Book Review
(Response genre)
A book review offers information about a book and critical appraisal

Structure
• Lead-in sentence to state the topic and capture interest
• Introduction identifies the title, author and type of book
• Brief plot summary: only main events and a few details for interest
• May include a summary of theme
• May include a discussion of characters
• Comment on author’s style
• Conclusion includes a recommendation


Language features
• Includes opinion and subjective language
• May include quotations
• Present or past tense to retell the story (used consistently)
• Chronological linking words for retelling events (later, then…)


More information
More ideas and examples of book reviews can be found in
•Targeting text (series), Blake Education, Glebe N.S.W.
• Anderson, M 1997, Text types in English, Macmillan, 1998.
• English Elements (series), Jacaranda Wiley, Milton, Qld.
• Whitfield, M 2001, Targeting writing across the curriculum, Blake Education, Glebe, N.S.W.
• Schill, J 1998, On track: working with texts, Heinemann, Port Melbourne.
• Excel essential skills (series), Pascal, Glebe, N.S.W.

Printable version