WELCOME TO OUR

READERS CAFÉ

During the next three marking periods, you will read three books – for pleasure and for purpose. Pleasure because you choose what you will read and purpose because you will submit reviews that will generate interest in these titles.

Each marking period you will read one of our books and submit two reviews. In addition to your reviews, during one of the marking periods you will “booktalk” a book – that is, you will promote this book during our Readers Café.

What is a booktalk?

Think of the analogy of a movie trailer. The purpose of a booktalk is to "sell" the book. You want to give enough of the plot to interest the listeners but you are not giving a summary of the book. You don't want to give away the important parts of the book. You certainly never want to give away the ending. You want to highlight the interesting points. You may want to read certain passages to your listeners. The main purpose of a booktalk is to grab the audience's interest and make them want to read the book. It's always a good idea to end the booktalk with a cliffhanger. The booktalker presents the booktalks orally and usually has the book as a visual prop.

How do booktalks differ from book reviews?

Although similar, they perform different functions. In a book review, the reviewer is judging the book. The book is recommended or not. Criticism is often given in book reviews. Our book reviews will be written and a summary of the plot will be included. In a booktalk, our presentation will be oral and a recommendation is assumed!

The following are a few tips by the author ofTales of Love and Terror: Booktalking the Classics, Old and New:

  • "Leave the listeners wanting more" - Don't overdo the sales pitch (talk too much)
  • "Think about what will convince people to read the book" - What will pique their interest? (Hint - What piques your interest?)
  • "Don't tell the ending" - Leave them hanging and wanting more!
  • "Don't tell everything about the book"
  • "There is no right or wrong way to do a booktalk" - Be creative! Use a variety of approaches. Play a character. First person, third person. You can invent dialogue, but just stay true to the character. In a collection of short stories, do several episodes or one whole story in the collection. The key here - be yourself. Use buzzwords - don't just be enjoyable to watch, but inspire others to want to read the book

Places to Find Good Books to Read:

  • Best Books for Young Adults
    The American Library Association lists best books of the year for the past decade.
  • Reading Rants : Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists

    Great, quirky, wonderful booklists for teens (and adults) with reviews by a 'real person'. Boy Meets Book, Hip History, Gods & Monsters, Riot Grrrrl!, Inquiring Minds.....
  • Kids ReadsTeen Reads

    Author information, book reviews, feature articles with booklists and more.
  • Favorite Teenage Angst Books

    ".. a celebration of teenage angst and personal discovery .. " Book reviews on: Fitting In, Healing, Mixed-Up Families, Journeys, Challenges, Sex & Love and more.
  • No Flying, No Tights

    "A website reviewing graphic novels for teens."
  • Burlington County Library

    Search for books not available at the Seneca Library
    (Reserve at Pinelands Branch with card #23660004246306 pin#4600)

2005 Teens’ Top Ten Favorites (from Young Adult Library Services Association):

1. Girls In Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

2. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen

3. Looking For Alaska by John Green

4. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

5. Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

6. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

7. The Gangsta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah

8. Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

9. The Garden by Elise Aidinoff

10. How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Marc Acito

Submit 2 reviews for your book:
a) one on the attached written form (give to your teacher – your picture will be inserted – so take pride in your work!)

b) one on-line (go to the Media Center Web Page – click on Book Reviews, then click Submit Book Review, type in information – you should type beyond thesingle line…it will be posted the next day!) Click here to submit: On-Line Book Review

BOOK REVIEW

Title:

Author:

Publisher/Copyright:

Pages:

Reviewer/Date:

Summary:

Opinion: