary of the book they read.  Carolyn found this method of oral book reports painful for both her and her students.

Wanting to find a way to help her students talk about their book and keep her class engaged, Carolyn began incorporating Journey Box Book Reports.  A journey box is a shoebox (or bag) that contains artifacts from the story that help the reader share important events from the story. 

Students predetermine what events of the story are most important to share, then they create an artifact to share with the class or small group as they explain the plot.  As an example, Carolyn had a student who read The Diary of Anne Frank.   He created a small 3D tree that he displayed on the desk as he shared about how Anne looked out the window and dreamed of her former life.  It’s a small piece of the story that helps the student explain the plot point and gives the audience something visual to look at and stay engaged. 

Journey Box Book Reports have been successful for Carolyn in both her middle school and high school classrooms.  She does suggest, if using Journey Boxes in older grades, to have students share their stories in small groups.  

Create a Literary Food Truck

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s food – especially high schoolers – and with this in mind, one of Simply Ana P’s favorite ways to recap a class novel or an independent reading unit is with Literary Food Trucks. This is definitely not a new idea, but it’s one that will have you coming back for seconds 🙂 

Ana first tried this project at the end of The Odyssey , where students were able to decide which book(s) they wanted to make the focus of their trucks. The main requirement was that every single choice made had to be intentional and clearly relevant. With this in mind, students could start the planning process. 

You can make the truck’s requirements as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but Ana recommends having students plan: 

• Truck name, design, and branding colors
• Menu design and items (5 items minimum)
• Employee uniforms
• Merch 

Ana includes a writing component by having her students defend all of their selections in the form of a proposal. This is later used in their presentations, and the better (more intentional) their proposal is, the more likely they will win the class vote. This proposal can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what writing goals you have for them, and should definitely include text evidence. 

Part of the beauty of this type of project is that it can be done digital or paper-based. Ana likes to walk her students through a Canva tutorial, where there are even menu templates that students can use so they don’t feel overwhelmed starting from scratch. Or, for more creative students, they can create their trucks on chart paper, poster board, or even 3D dioramas.  After students finish making their food trucks, it’s always fun to take a day for the in-class Food Festival, where students are invited to bring in items from their menus or simply some type of snacks. Some students get super hype about this day and even make/wear aprons or themed employee uniforms. Students are able to walk around, visiting each of their trucks, and casting their votes for Best Food, Most Relevant, and Most Detailed. Have fun and bon appetit !

Create a Mood Board

It can be hard to come up with creative post-reading assessments for your students when they’re done with a full class novel, literature circles, or a choice reading unit. In an attempt to combine 21 st century skills with literary analysis, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary decided to try something a little different. Enter: The Mood Board.

A mood board combines images to elicit a feeling from a viewer much like a writer does with words. The possibilities for using a mood board with your class are endless. Students can create a mood board for an overall book, a character, an event, a theme, a poem, etc. Then, have your students carefully curate a board that is aesthetically pleasing and considers color, space, and design in the execution. As students explain why they’ve made the choices they have, the upper-level thinking comes naturally.

Canva is an excellent tool to use to create your mood boards. Having students interact with software they may be unfamiliar with is a meaningful learning experience in and of itself. If you want to learn more about how to use mood boards in your own classroom, click here to read Samantha’s blog post about it or check out the resource she created that includes done-for-you student instructions, examples, and a rubric here .

Create a New App

How would a character’s life change if there was just the perfect app to solve their conflict??

This is the question Krista from @whimsyandrigor poses to her students as they finish a novel and begin to reflect on the character’s journey. Students begin by discussing all of the details surrounding the protagonist and what they experienced. In small groups and in whole-class discussions, students discuss the conflicts, both internal and external, and then brainstorm all of the realistic and not-so-realistic ways the character could have addressed their problems.

Once students have generated a healthy list of ideas, Krista tells them they get to become an app developer and they must create an app that would greatly benefit a character from their reading.

The requirements are:

• The app cannot already exist.
• The app can be totally unrealistic/not probable.
• The app developer must be able to explain how its features would benefit the character.
• The developer must also create an icon for the App Store.

Here is a print-and-go handout students use to get designing. 

Here are some example apps students could create: to help Will from Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down , maybe an app that predicts his future would help him decide what to do once he steps off the elevator. Or maybe Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would have benefited from a life-detection app that would accurately determine whether or not someone was actually dead.

When students sette on the conflict they want to address and the app that would help, they write a Spill the TEA paragraph, as explained by Krista in this YouTube video .  Using this paragraph organization strategy, students will introduce their app, use evidence to explain how it is necessary for the character, and explain how the app would have benefited or changed the protagonist’s journey.

Now they get to be a graphic designer as they design the app’s icon. Students may want to peruse the actual App Store to get ideas about how an icon is designed, what elements must be present, and how to create something that is eye-catching.

If space allows, Krista encourages you to display the icons and Spill the TEA paragraphs in the hallway for other students to see the in-depth critical thinking and character analysis your students did after finishing a novel. 

Who says technology is only a distraction for our students?! This activity proves technology can help students dive deep into a text and its characters!

Write a Vignette

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 often focuses on character-based activities for novel studies including a character profile activity , character conversations through text messages , or the writing of a good vignette. 

Vignettes can be a great way to assess students’ literary analysis skills and understanding of the text. Students write a short piece of about 500 words that is descriptive of a particular moment in time focusing on one of the book’s characters. These moments could be placing the character in a new setting, writing about a particular moment in the story that was less developed, or even extending to a moment beyond the book’s conclusion. Lesa provides students with some mentor texts, including “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street or “The Prisoner Van” by Charles Dickens in Sketches by Boz or even one from a novel being read in class. Review the stories for structure, language choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language, and so on. This helps to co-create the criteria for the assignment. Then students write their own vignette. Build in some peer review as an accountability piece and voila!

Create a Character Collage

It’s safe to say that most English teachers have a bin of cut-up magazines somewhere in their classrooms. While these tattered copies of People and Us Weekly have definitely seen better days, they live on in the many collage creations of our students.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use collages as visual representations of comprehension. After reading a novel or short story, creating a character collage to show how a character has evolved from beginning to end requires students to use higher order thinking skills to analyze, synthesize and demonstrate their understanding of characterization by dividing their page in half and choosing words and images to represent the character at the start and conclusion of the story on each side.

The results will show the depth of your students’ interpretation of character as well as their ability to use critical and creative thinking skills to represent their knowledge.

Other ways to use this idea instead of showing character evolution are to show two different sides to a character, for example, who they are with different people in their lives. 

If you are looking for other ways to incorporate collage and magazines into your post-reading assessments, check out this blog post for more ideas!

Design Shoe Charms

Crocs are not Olivia ’s shoe of choice, but when she noticed her students bedazzling their plastic footwear with shoe charms, it was a learning opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. Here’s how to make it work in your classroom:

First, have your students choose a character from the book they have finished reading. Then encourage them to find quotes from the book that reveal the character’s interests, values, or personality. Once they have found their quotes (she has her students find 4), tell them to design and color shoe charms that represent those interests, values, or personality traits. This helps students with inferencing, textual evidence, and even symbolism!

When your students have finished making their shoe charms, they can either tape the charms to their shoes for a fabulous, foot-themed fashion show, or they can glue them to a picture of a Croc for quirky classroom décor. Check out this Instagram post to see the charms Olivia’s students came up with!

Create a Movie Poster

When was the last time you went to the movies? Did you notice the posters along the way? If yes then you have walked down the movie studio promotional lane. Like trailers, studios create movie posters to grab the attention of movie-goers before they even enter the theater. Yes, you may have already purchased your movie ticket, but those posters were created for the future. After you finish watching Sonic 2 , what movie will you see next? You probably already pointed to that poster on the way into the theater and said, “That looks like it is going to be good. I want to see that!”   As a post reading idea, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students create movie posters based on the text read in class. This allows her to complete a formative assessment on what the students learned from the text. Before having her class create a movie poster, she shows them examples of posters from different genres such as drama, action, family-friendly, and comedy. Then she hands out a piece of construction paper and goes over the basic requirements. On the movie poster, the students are required to have their actors names or image (characters), the title of the movie, a visual (setting or symbol from the story), and a tagline, and a short two to three sentence summary of the movie. Once her students are finished with the assignment, she displays them outside the classroom, so the students can have their own movie studio promotional lane.  If you are looking for more after reading ideas, click here .

Try Novel Engineering

Whether you’ve been hoping to collaborate with another department, or just really want to try something new, Novel Engineering is an amazing way to get students thinking outside of the box ! Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher has found that Novel Engineering requires students to actively comprehend and interact with a novel and get creative about how to help improve the lives of characters! Basically, students work to create a product that will help solve a character’s problem. Here’s how it works…

Before reading : Choose a narrative text where the character faces tangible conflicts. Model and practice the design process in small ways. Try using picture books like Mucha! Muncha! Mucha! in order for students to see and practice what they’ll be doing with a text at grade-level.

While reading : Emphasize the conflicts characters face and give students time to brainstorm possible products that would help solve said problem. Make sure students record evidence from the text so they can later justify the need for the product they design.

After reading : Give students time to draft, craft, and improve their designs that will help solve a problem faced by a character. You can give students options where they draw their creation, make their creation, or even plan a digital app like this, depending on time and resources. Whatever you choose, students will be sure to be pushed to use some skills they may not always practice in an ELA classroom!

Staci has some FREE Novel Engineering Digital Planning Pages or you can read more about her experience with novel engineering on the Donut Lovin’ Teacher blog .

Create a Tik Tok Video

How many times have you passed a group of students filming a TikTok in a hallway? Have you had students ask to film in your class once they finish assignments? You are not alone. Students love TikTok and Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room has figured out how to get students using TikTok for academic purposes!

Yaddy likes to challenge students to create TikTok videos that track a character’s development, encapsulates the main theme of the story, or that exemplifies a key conflict. These easy, low stress videos are great at getting even reluctant students to participate.

To incorporate TikTok videos as a means of assessing students after a novel or story, try the following steps:

1)      Get students to brainstorm which part of the novel they would like to use for their video.

2)      Ask students to start combing TikTok for an audio that fits with the portion of the text they chose

3)      Ask them to plan out how they will realize their vision

4)      Rehearse and film!

5)      Bonus: ask students to upload their videos to Google Drive and share the link with you so that you can make QR codes to post around your classroom!

Want to get started using TikTok videos for book reports? Check on Yaddy’s free planning sheet here !

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Good book report questions

Writing a book report is a common activity students are required to go through today. Reading is one thing but the ability to summarize and analyze information is totally different. One can read a lot of books but still be unable to develop a good book report due to the lack of knowledge of what it should look like. Therefore, students often seek book report help in order to understand how to write one. In this article we are going to provide some good book report questions that will provide guidance as to which direction to go when choosing a format of a book report. Even if you have never faced the challenge of writing one, it is most likely that you will soon receive such assignment. And it is always better to face it prepared knowing what to do. So keep reading to get to know more about how to develop a good one. Even if you have written one or many reports by now, you can still find out more to polish up your writing skills. Questions for a book report provided below will serve a good foundation for every student.

❓ How to Write a Good Book Report

There is a difference between a book report and a book review which everybody should know prior to writing any of these. They are not the same although there are some similarities. A lot of students mix them up turning in reports when reviews are requested and vice versa. 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 go a brief summary of the book content – the main characters and the development of the plot.

Now a book review is different as it requires an in-depth analysis in addition to the things mentioned in a book report. The bio of the author along with the summary of the story also belongs in the review but the attention paid to these things should not be so significant. In other words, these things are not central in writing a book review . Instead, they are all considered a background information upon which one may analyze and evaluate the book in general. A book review is then 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. Now as we have managed to draw the line of separation between a book report and a book review, we can move on to how to write a book report.

Book reports can be of different types and formats. Most common forms of book reports are plot summaries, theme and character analysis. This type of assignment will help you practice expressing your own opinion about different aspects of the text and eventually expressing your thoughts on pretty much any subject in future. But no matter what type of book report you are about to write, there are some common things you have to include into your paper:

• 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 the events taking place in the book
• List the names of the characters briefly describing each one of them (at least those you will be discussing in the report)
• Add quotations in order to back up your opinions

📄 Plot Summaries

This type of book report assumes one has to explain own opinions about the plot and why he/she believes so. Your purpose should be to describe and characterize the plot and back up your opinions by some examples from the book.

🖋 Character Analysis

Here you can explore the traits of the main characters and how they affect the development of the plot in the book. There are many things you can pay attention to when analyzing the characters, such as clothing, moral flaws, dialogues, actions, etc.

📗 Theme Analysis

This form of book reports allows exploring the themes and big ideas that are interwoven within the entire story. You can simply choose a theme that seems to be the most important or the one you like the most and try to bring some of your thoughts to highlight the topic.

📚 Book Report Questions

What can help you write book reports efficiently is the list of questions to direct your thinking and writing. You can google phrases like “book report questions for high school” or “book report questions for middle school” depending on what your level of writing is. But in order to save some time for you, we have decided to come up with our own list of questions that should help develop a good book report. Therefore, there is no need to type something like “write my book report” in a google search tab in hopes to find someone who will do it all for you. Instead, you may consider the questions to ask for a book report and try to write it on your own. Here is the list:

• What genre does your book belong to? Fiction, non-fiction, etc.
• Do you like the book? Why so? If yes, would you recommend it to your friends?
• Can you come up with another title?
• What is the setting/background information?
• Who are the main characters?
• Are the names of the characters in any way descriptive?
• How does the story start? Why do you think the author chose to start his book this way?
• How does the story develop?
• Did you have any associations coming to your mind when you were reading the story?
• Did you find anything funny in the story?
• What’s your favorite part?
• Is there a problem in the story? What is this problem?
• Do you think that the author could have come up with a better solution (if there is one)?
• Is there the main idea that you can identify?
• Can you identify the purpose of the book?
• What are the lessons the book teaches (if any)?
• Is the topic of the book important? Why?
• Did any of the characters in the book do something you did not quite like?
• Can you identify the main purpose of writing the book?
• Did the book help you generate new ideas?

✅ Final Remarks

Now that you know what book reports are all about, we recommend you to try and write one. But when we say “write one”, we don’t necessarily mean that the very first thing you have to do in order to produce a good book report is to take a pen and start writing something. There are other things one should do before writing. We suggest you jot down the information you would want to take special note of when reading the book. Keep this piece of paper next to you when you read a book. As you read, take notes of the plot, characters and the main idea. Then you can go through the questions listed above – they should help you understand the book better. When you are done with the questions, organize your thoughts into an outline and draft the book report. From there you have to only edit and revise the draft to produce a perfect paper.

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Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

The Best Books for 7th Graders

You’ll notice that the best books for seventh graders tend to veer into upper middle-grade territory. That’s the case with the books on this list. I have so many beloved upper middle-grade books and I’ll link to the full list at the bottom of this post, but this list also has several books I have never recommended on the blog before.

Seventh graders are on the brink of teenage life, and may relate most strongly to books about body image, crushes, and things like that. They’re also more able to tolerate tastefully done stories about sexual harassment, domestic violence, addiction, serious mental illness and other harsh, unpleasant realities of life. On this list, you’ll find books that hit all of these themes. Of course, as always mentioned, seventh graders can always read up or down. They can read and enjoy many of the books I’ve recommended for 6th graders and 5th graders , as well as books for 8th graders .

Excellent Books for 7th Graders to Enjoy

Here are some of my favorite books for 7th graders:

Genesis Begins Again

Published: January 15, 2019

Thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. Readers first meet Genesis when she brings her “friends” home for the first time. In an embarrassing turn of events, they arrive to meet all her belongings in the street. The landlord has put Genesis’s family out because her gambling, alcoholic father defaulted on the rent,  again . Things seem to look up for their family when they move into a posh neighborhood. Genesis makes new friends, joins the school choir, and even gets a helpful math tutor. Yet, her self-hate follows her. This is a remarkable middle-grade debut with a strong message about colorism, self-love, and  the power of music .

The Wrong Way Home

Published: April 2, 2024

This book is mind-blowingly good. Fern and her mother have been living on The Ranch, under the thumb of a charismatic leader named Ben. But her mom has been acting off, and Ben has put her on a water fast to help her get readjusted. One day, Fern’s mother wakes her in the middle of the night and takes her across the country from NY to CA, where they live in a motel in her mother’s teenage neighborhood and adjust back to normal life. There’s only one problem: Fern hatches a plan to return to The Ranch because she thinks her mom has made a mistake. I loved the way this book explores cults in an accessible way for tween readers, and Fern is a highly realistic character I think will resonate with a lot of kids. Readers should know that one side character in this book is gay and another is non-binary.

The Liars Society

Published: February 6, 2024

Weatherby is a new kid at a Boston private school. She’s at the school on a sailing scholarship and immediately is thrust into a world she knows nothing about. Old school phone booths, scrambled phone service at school, friends with kids who go to the country club, and a boy who seems to hate her guts. Jack is a rich kid at the school who is also on the sailing team and is constantly pressured by his father to be the best. When the money for a famed school trip is stolen, Jack, Weatherby, and some of their friends are invited to play a high-stakes secret game that leads to the revelation of shocking family secrets. This suspenseful mystery, told from Jack’s and Weatherby’s perspectives, is fast-paced and high-stakes, perfect for the upper middle-grade crowd.

Twin Cities

Published: July 19, 2022

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they enter sixth grade. Luisa will attend middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they face different but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart. Twin Cities  is a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

Saint Ivy: Kind at All Costs

Published: May 18, 2021

Thirteen-year-old Ivy needs to be good to people, even when it’s bad for her. That’s why she pretends to be okay with her mom being a gestational surrogate, a kid at school asking her to let him copy her homework, and never sharing her problems with her friends. But can she keep up the pretense? With a touch of mystery and plenty of heart, this is a thought-provoking novel about people pleasing and being true to oneself.

Life in the Balance

Published: February 16, 2021

Veronica’s life seemed like it was on track until her parents announced that her mom is going to rehab for alcoholism. Her mom who was a softball player when she was younger, her mom the lawyer, her mom who was supposed to help her and her friends practice for softball tryouts. Veronica is frustrated, sad, worried, and even angry at her mom for being unable to stop drinking. She also worries that things will never be the same again. So she throws herself into softball — their family sport — even though she isn’t sure she’s all that into it anymore. At the same time, she’s afraid to share her family’s secret with her best friend (whose parents are getting divorced). Will Veronica ever find a balance? This is a rare portrayal of alcoholism, addiction and rehabilitation in the family — especially in a parent.

All You Knead Is Love

Published: March 30, 2021

All You Knead Is Love  follows 12-year-old Alba whose mother forces her to move from NYC to Barcelona, Spain where her grandmother lives. Alba is gender non-conforming, which means that she doesn’t like the typical “girly” dresses or frilly tops her parents often want her to wear. She’s happiest in her jeans and t-shirts. Alba’s father is physically abusive, especially towards her mother, and generally treats Alba with disregard. When Alba arrives Barcelona, she’s quickly drawn in by the vibrant city and its warm people, one of whom is her grandmother. But just when Alba begins to get comfortable, Toni’s bakery is threatened with closure because it just isn’t earning enough money. Alba needs to find a way to save the hub of her newfound community. This is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about identity, family, community, and, of course, food.

We Dream of Space

Published: May 5, 2020

Siblings Cash, Fitch, and Bird move through the daily trials of pre-teen life in the 1980’s. Fitch and Bird are twins who are now in the same grade as their older brother, Cash — because Cash was held back in the seventh grade. Bird is a space aficionado and dreams of being an astronaut. Fitch has anger issues and hates that he’s getting crushed on by a girl he doesn’t like — and whom his best friends consider unattractive. Cash feels lost and cannot seem to find his place anywhere. It doesn’t help that the situation at home is tense, with parents who are constantly bickering and a family that cannot seem to make time to talk as a unit or nurture their children. Bird is eagerly anticipating the Challenger launch and is a huge fan of Judith Resnik — the Challenger’s Mission Specialist. This novel follows the siblings until the ill-fated launch day which changes their relationship forever. This character-driven slice-of-life novel shows how different families can be, addresses the struggles of navigating sibling relationships, and highlights what difference an enthusiastic teacher can make.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Published: February 1, 2022

Maizy and her mother have returned to Last Chance, Minnesota, because Maizy’s grandfather is ill. Maizy’s mom had her with the help of a sperm donor, and she seems to have taken a less traditional, unexpected career route since her parents expected her to take over their historical Chinese restaurant, The Golden Palace. However, Maizy’s grandparents love her, and Maizy quickly bonds with them, especially her grandfather. One day, she sees pictures of several young Chinese men, and when she asks her grandfather about them, he begins to tell her a sprawling story about their family’s history in Last Chance, which is interwoven with love, racism, and community. At the same time, The Golden Palace experiences a hate crime, and Maizy is shocked to discover who the perpetrator is. This is a spellbinding middle grade book about one Chinese family’s heritage and the granddaughter who ties it all together. 

More to the Story

Published: September 3, 2019

More to the Story  is a modern middle-grade novel inspired by the classic novel,  Little Women. Four Muslim-American sisters, Jamee la, Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza, are distraught when their dad has to go abroad for six months for a job. Thirteen-year-old Jam, as she is fondly called has just become the features editor for her school’s newspaper. She’s determined to impress her dad with her first story. At the same time, a family friend’s nephew, Ali moves from the UK to Atlanta. As Jam and Ali’s friendship blossoms, one of her sisters receives devastating news about her health. This is a heartwarming, charming middle-grade novel about sisterhood, family, and following your passion, perfect for fans of books like Little Women .

Published: September 7, 2021

In the aftermath of her little brother’s death, Lucy and her parents move to a small town that is still healing from a school shooting four years ago. It’s jarring for Lucy to be around all these kids who lost friends when they were in the third grade, but it’s even harder because, unlike the situation in her home, the kids talk a lot about the shooting, their grief, and seeing therapists. But in all their sharing, the students have cast the shooter’s younger sister and their classmate, Avery — whom Lucy befriends — as an outsider. Will Lucy ever find her place and deal with her grief? Aftermath  is a powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful middle grade book about the impact of school shootings, grief, and friendships.

Partly Cloudy

Things are looking partly cloudy for Madalyn Thomas and her family. After being out of work for the last 7 months, her dad has found work in another state and her mom’s schedule as a social worker has become more packed from taking on overtime. Madalyn’s parents send her to live with her Great Uncle Papa Lobo during the week to allow her to attend school in a different district because of security issues at her former school. But as the  only Black girl in class , Madalyn faces a new set of challenges at this new school. Partly Cloudy  is an insightful middle grade story about family, community, and handling microaggressions in middle school.

Counting Thyme

Published: April 12, 2016

I loved this story about a family dealing with a cancer-fighting child and finding the balance to be good parents to all three of their kids. If you love books that tackle hard situations with a hopeful lens and sibling stories set in NYC, you’ll adore Conklin’s debut.

Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

Yusuf Azeem is not a hero like his dad who talked down a gunman in their small-town A-Z Dollar Store. But his dad’s heroism doesn’t prevent him from getting worsening hateful notes in his locker telling him to “Go Home.” Yusuf and his friend Danial had expected that this would be their year — their entry into middle school and a chance to compete in a robotics contest. However, when some of the townspeople, including a group called the Patriot Sons try to stop the construction of their town’s mosque and begin to target Yusuf and other Muslims in the community, they are forced to take a stand. This is a poignant  look at the impact of 9/11 on Muslim communities  in America.

Published: October 18, 2022

Five kids form an unlikely friend group at the start of a new school year with surprising results. Lucas is processing his older brother’s death and his mom leaving his dad and him, Robbie is the group goofball with his own challenges, Finn is the walking encyclopedia, Cat is the star athlete, and Anna is the popular girl whose drawn to the group. As the kids play sardines (reverse hide-and-seek), they learn about each other’s most wanted wishes and plot to help each one get them. But when it’s Lucas’s turn, he’s afraid to bare his soul. Can he get past the fear and make his own wish come true? Sardines  is a heartwarming middle grade novel about friendship, mental health, bullying, identity, and community. 

The Prettiest

Published: April 14, 2020

Eve, Sophie, and Nessa are three different girls in Ford middle-school whose lives are changed when their names appear on “ The Prettiest ” list posted online by someone called “LordTesla.” Sophie is the Queen Bee of middle school, and Eve is the bookworm and poetry aficionado who’s started wearing her brother’s sports jerseys to hide her changing body. Nessa is a plus-sized theater geek with a melodious voice who experiences a slew of emotions — indifference, annoyance, disgust at beauty standards — when she realizes her name didn’t even make the list. The three girls band together in an unlikely friendship to find the person who made the list and make him face the consequences of his actions. This a powerful look at female objectification and sexual harassment in middle school.

How to Find What You’re Not Looking For

Published: September 14, 2021

This book follows 12-year-old Ariel whose life is upturned when her big sister (the best of them all), Leah, elopes with her Indian-American boyfriend after the  Loving vs. Virginia  ruling. Ariel’s parents are upset, Ariel is struggling with being able to write well at school, and she can’t stop thinking about her sister and everything happening in the world. How to Find What You’re Not Looking For  is a poignant, moving, and brilliantly written middle grade novel about family, identity, and love.

Averil Offline

Published: February 13, 2024

Averil’s mom and several parents of kids in her school and neighborhood use an app called Ruby Slippers to track their kids’ location, request video and photos from them on demand, and generally monitor their behavior and actions all day and Averil and her classmate Max are sick of it. Especially when they find out that the app will be updated soon to let parents remotely turn on their kids’ cameras at will. Both kids make a plot to ditch a camping trip and find the original app developer, Rider Wollybeck, in hopes of asking him to rescind the update. This hijinks-filled story is reminiscent of classic stories where kids run away to save the day as Max and Averil stay on their town’s college campus, eating at the cafeteria and sleeping in the library for the 2-3 days needed to accomplish their plan. I love the gentle mystery, STEM angle, and theme of childhood autonomy this book explores. I think it has major kid appeal — and it’s only 208 pages long!

That’s What Friends Do

Published: January 28, 2020

Sammie and David are best friends who first met at Little League. As the only girl on the baseball team, Sammie enjoys being one of the guys, and she and David get along excellently. She’s convinced herself that she’s just better at being friends with the boys. Things are great until a new boy, Luke, moves into the neighborhood. Luke is taller than David and keeps trying to flirt with Sammie even though it obviously makes her uncomfortable. While Sammie looks to David for support, David — who has a crush on Sammie — is preoccupied with being jealous of Luke’s seemingly “smooth” skills. As a result, David starts to focus on making his affection known to Sammie, just as Luke seems to be doing. Eventually, an incident on the bus between David and Sammie jeopardizes their friendship and forces Sammie to re-examine the meaning of true friendship. I loved everything about this wonderful, wholesome story.

Violets Are Blue

Published: October 12, 2021

12-year-old Wren lives with her mom after her parents’ divorce. Her dad has moved to New York City and married his lover (with whom he was unfaithful to her mother), who is now expecting twins. Wren is also a special effects makeup aficionado. Caught up in a new school, navigating new friendships, and balancing her relationships with her parents — whose relationship with each other is strained — Wren notices her mom has begun behaving strangely. Violets Are Blue is an engaging middle-grade book with a relatable, creative protagonist dealing with parental substance abuse.

12 to 22 (POV: You Wake Up in the Future)

Published: August 16, 2022

On her 12th half birthday, her parents surprisingly gift her their approval to post on social networks. Thrilled, Harper starts posting TikTok videos like her idol, Blake Riley. Her first video goes viral and brings her closer to the popular crew in her school who only befriend her so she can teach them her edits. Their interest in her creates a rift between Harper and her best friend Ava. In the midst of the chaos, Harper tries a TikTok filter, which, combined with a wish to be 22, suddenly makes her 22! Unfortunately, her future is much different than she imagined. Is being 22 as great as she imagined? Or will she just want her old life back? And can she even get it back? Or is it too late? This is a charming, light,  feel-good story  about  time travel , social media, and treasuring friendships.

Across the Desert

12-year-old Jolene has a tough life. Her mom is misusing opioids and can barely care for her. She’s mocked at school for wearing too-small clothing and looking haggard. Jolene’s only bright spot is a tween pilot she watches via livestream at the library, “Addie Earhart.” Addie and Jolene gradually form a warm friendship and encourage each other through life’s hardships. But one day during the livestream, Addie crashes her plane. No one but Jolene is watching the stream, and Addie’s mom doesn’t know she even flies planes. It’s up to Jolene to save her, but she’s a kid with no money — and Addie’s is stuck miles away in the Arizona desert. This is a heart-pounding middle grade novel about self-worth, friendships, and the struggle of a parent with addiction.

A Perfect Mistake

Published: July 12, 2022

Max and his community are reeling from a night out gone wrong. Max and his friends Joey and Will went out with two older boys, but Will ended up unconscious and in a coma, and Joey won’t speak to Max anymore. Max also has ADHD and is over six feet tall at 11, which means he stands out in his class. Frustrated that he can’t figure out what happened to Will, Max teams up with an inquisitive classmate, but the truths he unravels aren’t pretty. Can Max get to the bottom of this mystery? A Perfect Mistake  is a pitch-perfect  middle grade mystery  about honesty, peer pressure, and standing up for what’s right. 

Published: July 5, 2022

Marianne Blume has convinced herself that she’s not smart. She’s gotten through school so far by charming teachers out of questioning her. But her eighth-grade teacher, Mr. Garcia, isn’t easily fooled. To pull up her grades for high school, Marianne tries to win his favor by joining the school’s trivia team (which he coaches). But as the term progresses, Marianne bonds with the trivia kids and learns that there’s more to being smart than book smart — but also, she’s more intelligent than she gives herself credit for. Bright  is a deeply insightful book about labels, persistence, and self-belief, featuring themes like sisterhood, female friendships, and family.

Wishing Upon the Same Stars

This debut middle-grade novel by Arab-American author Jacquetta Nammar Feldman follows young Palestinian-American Yasmeen Khoury, whose parents move from Detroit (which has a thriving Arab-American community) to San Antonio, Texas, where there are few to no other Arab-American families. But just before Yasmeen despairs, she discovers that their next-door neighbors are Arab-Americans too — only, they’re Israeli-American, not Palestinian-American. She befriends their daughter Ayelet, but her father is not pleased, especially with the current Palestinian-Israeli tensions. On top of adjusting to a new school and finding her place in the world, can Yasmeen help her dad see beyond the differences? This is a moving, poignant exploration of finding common ground despite differences and strife.

Coming Up Short

Published: June 21, 2022

Bea is winning at being a shortstop, finally making headway with her crush, and is excited to go to summer camp with her friends when her dad’s legal license is suspended in a town scandal. Suddenly, she develops a case of the yips and begs her parents to send her to another softball summer camp on Gray Island, where her mom grew up. Throughout the summer, Bea learns more about her parents’ previous marriages and other secrets.  Coming Up Short  is a sporty, summery, and serious coming of age story about a girl dealing with difficult emotions and circumstances. 

The Bridge Home

Published: February 5, 2019

This heartbreaking middle grade novel follows sisters Viji and Rukku, who flee an abusive home situation into the streets of Chennai, India, where life isn’t so much better. Faced with hunger and homelessness, the sisters befriend two other kids in the same situation and keep trying to find respite until a tragedy upends their lives. This is great for readers looking for more books about poverty and homelessness or stories set in India.

The Road to Wherever

Published: May 11, 2021

11-year-old June (Henry Junior) Ball’s mother sends him off on the road with his adult second cousins after his father disappears without a word. Cousins Thomas and Cornell are “Ford Men” traveling throughout the US to fix people’s old Ford trucks for free. The Ford owners only have to buy spare parts. As the road trip progresses, the men teach June about Ford trucks, fixing cars, and being kind. June also processes his father’s absence while expanding his heart by meeting just as many broken humans as Ford trucks. This is a heartfelt  road trip adventure story  about family,  community , and purpose. 

Golden Girl

Published: February 22, 2022

Afiyah has a problem with taking things (seemed like kleptomania) even when she tries really hard not to. Fortunately, she’s often remorseful and returns the stolen items. She’s shaken when her father is wrongfully arrested for embezzlement at the airport during a family trip. The situation puts a strain on her family and moves Afiyah to strongly examine her tendency to steal — especially after she gets caught in the act. Golden Girl  is a touching, realistic coming-of-age story about trying to break bad habits and dealing with a  family crisis . 

Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes

Published: May 17, 2022

Alex is looking forward to spending the summer (as she’s always done) with her best friend, Will. Will’s mother runs the concession stand at their community pool, and both kids have spent several summers playing games at the pool. This summer, though, a schoolmate named Rebekah has eyes for Will — and him for her! As Rebekah and Will begin a tentative crush-friendship, Alex feels threatened and ropes Will into a big summer project (building their treehouse), for which they’ll need several summer jobs to afford building supplies. Surprisingly to Alex, Rebekah also wants to be her friend too. Can Alex get over her jealousy and other issues in her life to figure out this summer friendship drama? This is a terrific  summery middle grade book  about  evolving friendships , growing up, and adjusting to changes.

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

Published: April 26, 2022

Tae Keller’s newest middle grade book,  Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone , opens with new girl Jennifer Chan declared missing at her middle school. As whispers begin, her next-door neighbor Mallory Moss worries that Jennifer may have been abducted by aliens (which Jennifer believed existed). Mallory reunites with two former friends begging them to help her find Jennifer following clues from her time with Jennifer and the diary Jennifer left behind. The story alternates between past and present as readers discover that Mallory’s search is also motivated by an ulterior motive: the need to prove that she and her popular friends didn’t run Jennifer Chan out of town with their bullying. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone  is a razor-sharp, realistic portrayal of kids mismanaging their insecurities and coping by  bullying others .

Falling Short

Published: March 15, 2022

In  Falling Short , we meet Marco and Isaac. They’ve been besties for as long as they can remember and now they share one pain in common: both their dads aren’t in their lives as they’d like. Isaac’s dad is attentive but currently struggling with alcoholism. Marco’s dad wishes Marco were more athletic, instead of nerdy. At the start of middle school, both boys decide to help each other reach their goals. For Isaac, it’s getting better at more than just basketball — getting better grades and being more responsible. And for Marco, it’s learning a sport: basketball. Can they reach their goals? And will their friendship survive it? I loved this look at a warm friendship bond between boys. 

Everywhere Blue

Published: June 1, 2021

When Madrigal’s (Maddie) older brother, Strum, goes missing from his college campus, her musical family loses its harmony. Her French mother is distraught — broken for the first time as Maddie has never seen her. Her piano-playing father doesn’t even touch his instrument, and her fiery sister retreats into a rebellious funk, drinking and partying, even though she’s only 16. Maddie tries to keep everything together: focus on her oboe lessons and compulsive counting that calms her mind. But when her parents leave to look for Strum and Maddie is left with Aria, things seem hopeless. Maddie continues trying to manage school work, friendships, practicing her instrument, and maybe joining a new eco club at school. Eventually, though, with all leads looking dead-ended, Maddie just might have what it takes to find Strum. But can she find her way to him? Everywhere Blue  is a poignant, moving  middle grade verse novel about family ,  mental health , music, and  caring for the environment .

The Kate in Between

When a bunch of popular kids seems to welcome Kate into their clique, she is torn about ditching her longtime best friend, Haddie. Things get complicated, however, when Kate is a passive participant in a bullying incident that leads to Haddie sinking on thin ice. Then, Kate is captured on camera saving Haddie, and the video goes viral. While news outlets hail “Kate the Great” as a shining example for tweens who should not be bullying other kids, Kate continues to oscillate between craving acceptance from the popular kids and trying to keep her friendship with Haddie, all the while maintaining her public image by appearing in newspapers and on popular YouTube channels. But how long can she keep up the charade? And, is Kate great? Or is she a bad person? The Kate in Between  is a timely, complex, and engaging middle grade book about identity, popularity,  bullying culture , and going viral.

Those Kids from Fawn Creek

Published: March 8, 2022

This book follows 12 seventh-graders in Fawn Creek’s middle school. These kids have grown up together in their small factory town and know each other in and out. They’ve formed semi-permanent cliques and it’s tough for them to break out from the general expectations of their peers. The story is told by multiple narrators, including the new girl Orchid Mason (who says she’s from New York and has grown up in cities around the world), shy girl Dorothy, and her best friend (and the only person she talks to) Greyson. Cousins Janie and Abby have recently become a duo since their “Queen Bee,” Rennie Dean, moved away to a nearby town but still tries to keep tabs on them and control their actions. When Rennie and her crew find out about Orchid’s seemingly exotic background, they’re at once jealous and convinced that she’s lying. But is she? Those Kids from Fawn Creek  is a gorgeously written, character-driven, slice-of-life middle grade  book about bullying  and the power of kindness.

Published: March 9, 2021

Starfish  features Ellie, a fat girl who has been bullied for her weight since she wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash in the pool. Even her older brother and sister make fun of her weight. Her mom controls her diet, monitoring her portions and choosing lackluster “healthy” alternatives. Ellie is feeling more disheartened because her friend Viv who is also plus-sized is moving away. Thankfully, after Viv moves, Ellie finds a friend in her new neighbor Catalina and her family. The family loves food and welcome Ellie with open arms, never judging her for her weight. At school, bullying intensifies when a chair breaks after Ellie sits on it. Her mom is also pushing for gastric bypass surgery for Ellie. Eventually, her father gets her mother to ease off by taking Ellie to a therapist who helps her accept her body and defend herself against bullies. Starfish  is a powerful, fat-positive middle grade  verse novel  about a girl who is learning that she deserves to take up space.

No Fixed Address

Published: September 11, 2018

12-year-old Felix Knuttson is a sweet kid whose brain soaks up trivia like a sponge. His mom Astrid (whom he calls by her name), is loving but unreliable and can’t seem to hold on to a job or a house. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, Astrid “borrows” a camper van from an ex and moves them in there “just for August” until she finds a job. But September comes, and there’s still no job or house, and Felix needs an address to enroll in school. Astrid figures out a way to do that, but Felix can’t tell anyone about their home situation. At the new school, he makes two new friends and finds out about a trivia contest that might change their housing situation. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. This is a compelling, realistic, and funny middle grade  book about homelessness, poverty , friendship, and mental health.

Violet and the Pie of Life

12-year-old Violet wishes that math could solve all her problems — and she does try to use her math. Unfortunately, her parents are fighting more and more. Her mom seems to nag constantly while her dad is the fun one who does things like buying them fried chicken for dinner. Eventually, after a heated argument one night, her father moves out and her mom won’t tell Violet where he’s gone. At school, her best friend Mackenzie seems to make fun of just about anyone, but especially the nice, pretty girl in their class, Ally. So when Violet gets cast as the Lion in the Wizard of Oz play and Mackenzie gets a small role, while Ally plays Dorothy, Mackenzie asks Violet to quit the play with her. Violet refuses. That and a budding friendship with Ally put a strain on her friendship with Mackenzie, adding to Violet’s overall stress. Violet and the Pie of Life  is a realistic portrayal of the impact of  parental separation  on a child.

A Song Called Home

Published: March 15, 2022

Lou and her sister Casey have to move from the city to the suburbs to live with their new stepfather, Steve, leaving behind their old schools and Lou’s best friend Beth Tsai. Forming this new family is hard on Lou and Casey for different reasons. Lou feels like she’s leaving their alcoholic father behind and Casey worries that Steve is being too nice and the “real Steve” will show up soon. On the day before their move (which is also Lou’s birthday) Lou finds a guitar right outside their old apartment addressed to her. Convinced it’s from her dad, she starts learning to play guitar to maintain that bond with him. As they all navigate the blending of their families, Lou learns about herself and what family truly means. A Song Called Home  is a realistic, heartrending depiction of the process of  blending a family  while dealing with the trauma of having an alcoholic parent.

Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla

Published: September 5, 2023

1960, Cuba. Cousins Victoria and Jackie love living in their island country with their large family. When when Fidel Castro’s communist government takes hold, things change swiftly, leading Victoria’s father to relocate his family to Miami, leaving Jackie and her family behind. As Victoria adapts to life in the US, Jackie and her family struggle in Cuba—until the family decides to send Jackie over to the States with Operation Peter Pan. But will Jackie ever see her family again? Both girls band together to bring the rest of their family to America. Farewell Cuba Mi Isla  is a moving, authentic book chronicling the impact of Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba.

Published: March 31, 2020

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh-grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness, and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it? Wink  by Rob Harrell is a brilliant, funny, and thoughtful middle grade book about navigating a cancer diagnosis in 7th grade.

Kyra, Just for Today

Published: March 5, 2024

In this companion to A Song Called Home , Kyra’s mother is an alcoholic in recovery. She could always count on having her best friend, Lu — until now. Lu has new friends and splits her time between both friend groups, eventually asking Kyra to join them sometimes. Kyra is also getting bullied for being bigger than most other 13-year-olds. Already, Kyra does so much at home: cooking, and even helping her mom out with her cleaning job. But then her mother starts acting weird, leading Kyra to believe that she’s relapsed. I loved how the author shows readers that recovery is not linear and I enjoyed watching Kyra feel safe in her own skin. Hand to fans of Sumner’s Maid for It and readers who love books featuring food and cooking.

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper

Published: April 11, 2023

7th grader Gemma Hopper’s mother has left their family. Gemma lives with her dad, older brother Teddy, and their twin younger brothers. While their dad works overtime to fend for the family materially, Gemma is saddled with caring for the home and her twin siblings while also serving as a ball machine/practice partner for her brother, who’s a baseball prodigy of sorts. One day, while practicing with Teddy, she strikes him out with two impressive pitches, capturing the attention of some scouts from a competitive baseball team. All of a sudden, Gemma now also has star potential. Can both siblings find a way to work together? This is an engaging graphic novel about family (absent mothers), baseball, and  sibling relationships . 

The Braid Girls

Published: June 13, 2023

In  The Braid Girls , Maggie’s summer is off to a rocky start when her parents announce that she has a half-sister—a daughter her father never knew about until now. Callie’s presence throws off soft-spoken Maggie’s dynamic with her outspoken best friend Daija, even more when Callie joins their hair-braiding business. This is a sweet, relatable middle grade  book about sisterhood , entrepreneurship, and finding your voice.

No Matter the Distance

  Published: February 21, 2023

This book centers on young Penny, a middle schooler with cystic fibrosis. Penny has to take digestive enzymes and do her breathing treatments to help her lungs get rid of mucus that affects her breathing. While her CF case is relatively mild-moderate, she still struggles with being chronically ill. One day a dolphin shows up in the lake near their house and Penny feels a strong connection with the animal. It turns out the dolphin (whom Penny names Rose) is also sick and needs to return to her pod to get better. Penny may be the only one who can help the scientists take Rose back. But can she do that, when she feels so drawn to the animal? No Matter the Distance  is a beautiful  middle grade verse novel  about living with cystic fibrosis and finding belonging in community.

Morning Sun in Wuhan

Published: November 8, 2022

I’ve had  Morning Sun in Wuhan  on my radar for a long time because it’s set in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic (and mostly because of the cover). 13-year-old Mei loves cooking and playing a cooking video game with two of her friends. She lives with her physician dad and is still grieving the loss of her mother. Her life suddenly turns upside down when a new virus starts killing people in her hometown Wuhan. Her dad is stuck working at the hospital and leaves Mei at home when the city is locked down. Can Mei cope with the pandemic — and find a way to help others around her? Morning Sun in Wuhan  is a fascinating, insightful middle grade account depicting the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. 

Absolutely Positively Natty

  Published: May 9, 2023

Reeling from the impact of her mother’s depression on their family, Natty decides she’s going to be “Good Vibes Only.” She even starts a pep rally club in her cheerless new town. But her pursuit of positivity wears on her friendships and her–until the facade starts to crumble. An insightful exploration of toxic positivity and how kids can manage tough situations instead.

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

Published: July 11, 2023

Maudie is a sweet, autistic girl spending the summer with her dad. When her dad’s home is razed in a California wildfire, they move to the small beach town where her father grew up. Throughout the summer, as Maudie makes new friends, starts learning to surf, and enters a surfing contest, a secret tugs at her–one her mother has asked her to keep from her dad.  The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn  is a vivid, triumphant, and authentic coming-of-age story about discovering one’s inner strength.

A Work in Progress

Published: May 2, 2023

Will feels like the only chubby kid in his class and feels insecure about his weight. Add to that the bullying he faces and his observations of his mother’s attitude toward food, and he falls into a pattern of disordered eating and over-exercising. Thankfully, a budding friendship with a new classmate changes his view. This is a great book about body image issues, and it’s done in an illustrated verse format that I think kids will love.

The Wildly Unknown Myth of Apple and Dorothy

Published: September 19, 2023

Apple and Dorothy are half-gods, descendants of the Greek gods Zeus and Hera and Pandora, respectively. When Dorothy’s mother refuses to return to Olympus one solstice, she becomes a full human and is soon killed in a car accident, leaving Dorothy and her father grieving. Motivated by a promise she made to Dorothy’s mother, Apple befriends Dorothy. But when the gods rule that all half-gods must return home to Olympus and take their place as gods or remain human, Dorothy chooses Earth, to Apple’s dismay. Apple’s fear of losing Dorothy leads her to make a decision with terrible consequences. As a non-fantasy reader, I loved this book — how clever, creative, and profound it is, especially in the way it approaches friendship and grief. I think fans of  Greek mythology  will love it.

There they are: 50 of the best books for seventh graders! I hope you find something appealing for your kids. If you’d like more upper middle-grade book recommendations, here’s my list of upper middle grade books .

Which of these books for seventh graders have you read and enjoyed? And which other ones would you recommend?

More Book Lists

• Realistic fiction for 7th graders
• Mystery books for 7th graders
• Historical fiction for 7th graders

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• About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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Reader Interactions

What do you think leave a comment cancel reply.

November 16, 2020 at 2:53 pm

The only one I’ve read here is Amal Unbound. So good! 🙌

November 17, 2020 at 4:57 pm

Another handy list! I’ve read a few of these and a few are new to me. I should really check out The Prettiest. The Story That Cannot Be Told caught my eye. (BTW, you have the description for One Last Shot underneath Serena Says).

November 18, 2020 at 4:10 pm

Hi Jenna! Thank you so much for your kind comment. Yes, you’ll love THE PRETTIEST! And thanks for the heads up, I’ve fixed that mistake now 🙂

November 21, 2020 at 12:40 pm

There are so many amazing books on this list! And a few I haven’t read yet!

June 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm

Bookmarking this post! Love it!

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Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

33 Free Book Report Forms and Templates for Kids

Published: April 11, 2019

Contributor: Annette Breedlove

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

I loved writing book reports growing up. My kids, however, do not share the same sentiment. They love to read books and retell the stories to me, but they have a disconnect when it comes to putting it down on paper. That’s why I love using a free book report template to give them a little extra help. 

Fun Book Report Ideas

There are many different ways children can share about a book they read other than writing about it. Check out all of these fun ideas:

• Act it out. Young students and even older students may enjoy acting out a story that they read in lieu of writing about it. 
• Make a 3D diorama . This is a great way for students who like to work with their hands and create visuals.
• Draw it out on a poster . For young kids who don’t have strong writing skills yet, drawing out what they read is a great option.
• Make a comic book with a free comic book template we have included below. 
• Oral narration . Narrating back a brief summary of the book  they read is another alternative to writing a book report. You can see if your children comprehended what they read or at least got the main points of the story by asking them basic questions about the book.

Types of Book Reports

If you prefer using book reports, they come in a variety of types and styles. You can write plain-Jane ones or get a little more creative, like the comic strip option below for a different way to format a book report. Whichever you choose, having the option to use a book report template can be helpful for kids. 

While I enjoy book reports and see their value, I much prefer my kids enjoy reading a lot of books and sharing, over the finer points of proper form. So if we can use a simple book report template to keep them excited about reading and not dread the reports, I call that a win-win.

Mix it up with the different types of book reports that you assign to your children. Keep it fun and engaging and they will want to read more books and tell everyone about what they have read. 

Using Book Report Templates

As with anything we print out for school, I like to find cute printables with book report designs and age-appropriate graphics. This is especially for my middle school-aged daughter, who thinks some of the free worksheets I find are too childish.

Using a book report template for 3rd grade might look a little different than what I’d want to use for 7th grade. A pdf book report template for high school students definitely needs to be less kid-friendly and more informative.

There are simple book report templates for beginning writers and more advanced ones. The options are endless when it comes to choosing a book report template for your homeschool children.

Printable Book Report Forms

Whether you are looking for a short book report template or one for high school, book report templates will help students get their thoughts on paper. They will learn to organize their thoughts so that their finished book report project is a success!

Book report templates can encourage all the readers in your homeschool to crank out an organized, thorough book report that they are proud of! Once you select a free template, you can get started. Let your children choose one of their favorite books for their first report as it will help to keep them engaged.

How to Use a Book Report Template

When you are looking for the perfect book report template, keep in mind the age of your child. Some one-page forms are perfect for young children and beginning readers with boxes to draw, lines to write down main characters, setting, the plot, etc.

When you have a high school student needing to write a paper or a book report, you obviously need something more in-depth. A book report template can help them get their ideas on paper well enough to organize thoughts and personal opinions for an essay, or even a research paper. 

The key point of using worksheets for book reports is to have an easy way to get thoughts on paper. A book report template can help your student stay organized so they are able to draft a well-written paper. These types of graphic organizers make book reports a breeze!

What’s included in a book report?

• A good book report will consist of the book title, author’s name, main idea, main theme, plot points and important details.
• It will explain the narrative and setting, and cover the main elements of the story as well as describe important characters of the book.
• You’ll also want to include details on the time period, major conflicts and the book details, or rather a plot summary of the book.
• Don’t forget to include unusual facts and key elements that stand out. 

Character Description

Besides adding basic details about the key characters in the book, it’s a good idea to include character details. You will want to include details such as; appearance, interests, and list out some adjectives that describe characters on the book report form . 

Analyze what your character looks like so the reader of the book report gets a vivid description of the character. What color is their hair and skin? What is their clothing style like? Do they have a best friend or an animal that is constantly with them?

Is the character an animal? If so, what type of animal are they and what do they look like?

Character Development

Characters develop on in the story as you read about them. Make sure to make note of positive and negative character traits and how those change throughout the plot. Is there a hidden message or reason why the character is behaving the way that they are?

Make notes of how your character has changed and why you think they changed and the reasons for the actions that they took. You can take it a step further and explain how their actions either harmed or helped the story to move along.

Printable Book Report Templates and Forms

If you want a book report template quickly, simply scroll to the bottom of this post to download ours FREE.

DIY Book Report Kit {works with ANY book} This printable book report template is more like a graphic organizer , in my opinion. You can print several different template pages to organize different aspects of the book so you can create a great book report. 

Free Book Report Template for Elementary Students Get your 1st -4th graders writing book reports with ease with these pdf book report pages.

Book Review Templates This cute pack of 5 different book report template pages would be perfect for early learners who know how to write . 

Printable Book Report Form I like this simple book report template that’s perfect for a new reader. The free printable book report template is organized and will prompt your kids to be creative. 

Elementary Book Reports Made Easy An easy one-page pdf download of a book report worksheet that would be good for elementary students.

Printable Book Report Forms (Non-Fiction, Fiction, Biography, Mystery & Fable) You have lots of different options for book report templates. Whether or not you need a book report form for a biography, non-fiction resource , or even a fable, there are several  different pdf templates to choose from. There are also multiple book report poster forms for those kids who prefer to draw.

7 Different Versions of Book Report – If you are looking for different versions for different age levels or grades then these reports are worth reviewing.

Easy Book Report – This features an easy form for younger students as well as outline form for older students.

Book Report Templates for Younger Students

There are different styles of book report templates that you will want to focus on for younger students. A book report template that you use with your middle school aged child will be too difficult for beginning writers.

You will want to look for a book report format with dashed lines, boxes to draw a picture in, and more. 

My Book Report Worksheets These book report worksheets are suitable for children in kindergarten or first grade. 

Comic Strip Book Reports If you have a reluctant writer , or a comic book lover, these free printable comic strip book report templates will likely make a book report less dreaded!

Reading Logs and Bookmarks

Reading Log and Book Report Templates If you are on the hunt for cute reading log printables, these are perfect for elementary students. There are a few different templates that offer options to rate the book and write a review. Using a creative book report template like this might take the sting out of writing book reports for reluctant writers. 

Free Reading Log and Book Report Forms   My Joy-Filled Life has a 2-page book report template and a printable reading log that you can slip into your homeschool binder . 

Free Reading Logs, Bookmarks and Charts – Encourage your readers with fun and colorful bookmarks and charts that they can use to track their reading time as well as the books they have read. Free Instant Download included!

Book Report Template

Book reports don’t have to be boring or something that your children dread. They may be overwhelmed because it is a new thing that they have never done before and may need just a little guidance to get started.

Our FREE DIY Book Report template pack includes four pages of graphic organizers, question prompts, illustration boxes, and more. It is a great start to guiding your children on how to write a book report in a non-threatening way. 

You can download it for free in our subscriber library . 

In Conclusion

The body of the book report should include the title, the author of the book, characters, setting, major conflicts, direct quotes, and plot. The conclusion can include a personal opinion. Book reports are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills and teach students how to gather information to format into a writing assignment.

Annette Breedlove

Annette has been married to her husband and best friend since 2003. Together they are raising their six children to follow the Lord’s will, no matter what. Annette longs for the day when she will meet her angel babies who have entered heaven before her. She enjoys creating UNIT STUDIES and FREE PRINTABLES for homeschool families. You can follow her crazy life at In All You Do where she blogs about homeschooling, homemaking and marriage while trying to maintain her sanity. She is also the owner of Thrifty Homeschoolers where she shares her tips on homeschooling without breaking the bank.

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30 Most Inspirational Books to Read in Your Search for More Meaning

These reads will make you laugh, cry and find a new perspective on life.

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These inspirational books offer a refreshing new way of looking at life to help you feel unstuck. They cross genres including fiction, self-help, poetry and memoir, and they will make you laugh, cry and feel ready to face new challenges. Some of these books have feel-good lessons. Others grapple with terrible tragedies, but remember, it's from overcoming adversity that we build resilience and hope. Whether upbeat or serious, every book on this list has something to teach you about life.

Self-help books like Atomic Habits will help you embrace the power of change and build better habits for life, while spiritual books like Siddhartha offer meditations on happiness and meaning. Some of the best memoirs like Glennon Doyle's Untamed show the importance of embracing yourself, while the best fiction like Life of Pi teaches us the power of storytelling and survival.

No matter the genre, these inspirational reads will help give you new ideas, a change in perspective and a new appreciation for the beauty of life, even with its hardships. What more could you want from a book?

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

This blunt book tells it like it is, encouraging you to care less about most things so you can focus more on what is actually important to you. It will inspire you to stop sweating the small stuff, stop feeling sorry about your problems and start building resilience and satisfaction in your life.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

When a ship sinks in the middle of the ocean, there is only one survivor: Pi, a 16-year-old boy who shelters on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena and a Bengal tiger. This incredible story of love and survival shows off the awe-inspiring forces of nature and the power of stories to help make sense of hardship.

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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

In this fable about following your dreams, an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago goes on a quest to discover a hidden treasure in the pyramids. But along the way, he finds a different treasure altogether as he learns more about life, wisdom and the importance of listening to your heart.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

Everybody knows the story of Malala, the brave Pakistani girl who stood up against the Taliban for her right to an education and was shot in the head at point blank range on her school bus. Now the youngest Nobel Laureate ever, winning the recognition at only 17, she is an education activist and a champion for girls everywhere.

RELATED: 120 Women Who Changed Our World

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This self-help book offers a straightforward framework for starting new habits and ending bad ones to change your life. Drawing on biology, psychology and neuroscience, this book will help catapult your progress forward to accomplish your goals.

RELATED: Best Self-Help Books to Buy

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Part memoir, part self-help book, Glennon Doyle's Untamed is a manifesto for women to live their best and boldest life . She encourages you to leave people pleasing at the door, listen to your inner voice and practice the bravery to chase what you want, living a life untamed.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo is a name that has become synonymous with decluttering — and for good reason. Her trademark strategies of only keeping items that spark joy and thanking items for their service when you are done with them will inspire you to have a cleaner home and simpler life.

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A classic beloved by children and adults alike, The Little Prince is a French fable about a young prince's travels through space. Exploring themes of love, loss, loneliness and friendship, this book has been touching hearts for generations.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

This former-First Lady's memoir describes her childhood with her working class family on the South Side of Chicago all the way through her years in the White House. Throughout, she handles challenges with poise, becoming a role model for achieving your dreams and maintaining grace under pressure.

The Essential Rumi translated by Coleman Barks

Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet and Islamic Sufi mystic. Touching on love, faith, nature and freedom, his work is full of beautiful images and inspirational lines you are sure to take with you long after you close this volume of poetry.

A Man Called Ove: A Novel by Fredrik Backman

A curmudgeonly old man terrorizes the neighborhood until a chatty young couple and their daughters move in next door and truly get to know him. This funny and heartwarming tale highlights the impact one life can have on countless people.

Siddhartha: A Novel by Herman Hesse

Siddartha is the philosophical story of a young man's search for wisdom during the time of the Buddha. He leaves his family to find his own path, trying meditation, asceticism, worldly indulgences, love and more to find the path to true enlightenment and happiness.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Unhappy in her marriage and her life, Elizabeth Gilbert divorces her husband and travels the world to find herself in this memoir. With humor and compassion, she searches for pleasure in Italy, spirituality in India and love in Bali, ultimately finding what she needs to start her life again.

Devotions: Selected Poems by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is a contemporary American poet inspired by the natural world and its links to the sacred. Her beautiful imagery and simple language offer moving meditations on love and nature, painting the world around us in a clearer light. This volume contains her favorite works from across her career.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

This harrowing memoir of Frankl's time in a Nazi concentration camp is an intense but powerful read. Although it's a difficult subject, Frankl writes both psychologically and philosophically about finding meaning even in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau

In 1845, Henry David Thoreau moved to live in a small shack he helped build on the shores of Lake Walden in Massachusetts. He lived there for two years in isolation, seeking to better understand the world, society and nature. Meditative and insightful, these are his observations.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Following the sudden loss of her husband while their daughter was in a coma, Joan Didion wrote this book about her grief. Raw and heart wrenching, it's a moving meditation on love, illness and family.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz Don Miguel Ruiz

In this classic book of wisdom, Don Miguel Ruiz shares four key insights from his Mexican Toltec ancestors to stop self-limiting behaviors and improve your life.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

How do you gracefully face your own death? And what makes life worth living? These are the questions neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi must ask when he is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer while he has a young son. This is a wrenching but profound look at life and death.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

The Japanese concept of ikigai means purpose: It's what happens when what you love, what you’re good at, what you can make money doing, and what the world needs overlap. This volume delves into how to find it, and how it's brought long life and happiness to the Japanese village that has the highest percentage of 100-year-olds.

Sarah Vincent (she/her) covers the latest and greatest in books and all things pets for Good Housekeeping . She double majored in Creative Writing and Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago, where she sat in the front row for every basketball game. In her spare time, she loves cooking, crafting, studying Japanese, and, of course, reading.

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} All the Best Books to Read Next

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19 Books to Read if Reading Is Basically Your Entire Personality

The Everygirl product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

Calling all of my fellow reading girlies! Are your weekends best spent nestled up with a good book ? Do you find yourself giddy when that new release you had on hold finally becomes available through  Libby? Are you chronically updating your progress on Goodreads ? If so, embrace your book-loving nature loud and proud! As an avid reader, one of my favorite genres has always been stories about other readers. My comfort books often involve bookish jobs, where the heroine herself is a reader who usually winds up in a big city after landing her dream gig and, therefore, must deal with terrible bosses, treacherous work-life balance, and romantic rivals before finding themselves.

Books about books come in all forms, from corny romances to powerful non-fiction works, and are written with book lovers in mind. If you’re an avid reader, this list of 19 books about books spans from stories about saving libraries to tales of writing the next bestseller and more.

Introverted librarian June Jones prefers fictional worlds to reality. While her usual weeknights are spent cozied up in her apartment reading a book, she decides to leave her comfort zone when it’s announced that the library is on the brink of closure. As she fights for funding, June becomes part of the community, makes life-long friendships, and opens herself up to the prospect of love.

If enemies-to-lovers is your trope of choice, pluck this Emily Henry book off the shelf. You won’t regret it. Book Lovers follows Nora Stephens, a workaholic literary agent whose arch nemesis, editor Charlie Lastra, happens to be in the same small town she’s visiting. What are the odds? This story is full of big-city careers and small-town charm—the hallmarks of a bookish book.

What if you could see every variation of how your life might turn out? In Matt Haig’s acclaimed novel, readers who visit a mystical library can select books that showcase different versions of their lifetime, based on specific choices. It’s a moving tale about introspection, humanity, and finding happiness.

Remember that theme I mentioned of bookish books often being about bookish jobs? Enter Must Love Books— a fun read centered around a young woman named Nora who lands her dream gig as an editorial assistant for a major book publishing company. When her days are spent ordering lunches for the team rather than perusing books, Nora takes her career into her own hands and works with author Andrew Santos to try and create the next bestseller.

In this Beauty & the Beast retelling, Izzy is a struggling editorial assistant who loves books and wants more for her career. In an attempt to get a promotion, she decides to try and reason with notoriously-difficult author Beau Towers, who can’t seem to finish his next novel. The two form an unexpected connection as Izzy begins to peel back the layers of Beau and his writings.

This whimsical story follows Marie-Jeanne, a woman with the strange ability to sense romantic matches. She ventures to charming little towns with a traveling library, uniting lovers and searching for her own soulmate. Nina George’s The Little Village of Book Lovers is a poetic journey for readers who seek an imaginative story about love and a love for books.

January is a romance writer who feels like she’s lost her groove after heartbreak. Augustus is a novelist who can’t seem to write happy endings. The two rivals become unexpected neighbors and strike up a deal to pen a new book in the other’s genre. Enjoyable beachside or under blankets on your couch, this Emily Henry novel is a worthwhile enemies-to-lovers story where books are front and center.

Romance author Kara feels burnt out between writing her next book and helping plan her best friend’s wedding. Just when things couldn’t get more stressful, her old flame, Ryan, turns up as part of the wedding party… Cue an adorable rom-com that will have you hooked from the start.

Tia Williams’ Seven Days In June chronicles the tale of two authors and former lovers who reconnect after twenty years. Their lives have changed and evolved since their passionate fling as teenagers, but both have been writing underlying messages to the other in their books over the years, respectively.

When the local library closes much to Dodie Fairisle’s dismay, she takes it upon herself to open a new little library in her sunroom. As her neighbors begin to visit and exchange books, Dodie finds new friendships in a heartwarming story about choosing one’s family.

The Paris Library follows Odile, a young woman in Nazi Germany who has lost her library and whose life has been turned upside down, and Lily, a teenager living in Montana in the 80s. Both stories explore a love for books and, as readers will find out, bear a unique connection.

Emilia Nightingale has inherited her father’s bookshop only to realize this transition is much more difficult than she imagined. As she embarks on a journey to keep the doors of Nightingale Books open, Emilia forms connections with the patrons who have found solace in the store for various reasons over the years.

Set after World War II, writer Juliet Ashton becomes enthralled with letters from a man who is part of a group deemed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Emboldened to write a book about the eclectic group and its members, Juliet is determined to visit Guernsey firsthand. Written in the form of letter correspondence, this novel is the perfect choice for book-loving readers who seek a tale of warmth and sentimentality.

This award-winning novel takes place in 1939 Germany, where Liesel Meminger discovers the power of books amidst the terror of the world around her. As Liesel becomes immersed in the world of reading, she shares these stories with her community in this powerful and moving piece of historical fiction.

Librarian Valentina Baker is freshly divorced and uncertain about what the future holds. When she receives the deed to her estranged mother’s bookshop, she also inherits family secrets, the opportunity to learn about her mother, and a fresh start.

A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities. A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes. The world has never even noticed them. That’s about to change. Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Her tattered copy of Angharad —Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny. But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job, Emily jumps at the opportunity. Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. When Siobhan’s health takes a bad turn, she’s more determined than ever to finish her novel, while Kieran tries every trick in the book to get his mother to rest. Torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her own growing feelings for the mercurial Irishman, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

Violet Powell is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed. When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland, their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.

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25+ Books With Intriguing Titles That are Actually Worth Reading

Danika Ellis

Danika spends most of her time talking about queer women books at the Lesbrary. Blog: The Lesbrary Twitter: @DanikaEllis

View All posts by Danika Ellis

So, this recommendation list will look a little bit different than usual. I’ll give you some strategies first, and then we’ll get into just a big ol’ list of intriguing book titles. Some of these are my favorite books with great titles, and the rest are ones I crowdsourced from Book Riot contributors and staff, but all of them are more than just their titles; they’re books we’ve read and loved.

Before we get into the recommendations, though, why is this a Read Harder task? Well, if you’re as into books as I am — and if you’re reading this, you probably are — sometimes you can get a little overly regimented in your reading. I have endless lists of books to read, plus packed bookshelves of unread books, and a stack of library books nearing their return date. There are due dates for borrowed books, books to read before my next podcast episode recording, and ones to finish before book club.

Sometimes, I miss the spontaneity of how I read as a kid, picking up books not based on research or recommendations but just because a cover caught my eye. I’d read books in all genres and age categories, because I hadn’t developed my taste in books yet. I read some real duds, but I also discovered some hidden gems that no one else was talking about.

This task encourages you to cultivate that spontaneity in your reading again. Picking up a book based on its title is a gamble, for sure. You might not like the book at all. But that’s part of the fun! Between all of the carefully selected books on your TBR, it’s worth throwing in a random title without any context just for the joy of discovery.

Personally, I think the best way to tackle this task is to browse a library and skim the shelves for a title that catches your eye. You can also do this in a bookstore, but only if you have the budget to buy a book you might not like just based on the title. Make a day of it! Grab a fun drink and leisurely peruse the shelves, tables, and displays. The hardest part will be not flipping the book over to read the blurb.

Nonfiction can be a great choice for this prompt, because often the title and subtitle tell you exactly what you’re getting into, but you can also take a chance on a more abstract fiction title. Another option is heading over to the manga section, where they often have very descriptive titles, and you can knock out task #22, Read a manga or manhwa, at the same time!

Now, what title appeals to you is completely subjective. You may go looking for a factual title on a topic you’re interested in. You may pick up a poetry book or novel because the title is evocative. You could also go the tried-and-true method of grabbing a book with a weird or surprising title. It’s up to you! This list has a bit of everything, arranged in nothing but alphabetical order.

Here are a few books that were mentioned by more than one Book Rioter. You may have already heard more about them than just the title, but if not, here are the top picks. Some of them I’ve read and loved, but I’ll keep my recommendation to the title itself:

• Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner: Is there any more sympathetic situation than crying in public? This title sets the tone for a sad story with a thread of humor.
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: For anyone who likes stories about secrets and confessions, this title will definitely catch your eye.
• How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler: Personally, I see “sea creatures” on a cover and I immediately want to read it.
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy: This title is sure to stop you in your tracks in the bookstores.
• In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado: Having a more abstract title for a memoir is immediately intriguing.
• My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Anyone who likes dark stories and complicated fictional families is sure to pick this one up based on the title.
• When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill: There’s something about the past tense of this title that has me wanting to know more.

Now, here’s the rest of the list of 80 books with intriguing titles that Book Rioters recommend.

• A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
• A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
• Alice Isn’t Dead by Joseph Fink
• Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
• Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
• Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
• Buffalo Is the New Buffalo by Chelsea Vowel
• Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s by Tiffany Midge
• Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee
• Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
• Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
• Creep: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba
• Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? by Jay Ellis
• Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones

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What’s your favorite book with an intriguing title? Let’s chat in the comments!

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6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

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Our recommendations this week tilt toward works of fiction, with a new story collection from the incomparable Joy Williams (it’s about Azrael, the angel who escorts dead souls to their final destinations) and novels by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Akwaeke Emezi and Julia Phillips. In nonfiction, we recommend a wide-angle history of Black resistance and a cultural history of the Federal Theater Project, a Depression-era government arts program that fell prey to the politics of the day. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

LONG ISLAND COMPROMISE Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Based on a true story, this novel by the author of “Fleishman Is in Trouble” follows a dysfunctional suburban family decades after the father, a prominent businessman, is kidnapped from his driveway. Now his children are in their 30s and 40s, and laying out the ways they are screwed up by latent trauma, their father’s repression and the wealth that insulates them.

“When Brodesser-Akner dives, she does so without making a splash, seamlessly entering … her characters’ pathological inability to know themselves.”

From Sloane Crosley’s review

Random House | $30

WE REFUSE: A Forceful History of Black Resistance Kellie Carter Jackson

In her compelling and often counterintuitive new book, Carter Jackson, a professor of Africana studies, argues that the usual chronicles of Black resistance are both narrow and watered down. She traces the global influence of the Haitian Revolution, reveals the diverse attitudes of American civil rights activists and warns against the dangers of misremembering the past.

“A broader and more nuanced picture of resistance. … Effective in unearthing the stories of little-known, everyday rebellions, especially from the lives of Black women. These histories have been at best under-told, if not lost altogether.”

From Linda Villarosa’s review

Seal Press | $30

THE PLAYBOOK: A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War James Shapiro

Shapiro, a leading Shakespeare scholar, offers this timely history of the Federal Theater Project, a short-lived but ambitious Depression-era program that gave work to writers and actors, until opponents tarred its efforts as un-American.

“Piquant and resonant … about how messy and compromised the situation can get for artists when Congress is signing the checks, how cynical the politics can be.”

From Laura Collins-Hughes’s review

Penguin Press | $30

LITTLE ROT Akwaeke Emezi

Emezi’s latest is about a casual evening gone spectacularly awry, following two exes who, in an effort to recover after their breakup, spend a Friday night with friends, only to be sucked into Nigeria’s dark, terrible underworld.

“What gives ‘Little Rot’ its vitality are its overlapping love stories, its characters’ longing, their acts of devotion and tenderness in defiance of a world in which a soft heart is a liability.”

From Chelsea Leu’s review

Riverhead Books | $29

CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF SOULS: 99 Stories of Azrael Joy Williams

In her latest story collection, Williams (the daughter of a Congregational minister) distills much learning — on philosophy, history and religion — into 99 brief tales about Azrael, the angel of death, and his complicated relationship with the Devil. Both characters seem a bit weary, but the author’s wit and brilliance remain undiminished.

“Running almost silently below the loneliness and the silky comedy in these stories is the sense, down on earth, of acidifying oceans, species loss and space junk crashing Muskily down from the cosmos. ... The portents have grown dire.”

From Dwight Garner’s review

Tin House | $22.95

BEAR Julia Phillips

Two sisters barely getting by on a Puget Sound island respond very differently to the appearance of a mysterious grizzly in this slow-burning novel, loosely based on a Grimms’ fairy tale.

“Moody and affecting. … ‘Bear’ ends with a bang, and with the intriguing notion that sisterhood (or sisters?) may be as unknowable and unpredictable as anything else in nature.”

From Jess Walter’s review

Hogarth | $28