1. Can You Write a Book Review?
It’s easier than you think!

2. In This Lesson……… We will learn to write a three paragraph book review
using the novel, Hoot, by
Carl Hiaasen as our
sample book.

3. Just the Facts… Here’s How to Begin:
In paragraph one, give the facts about the book:
The book, (title), by (author), was written in (year). It is considered to be (genre) with a little bit of (mystery, humor, suspense, etc.) thrown in. The protagonist in (title) is (name). The antagonist(s) is(are) (name). Other important characters in the novel are (names). The setting is (where and when).

4. Just the Facts… Here’s How to Begin:
In paragraph one, give the facts about the book:
The title
The author
The genre
The main character or characters
A one-two sentence glimpse of the conflict, setting, and tone

5. First Paragraph - Sample
The book, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, was written in
2002. It is considered to be realistic fiction with a little bit of mystery and humor thrown in. The protagonist in Hoot is Roy Eberhardt. The antagonists are Dana, the school bully, and Curly and Chuck Muckle, who both work for the Mother Paula’s Pancake Corporation. Other important characters in the novel are Mr. & Mrs. Eberhardt (Roy’s parents), Napoleon Bridger, (AKA the running boy), Beatrice Leap (Napoleon’s step-sister), and Officer Delinko The setting is Coconut Cove, Florida, an imaginary city near Miami.

6. The Summary
After the introduction (paragraph one) to your review, you should write a summary. In a summary, you summarize the action (plot) in the book. One big mistake we want to avoid when writing a book review is to write a big, long, boring summary. Don’t tell too much of the story,
and don’t give away the ending!

7. Writing a Summary
To keep from ruining your review with a summary that is too long and boring, yu can follow this template. It will help you keep your plot events in order, guide your audience through the story, and lead the rest of your essay into what is important the analysis of the story (paragraph three).

8. Here’s How to Write Your Summary:
In the (genre) novel (title) by (author), (protagonist name) learns/ changes/ grows through (state a theme from the novel).
Example:
In the realistic fiction novel, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, Roy grows through realizing that it is important to stand up for what you believe in.

9. Summary Template In the beginning of the novel,
(character name) is a (age) (gender) who is (a character trait or situation).
Example:
In the exposition of the novel, Roy is a teenaged boy who is new to town and discovers a mysterious boy running away from the school bus.

10. Summary Template
As the conflict develops, (character name) faces the challenge of (name the major conflict of the story).
Example:
As the conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge of tying to discover the mysterious boy’s identity and is drawn to a construction site where a Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built. Meanwhile, he is being bullied at school.

11. Book Report Summary
As the story progresses, (character name) (what the character does). Then (something else happens). Later, (one more event).
Example:
In the rising action of the story, Roy meets the running boy and his sister and finds that he is trying to save the burrowing owls on the construction site. Then, he joins the boy in trying to save the owls. Later, the running boy gets sick and uses Roy’s identity to get treatment at a hospital.

12. Summary Template
The climax of the story happens when (character name) faces the greatest challenge when (event that turns the story around).
Example:
The climax of the story happens as Roy faces the greatest challenge when he organizes a protest at the construction site to try and save the owls.

13. Book Report Summary In the resolution, (character name)
(how he is at the end of
the story).
Example:
In the end, Roy has made friends, adjusted to his new school, and learned
the importance of standing up for what
you believe in.

14. Summary Paragraph
In the realistic fiction novel, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, Roy grows through realizing that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. In the exposition of the novel, Roy is a teenaged boy who is new to town and discovers a mysterious boy running away from the school bus. As the conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge of trying to discover the mysterious boy’s identity and is drawn to a construction site where a Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built. Meanwhile, he is being bullied at school. Eventually, Roy meets the running boy and his sister and discovers that he is trying to save the endangered burrowing owls on the construction site. Then, he joins the boy in trying to save the owls. Roy faces the greatest challenge when he organizes a protest at the construction site to try and save the owls.. In the end, Roy has made friends, adjusted to his new school and has learned it is important to stand up for your beliefs, no matter
what the odds or what others may say.

15. Finish it Up (Paragraph 3)
Now, the analysis of the story…...
This is when you give your opinion about the book.
Tell whether you would / would not recommend this novel to a friend.
Give at least three reasons why.
Make sure you use time order words for your reasons (first, next, finally).
Tell what you learned from the book.
Finish with a flair: All in All if you are looking for a book that…………, you’ve found the perfect novel/read in…………

16. Final Paragraph
I would recommend Hoot to other readers. I enjoyed this novel for several reasons. First, the characters were realistic. Second, I was entertained by Carl Hiaasen’s sense of humor. Finally, I could relate to the conflicts experienced by the characters. This book taught me that it is important to take care of our environment and animals that are endangered. I also learned that young people can make a difference in the world. All in all, if you are searching for an exciting realistic fiction novel with a little mystery and humor thrown in, you’ve found the perfect read in Hoot.

17. Our Book Review:
The book, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, was written in It is considered to be realistic fiction with a little bit of mystery and humor thrown in. The protagonist in Hoot is Roy Eberhardt. The antagonists are Dana, the school bully, and Curly and Chuck Muckle, who both work for the Mother Paula’s Pancake Corporation. Other important characters in the novel are Mr. & Mrs. Eberhardt (Roy’s parents), Napoleon Bridger, (AKA the running boy), Beatrice Leap (Napoleon’s step-sister), and Officer Delinko The setting is Coconut Cove, Florida, an imaginary city near Miami.

18. In Hoot, Roy grows through realizing that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. In the exposition of the novel, Roy is a teenaged boy who is new to town and discovers a mysterious boy running away from the school bus. As the conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge of trying to discover the mysterious boy’s identity and is drawn to a construction site where a Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built. Meanwhile, he is being bullied at school. In the rising action of the story, Roy meets the running boy and his sister and finds that he is trying to save the burrowing owls on the construction site. Then, he joins the boy in trying to save the owls. Later, the running boy gets sick and uses Roy’s identity to get treatment at a hospital. The climax of the story happens as Roy faces the greatest challenge when he organizes a protest at the construction site and the owls are saved. The falling action tells of Roy finding out the running boy’s true identity and discovering that the Mother Paula’s Corporation knew about the owls all along. In the resolution, Roy has made friends, adjusted to his new school and has learned it is important to protect endangered species.

19. I would recommend Hoot to other readers
I would recommend Hoot to other readers. I enjoyed this novel for several reasons. First, the characters were realistic. Second, I was entertained by Carl Hiaasen’s sense of humor. Finally, I could relate to the conflicts experienced by the characters. This book taught me that it is important to take care of our environment and animals that are endangered. I also learned that young people can make a difference in the world. All in all, if you are searching for an exciting realistic fiction novel with a little mystery and humor thrown in, you’ve found the perfect read in Hoot.

20. I told you writing a book review was
You Did It!!