How to write a book review — book review template

This comprehensive and differentiated book review template provides structured prompts and scaffolded sentence starters, making it an invaluable resource for KS3 teachers to help students analyse and review both fiction and non-fiction texts effectively.

What’s included

• FREE book review template — guided book review questions and writing frame
• An editable version of the book review template for subscribers

How to use this book review template in the classroom

This differentiated book review template includes a comprehensive list of questions on plot, character and style for higher-attaining English students to use as paragraph or sentence prompts when writing a book review.

There is also a book review template writing frame, with scaffolded sentence starters for KS3 students who need more structured writing support when analysing a text and help expressing personal opinions. These students will find it helpful to use the book review example sentences, headings and the structured template to guide them.

Suitable for key stage 3 learners, this printable English teaching resource is designed for fiction book reviews, but could be adapted to support students with non-fiction books reviews too.

How to write a book review - Step-by-step guide

Getting started

The book review template includes a list of questions about the book. Answer the questions carefully and in detail the answers to form a detailed book review. Answer in sentences to form paragraphs under the following headings rather than numbering answers or using bullet points.

Plot

• What happened in the story?
• What was the story about?
• What length of time did it cover? (This is the amount of time that passes during the course of the story, not how long it took you to read it.)
• Was what happened unusual or ordinary?
• What was the opening of the story like? Exciting? Slow? Dramatic? Dull?
• How did the events of the story follow on from each other?

Characters

• Who were the main characters?
• What were they like?
• Were they described in much detail?
• Which did you find most interesting? Most sympathetic? (If you find a character sympathetic, you like them as you can understand their feelings. Perhaps you have had a similar experience to them.)
• What kind of relationships and/or conflicts were there?
• Did these characters change throughout the story?

Comments on style

• Was the story written in the first or third person? (‘I’ or ‘he/she’)
• How important was this to the story?
• Was the setting described in detail?
• Were feelings and attitudes described in depth?
• Was it a good story? Why?
• What was your favourite moment in the story? Why?
• Were there any moments (or characters) that might have been improved? If so, what changes would you make?

General

• Do you think the writer had a particular reason for telling this story?
• How did you feel during and after reading it?
• Do you think you learned anything from the book about people? Ways of life?
• How would you compare it to other books you’ve read?
• What else do you think is important to say about it?
• Would you recommend this book or read another by the same author?