You can give the book a rating, for example a mark out of five or ten, if you like

Tips for writing book reviews

Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books you've read. Whether you've loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. If you're stuck on what to say in a review, it can help to imagine you're talking to someone who's asking you whether they should read the book.

Author Luisa Playa gives her top tips for writing reviews:

Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about

But without giving any spoilers or revealing plot twists. As a general rule, try to avoid writing in detail about anything that happens from about the middle of the book onwards. If the book is part of a series, it can be useful to mention this, and whether you think you'd need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one.

Discuss what you particularly liked about the book

Focus on your thoughts and feelings about the story and the way it was told. You could try answering a couple of the following questions:

· Who was your favourite character, and why?

Did the characters feel real to you?

Did the story keep you guessing?

What was your favourite part of the book, and why?

Were certain types of scene written particularly well - for example sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious ones…?

Did the book make you laugh or cry?

Did the story grip you and keep you turning the pages?

Mention anything you disliked about the book

Talk about why you think it didn't work for you. For example:

· Did you wish the ending hadn't been a cliffhanger because you found it frustrating?

· Did you find it difficult to care about a main character, and could you work out why?

· Was the story too scary for your liking, or focused on a theme you didn't find interesting?

Round up your review

Summarise some of your thoughts on the book by suggesting the type of reader you'd recommend the book to. For example: younger readers, older readers, fans of relationship drama/mystery stories/comedy. Are there any books or series you would compare it to?

You can give the book a rating, for example a mark out of five or ten, if you like

Before you begin writing, make a few notes about the points you want to get across.
While you're writing, try thinking of your reader as a friend to whom you're telling a story.
Try to mention the name of the author and the book title in the first paragraph — there's nothing more frustrating than reading a review of a great book but not knowing who wrote it and what the title is!
If possible, use one paragraph for each point you want to make about the book. It's a good way to emphasize the importance of the point. You might want to list the main points in your notes before you begin.
Try to get the main theme of the book across in the beginning of your review. Your reader should know right away what he or she is getting into should they choose to read the book!
Think about whether the book is part of a genre. Does the book fit into a type like mystery, adventure, or romance? What aspects of the genre does it use?
What do you like or dislike about the book's writing style? Is it funny? Does it give you a sense of the place it's set? What is the author's/narrator's "voice" like?
Try using a few short quotes from the book to illustrate your points. This is not absolutely necessary, but it's a good way to give your reader a sense of the author's writing style.
Make sure your review explains how you feel about the book and why, not just what the book is about. A good review should express the reviewer's opinion and persuade the reader to share it, to read the book, or to avoid reading it.
Do research about the author and incorporate what you learn into the review. Biographical information can help you formulate your opinion about the book, and gives your review a "depth." Remember, a book doesn't come directly from a printing press, it's a product of an author's mind, and therefore it may be helpful to know something about the author and how she or he came to write the book. key elements.

Describe the setting of the book.How does it compare or contrast to the world you know? A book's setting is one of its most vital components Does the author make you feel like you're a part of the setting? Can you picture the book's setting if you close your eyes? As you write, try to pass on to your reader the sense of the setting and place that the author has provided.
Describe the book's main characters. Does the writer make you believe in them as people? Why or why not? Think about whether you like the characters and about how liking them or disliking them makes you feel about the book. As you write about the characters, use examples of things they've said or done to give a sense of their personalities.
Give your reader a taste of the plot, but don't give the surprises away. Readers want to know enough about what happens in a book to know whether they'll find it interesting. But they never want to know the ending! Summarize the plot in a way that will answer some questions about the book, but leave other questions in the reader's mind. You may want to make a list of questions about the book before you begin.

Once you're done with the challenges, you're ready to write a first draft of your review! Take these elements and weave them together into a complete review. Be sure to incorporate some of the writing tips from