Mrs. Fraser’s Book Review Outline
Introduction: Make sure you include…
· Title
· Author
· Genre
· Publication information (date, publisher, etc)
· Any other interesting information to hook your audience
Body Paragraph 1: Summarize the novel…
· Setting (time, place, mood, etc)
· Characters (describe them! Age, motivation, beliefs, morals, etc)
· Conflict – what is the main conflict in the story?
· DO NOT give away the ending
Body Paragraph 2: Opinion and Analysis… some questions to answer
· Why did you pick this book?
· Is there anything especially good about it?
· Is there anything especially bad about this book?
· Did you find the ending of the book satisfactory? Why / Why not?
· Do you normally read this genre of books? How does this book compare to other books you have read in the same genre. Explain why / why not.
· Are the characters in the book believable? Why / Why not?
· Who is your favorite character in this book? Why?
· Who is your least favorite character in this book? Why?
· Was there anything about the author’s style of writing that caught your attention? (ie. Suspenseful, descriptive, imaginative, conversational etc.) Why? Did it make the book better or worse for you?
· What mood or atmosphere does the author create? How?
· Did you find this book easy or hard to read? Why?
· What did you learn from this book? (at least one thing)
Conclusion: Final thoughts, evaluation and recommendation
· Overall opinion
· Rating (3 Ollivander Wands out of 10)
· This novel is appropriate for….
Example Book Review: Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Reviewed by: Mrs. Fraser
The book Eragon by Christopher Paolini is a fantasy novel set in the middle ages. The author, Christopher Paolini, wrote this novel when he was 15 years old. Eragon was originally published in 2002 by Alfred A. Knopf, and is the first novel in the series.
The story takes place in the magical world of Alagaësia. The main character, Eragon, is a teenage boy who stumbles across a magic stone one day while hunting in the evil King Galbatorix’s forest. Eragon soon discovers that stone is really a dragon egg, and because the egg hatched for him, he becomes part of a elite group known as Dragon Riders. Because of Galbatorix, there are few dragons and Dragon Riders still in existence, and Eragon and Saphira, his dragon, become the last hope for good in the land of Alagaësia. With the aid of a knowledgable old man named Brom, both boy and dragon seek out the people of the Varden, a hidden society of men and women who are fighting the evil kings’ rule. Eragon and Saphira learn that the Varden can only be successful in it’s mission with the aid of a Dragon Rider. There are many twists and turns for Eragon and Saphira, making their journey to the Varden an adventurous one.
I think Eragon is an excellent fantasy novel. Though it deals with fantastical elements such as magic and mythical creatures, the fight between good and evil and the struggle for power is grounded in reality. Many of the conflicts in the book can be paralleled in modern day society – adding depth and believability to the plot. It is an entertaining read that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. By creating the element of suspense, Paolini was able to enhance the reader’s engagement in the text, and at times, I felt as though I was living the story myself. The characters are endearing, believable and memorable. It was easy to connect with Eragon’s character because the emotions he experienced were relatable and established a connection with the reader. I especially liked how Eragon and Saphira could read each others minds and feel each others emotions. Paolini’s imaginative and descriptive “dark” creatures are gruesomely believable. His detailed descriptions of the Ra’zac allow the reader to experience the most sinister and evil of characters first hand. The foulness of these creatures will be forever imprinted in my mind. One character that Paolini could have given more attention to is Galbatorix. Throughout the book he remains mysterious, and we are only really exposed to his evil through his henchmen such as the soulless shade Durza, the expendable Urgals, and the aforementioned Ra’zac.
I do not usually read fantasy novels, but reading this book has changed my perspective about the fantasy genre. Since reading Eragon, I have also read the second and third installments in this series, Eldest and Brisingr. These novels did not disappoint, and have stayed true to the story that Paolini created in Eragon. I read a lot of books, of all different types and genres, and would definitely rate Christopher Paolini’s “Eragon” in my top ten favorites of all time. I would recommend this novel to teenagers who likes fantasy stories, and likes to read long novels that bridge out into a series.