jr high book report template

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pin this image to read the article later. 📌

Why book reports matter in middle school and beyond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ultimate Book Report Template for junior high

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are the 5 secret ingredients of comprehensive book reports?

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

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

1. Use advanced vocabulary

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

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

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

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

2. Master literary analysis

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Start with the rubrics

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

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

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

4. Critical thinking

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

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

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

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

5. Active reading

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

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

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

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

Planning the perfect book report

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

Pre-reading

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

While reading

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

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

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

Post-reading

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

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

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

Here are the main paragraphs:

1. Strong introduction

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

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

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

2. Body paragraphs

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

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

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

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

4. Evaluative paragraphs

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

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

5. Reflective conclusion

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

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

6. Presentation (optional)

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

Our 7th grade book report choices

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

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

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw:

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

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray:

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

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood:

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

The Samurai’s Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard:

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

How we approach book reports in 7th grade

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrapping up

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

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

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

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

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

This post may contain affiliate links. By making a purchase through these links, I get a small percentage for the item you bought while the price stays the same for you. Thank you for supporting me . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Read my Disclosure to find out more about how I support my website and how you can help.

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

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

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

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

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

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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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Book reports may be a staple of elementary and middle school education, but they are far less frequently assigned in the higher grades. High school ELA teacher Nancy Barile thinks that should change. Students in 6th grade and above can learn a lot when they are challenged to use higher order thinking skills to understand and interpret the literature they read via a good old-fashioned high school book report template. 

To start, Barile recommends that students choose the books they want to write about themselves—with teacher approval, of course. See the book list at the end of this article for engaging young adult titles and book report ideas, including books with thematic elements that are particularly appealing to older readers. 

Writing the Report

To structure the book reports, Barile recommends eight sections of analysis that will “require students to provide evidence of their choices and reasoning, which helps them think more deeply about what they have read.” For each section, students should give examples from the book to back up their analysis. The below book report template can help. 

If your students need to review the elements of fiction before beginning this assignment, Teaching Powerful Writing is a great resource. This collection of personal narratives and writing activities highlights different writing techniques and covers literary elements such as voice, using flashback, and point of view.

Book Report Breakdown

Students should identify the setting of the novel and explain why the setting is important.

• How are the time and place significant to the events of the story?
• How does the setting contribute to the overall meaning of the novel? 

2. CHARACTERIZATION

Beginning with the protagonist and then moving on to the supporting characters, students should discuss the characterizations in their novel. 

• Is the character well-developed, or are they a stock or stereotypical character? 
• Is the character static (unchanging throughout the story) or dynamic (changes by the end of the novel)? 
• What personality traits does the character possess, and how does this affect the outcome of the novel? 
• Do the character's inner thoughts and feelings reflect their outward actions? Explain. 

3. POINT OF VIEW

Students should identify the novel’s point of view and why it is significant.

• What advantages does telling the story in (first person/second person/third person) have? Why?
• Why do you think the author chose this point of view? 

4. CONFLICT

What is the primary conflict in the novel? Is it human vs. human, human vs. nature, human vs. society, or human vs. themselves? Your students should delve into conflict much more deeply than they may have in the past. If their story has more than one major conflict, they should detail the additional conflicts as well.

• Explain the conflict and how the protagonist deals with it. 
• Does the protagonist overcome the conflict? Or do they succumb to it?

Students should identify the theme of the novel and the specific meaning of the book they chose. They should avoid stock themes such as “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and think more critically on their author’s message.

• What was the author’s purpose in writing the book?

What are the symbols in the novel and how are they significant?

• How do the symbols help develop the story and contribute to the overall meaning of the book?

7. FORESHADOWING

Students should identify the foreshadowing in their novel and give examples from the text.

• Did you know what was going to come? Why? 
• Were there any hints as to what might occur? 
• Why do you think the author chose to use or not use foreshadowing? 

Finally, students should evaluate the ending of the book.

• Was the ending justified? (Was the ending viable and believable?) 
• Was it a satisfactory ending that fit the rest of the novel? 
• Was there a catharsis of some kind? Explain.

If your students follow this structure in their book report, it will help them explore each of the elements of fiction in a very specific way. As Barile discovered in her decades of teaching: “Students who explain, interpret, and synthesize what they have read gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of literature.”

Shop great classroom titles for book reports below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store .

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Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

Assigning a book report as part of your reading or writing curriculum? Print and share this quick reference for how to write a book report - including all of the necessary elements, plus examples and outlines.

Looking for fiction and nonfiction titles to assign for book study, reader's theater, or literature circles? Visit our Literature Teaching Guides Hub to find thousands of book guides for all grades.

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Free Book Report Ideas for Junior High and High School by MrsNick

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Printable Book Report Forms

I love that my kids start reading again so much once school starts ( read: I’m not so great about convincing them to read over the summer )! And they are finally at the age when they all have to do real book reports. I’m not a great homework helper, but I try to make up for it with printable worksheets that really will help them do a better job in school.

These book report forms are suitable for both beginning readers and older children. The first is simply a form they can fill out that becomes their book report. The second set is an outline primer plus a page for them to handwrite their report (if you don’t already make them use a word processor!).

Related Pages: Printable Bookmarks , Printable Reading Logs , Blank Venn Diagrams

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Founder and CEO of Woo! Jr. Kids Activities, Wendy loves creating crafts, activities and printables that help teachers educate and give parents creative ways to spend time with their children.

Hi, I like your book report forms. Kids need to do book reports as we did when we went to school . There is nothing like holding a book in your hand!!!

Great resources for any time of the year.

on your site I was able to fine just what I have been lookin for in 2 days thanks a million.

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Free Book Report Templates: Printables for Grades 3-5 for Fiction or Nonfiction Books

Take a new spin on your book report assignment. 📚😍

The Nocturnals are fun-filled animal adventure books with companion nonfiction for elementary school classrooms. Check out The Nocturnals World , a resource hub with free turnkey printable activities and educator guides, and browse The Nocturnals bookstore!

Building lifelong readers is one of the most important things we can do in our classrooms. The benefits of reading are wide-ranging, from improving vocabulary skills to boosting cognitive development, concentration skills, and curiosity for learning. So, how do we get young learners excited about reading and sharing what they’ve learned? Check out our free book report template printables .

Four different activities are ready to print to help you take a new spin on your next book report assignment for fiction or nonfiction books. Students will love filling in their mini book report one-pagers or making their selections from the choice board to share details about what they read.

Worksheets Included:

My mini book report—fiction and nonfiction.

These book report one-pagers are a great way for students to reflect on their readings as they complete different sections of the worksheet. There’s a version for both fiction and nonfiction.

Book Report Choice Board

Give students choices on how they want to complete their book report assignment. This choice board offers eight fun options, from designing a comic to creating a playlist or writing interview questions, so students can let their creativity guide them.

Designing Water Bottle Stickers

Students are obsessed with stickers. In this unique activity, students will design water bottle stickers that the main character of the book would love to have, along with a short description of their choices.

Give students fun-filled books to choose from

Animal adventure books from The Nocturnals are the perfect way to get your upper elementary students excited about reading. Paired with nonfiction companion texts that explore nocturnal animal facts, this series is great for hi-lo readers. Visit The Nocturnals World for more free printable activities and educator guides.

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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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Mega List of Biographies for Kids

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High School Book Report: What Is It?

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How to Write a High School Book Report?

High school book report template.

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All high school students will be familiar with a High School Book Report . Although there may not be many smiles around when this is set as a homework task, there are certainly ways of making this not only less daunting but in fact, making it quite fun.

In order to write the best High School Book Report it is important to understand the purpose of such a report. The purpose is actually very simple; it details a condensed summary of the book with a focus on the main events and ideas that the author has conveyed. This will be particularly useful to any potential individuals interested in reading the book as this information should be enough for them to make a decision on whether or not this book would interest them.

A High School Book Report template can be downloaded by clicking the link below .

If you are considering writing a High School Book Report, before you start writing you need a brief plan in your head even before you begin reading the book itself. It may be worth trying to keep in mind the following ideas when reading any book that you need to report on:

• Take your time with reading, avoid rushing . This can be tempting, particularly if the book is big but you need to explore the finer details;
• Annotate anything interesting as you go along . A phrase, a sentence, a character, settings and events - anything that could provide you with ideas on what to write about;
• Highlight any quotations that can be used to back up your arguments.

Once you have done this and have decided on which areas you want to focus on, we would suggest using the structure below to form your report:

• Create a title page with the name of your book, your own name, and your class;
• Write a short introduction about the book . Note, this does not mean the description of the text - it refers to facts about the book, when it was written, along with any useful political or historical context;
• Analyze the characters and their relationships - do not forget to write their names . Talk about their personal traits and you can find some quotes to back up your point of view;
• Summarize the plot but only very briefly with a focus on the major incidents;
• The main bulk of the text will come next - the analysis . Here you need to analyze the main ideas, themes, and relate this to the significance of the book. What was the author trying to say when conveying this? Why did they choose to do this? Link all of your points to the main themes throughout;
• Finish by concluding . In this section, you can provide a short summary of the themes and plot of the book. You can also outline how the book ended and what mark this left on you as a reader which will tie up the end of your report quite nicely.

Haven't found the template you're looking for? Take a look at the related templates below:

• Homework Checklist ;
• Class Evaluation Form ;
• Student Feedback Form .

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High School Book Report: Template, Format, & Tips

• 📒 The Basics
• 🔰 Book Report Format
• 📑 Book Report Template
• ✍️ Writing Tips
• 📖 Book Report Examples

🔗 References

How can a teacher check if students have read the book? They ask to write a book report. The assignment is an extended summary of the book. However, high school book reports are usually more complicated. They require you to evaluate the piece of writing, reflect on it, or answer some questions.

📒 High School Book Report: The Key Features

• A high school book report is a standard high school assignment. Unfortunately, it is not a real-world writing task because you will never write anything similar outside your school.
• There are three types of writing, depending on the book genre: nonfiction, biography, and fiction book reports.
• It is a combination of facts and your feelings about them.
• It is NOT a research paper , as it deals with one book individually, not a specific genre or author’s legacy. Neither should you dig into the author’s personality or lifeline.
• It is NOT a book review, as it does not compare the writing with other books. Moreover, you are not supposed to recommend it expressly to other people.
• It is NOT a critical essay because its purpose is not to evaluate but to report the key features (although you may include some evaluation).

🔰 High School Book Report Format

If you write a high school book report on a work of fiction, choose one of the following summarizing strategies:

• In an action summary , list the most critical events in their sequence. This approach is the simplest. You can choose the events that you consider the most important.
• To write a story pyramid , use the central plotline elements as a plan: exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action. You will require some knowledge of these literary elements.

To accelerate the writing of this section, you can use our Summarizer Tool . It will condense any lengthy text into a summary in a couple of seconds.

Theme and Character Analysis

A theme of a fictional book is its central topic or message . To know if you understood the theme correctly, check if it fits into one or two words: love, freedom, betrayal, social stereotypes, etc. A book can have several themes, but one is usually central. Highlight it, also mentioning the secondary themes.

A character analysis focuses on the principal traits of the main characters. Get the clues from what they say and do to other protagonists.

Tone & Setting

The tone of a book is the author’s feelings about something. Is it sarcastic, depressive, or optimistic? Try not to mix it with the mood, which means the book’s atmosphere.

To differentiate, here is the rule.

The tone equals how the author feels about the events. The mood equals how the reader feels about the same.

Time and place setting are the easiest things to define if you were attentive while reading the book. When did the events happen (a year or historical period), and where did they occur? Note that sometimes the time and setting can be fictional, i.e., not existing in reality.

Author & Publication Date

Specify the author’s full name and the book’s first publication date here. You can add the first publisher’s name.

The best strategy in this section is to select the quotes supporting the central theme you specified above. They will explain and illustrate the author’s key message. If you need to add some indirect quotes to your text, you might want to use our paraphrase generator .

📑 High School Book Report Template

To illustrate the slightly tricky format described above, we have prepared a high school book report template in PDF format. Feel free to download it and use it as a reference.

✍️ Book Report Writing Tips

📖 high school book report examples.

Below you’ll find the links to a number of high school book report examples.

• “Comfort Women” by Nora Keller
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• “Black Like Me”: book by John Griffin
• “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker
• “Careless Lovers” by Edward Ravenscroft
• “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller
• “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright
• “The Making of a Quagmire” by David Halberstam
• “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens
• “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du
• Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”
• ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ by Jonathan Swift
• “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles
• “A Rose for Emily” Short Story by William Faulkner
• The Play “Hamlet” by Shakespeare
• “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath
• “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver

We hope that with the help of this article, your book report will take much less time. If you have already written the text and would like to listen to how it sounds, use our Text-to-Speech tool . It is always easier to “hear” your mistakes being read by another person.

❓ High School Book Report: FAQ

How to write a nonfiction book report.

• Skip secondary details and irrelevant information.
• Write all the book’s ideas in your own words.
• Do not repeat yourself.
• Structure your report according to the chronological order or the order of importance.
• What would the author like you to remember after reading the book? It is exactly what you should include in the book report.

How to Write a Book Report on a Biography?

• Are you supposed to focus on the protagonist’s character traits or their life story? Choose either option, depending on the assignment.
• Divide the life of the protagonist into periods.
• Characterize each period and mention the critical events.
• Explain how the biography explains the actual person’s worldview and accurately depicts the past.

How to Write a Book Report Without Reading the Book?

• You’ll have to read the book’s beginning and end to get the central message.
• Flip through the pages in search of some quotes evidencing the idea.
• Keep your tone general, but include some specific details.
• Use a summarizing tool.
• Request academic assistance.

What are the 5 Parts of a Book Report?

Any book report should comprise:

• theme and character analysis;
• tone, time, and setting;
• author’s full name and publication date;
• best quotes.

Some assignments will require you to make a deeper analysis of the text, but this is a compulsory minimum.

• Book reports | Purdue Online Writing Lab
• How to write a book review and a book report · Help & how-to
• How to Write a Book Report: Lesson for Kids – Study.com
• Book Reviews – UNC Writing Center
• Foolproof Guide to Writing a Book Review
• What is a Book Review? – Definition & Examples – Study.com

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