book report for grade 7

How to Write a Book Report

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Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

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A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

• Researching
• Drafting the Report
• Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,415,797 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

• Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
• Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
• Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

• For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
• Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

• Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

• Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
• Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
• Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
• Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
• Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

• Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
• Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
• Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

• For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

• Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
• Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
• Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
• Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
• Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
• Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
• Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
• Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
• Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

• Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

• For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
• When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
• Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

• For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
• Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

• Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

• For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

• For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
• Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

• You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
• For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

• For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

• Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
• When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

• Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
• Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

• If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
• Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

• For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
• Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

• Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
• Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
• Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

• Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
• ↑ https://library.valleycollege.edu/elements_of_book_report.pdf
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
• ↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
• ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
• ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
• ↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

Assigning a book report as part of your reading or writing curriculum? Print and share this quick reference for how to write a book report - including all of the necessary elements, plus examples and outlines.

Looking for fiction and nonfiction titles to assign for book study, reader's theater, or literature circles? Visit our Literature Teaching Guides Hub to find thousands of book guides for all grades.

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How to Write a Book Report With Examples in 4 Easy Steps

Learn how to write a book report in just a few easy steps.

Rijvi Ahmed

Last updated on Mar 14th, 2024

When you click on affiliate links on QuillMuse.com and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission—this helps us keep up with publishing valuable content on QuillMuse.  Read More .

Table of Contents

Do you have a book report to complete and want to know how to write a book report? We are right here for you! Book reports are useful in learning because they help students enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. At the same time, they give authors a detailed look at a text’s composition and stylistic aspects. 

This essay will show us how to write a book report efficiently. It’s a skill that helps you not only get more out of what you’re reading but also write a report that accurately describes how great the book is. Let’s get started. 

What is a book report?

You may ask, “What does a book report look like?” So, before we go into how to write a book report, let’s first define it. The report consists of the plot, characters, and style of the essays. It usually focuses on a single activity, but can also relate to a topic or theme. The report is usually a high school assignment designed to help students improve their communication and research skills. It also teaches students how to express themselves in many areas of their lives.

Book Report vs. Book Review

A book report and a book review are sometimes mistaken, although they are not the same. A book report summarizes a book’s content and analysis, whereas a book review evaluates its substance, style, and value. A book review is often written for a more advanced readership and is frequently published in a literary journal or newspaper.

What exactly is the aim of a book report?

There are some main purposes for writing a book report:

• Give the book a quick glance to make it more readable.
• Provide enough information so that the reader may readily understand the text.
• Show the book’s style and tone.
• Encourage the reader or buyer to read and purchase the book.
• Discuss a book’s main parts.
• Provide a summary and evaluation of a piece of fiction.

Furthermore, creating a report helps the student enhance their analytical and communication skills. They can express themselves through creative or critical thinking in the texts they read.

Also Read: How to Write a Book About Your Life

What are the parts of a great book report?

Introduction including Title and Author : Consider how to start a book report with an appealing introduction. Mention the book’s title, author, and genre, and provide a brief storyline summary. Explain your major theme or point of view. Sometimes it includes the book’s publishing date.

Content summary : This part should include an overview of the book’s plot, including the main characters, setting, and conflict. Provide a succinct summary of the plot. Highlight important events and turning points. Avoid spoilers. 

Analysis and perspective : Examine the main characters, including their characteristics, motives, development, and plot roles. Investigate important themes, symbols, and motifs, as well as how they affect the narrative. Examine the author’s writing style and perspective, as well as how they affect the plot.

Conclusion : Summarize your key ideas. Restate your general opinion of the book and perhaps recommend who might enjoy it or what types of readers would benefit from it. This part should sum up your thoughts on the book and its significance.

How to Start Writing A Book Report

When you start writing, you should be familiar with the essential processes. However, if you are unsure, there is no need to worry. Instead, look at the methods below to help you write a superb report.

1. Choose the book Carefully

Choosing the right book is a vital step in your writing process. Some teachers assign books to you, and you have no choice. However, if you choose a novel for yourself, make sure it interests you.

2. Properly Read the Book

Reading is a vital element of producing a good report since it helps you to delve into the details of the narrative. Unfortunately, many students believe they can get by with just the overview, notes, and details, but this is not the case if they want an A.

3. List the key points

Every time you read an excellent book, make a note of the most important topics and situations in your notebook. This assures that no matter where or when inspiration strikes, all of these riches are only a page away.

4. Create a thesis statement

The thesis statement is the most crucial aspect of your paper. It should be a claim you think to be correct. Furthermore, it might be backed by good instances from the book, enhancing the strength of your writing work. 

5. Make the Book Report Outline

It is critical to have a decent and solid outline when creating the best report. When drafting the outline, be sure to include all of your ideas and opinions. It helps authors stay organized and focused on what needs to be done next. 

Also Read: How to Become a Book Editor

How to Write A Book Report

When you start writing, you need to be familiar with the essential processes. However, if you are unsure, there is no need to worry. Here’s a comprehensive guide to writing a book report to get you started:

1. Write the introduction

The opening is the most significant element of your report because it introduces and presents the topics that will be covered in greater detail. As a result, the introduction paragraph should include both an attention-grabbing hook statement and a thesis statement that sums up everything.

2. Write the body paragraphs

The body of the report describes three major things:

• Main purpose

You should also consider the book’s theme or motif, as well as the character’s interactions with others. 

3. Write the conclusion

The conclusion is where you mention three major points:

• Finish up the complete report.
• Describe what you learned from the book.
• Please state whether or not you would recommend it.
• Express your opinion about the book.

Also, this section should be concise, no longer than one paragraph. However, make sure it communicates everything that has to be expressed before closing with a suitable conclusion. 

4. Proofreading

Once you’ve finished writing it, start proofreading. First, correct all grammatical, punctuation, and vocabulary errors. Also, modify the complex and tough words or sentences. Finally, strive to make it error-free and understandable to the audience.

Also Read: Best Writing Websites for Writers

Tips for Writing a Book Report

When writing a book report, keep the following factors in mind:

• Read Very carefully : Pay close attention when reading to ensure that you thoroughly grasp the material. Take notes on essential topics such as themes and characters.
• Follow the Guidelines : Stick to what your teacher or whoever assigned the report expects. Make sure your work is the appropriate length and covers the appropriate topics.
• Outline Structure : Determine how your report will be organized. A simple outline with parts for introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion can help you stay organized.
• Introduce the Book : Begin your report by providing basic information about the book, such as its title, author, genre, and a summary of why it is essential. 
• Summarize and Analyze : Discuss what happened in the book while also delving into why it matters. Discuss the characters and how they evolve during the novel. 
• Evaluate and Reflect : Discuss your ideas on the book, including what you liked, disliked, and why. Consider how the book touched you personally.
• Use Evidence : Back up your claims using examples from the text. Quotes or specific scenarios might assist you in illustrating your point and demonstrate that you truly grasped what you read.
• Proofread : Before submitting, go back and check for errors. Check for typos, spelling problems, and anything else that could make your report difficult to comprehend. 

Example of a great book report

To present a clear example of a book report, let’s look at “ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ” by Mark Twain.

Introduction

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a popular novel written by Mark Twain and published in 1876. It follows Tom Sawyer through the childhood adventures and troubles of a mischievous and inventive little boy in a fictional village in St. Louis . . . . Petersburg, Missouri with comedy, suspense, and poignant observations about society And just right, this timeless story continues to appeal to readers of all ages.

Plot Summary

Set in the 19th century, the novel begins with Tom Sawyer living with his Aunt Polly, his brother Sid, and his cousin Mary. Tom is known for his fun spirit and willingness to get into trouble. He falls in love with the new girl in town, Becky Thatcher, and also develops a close relationship with his friend Huckleberry Finn, an outcast.

Throughout the story Tom is in a series of escapades, such as whitewashing a fence as punishment, searching for treasure with Huck, attending his funeral, and witnessing a murder These experiences illustrate Tom’s philosophy, n ‘mind, and growing maturity as he learns important lessons about friendship, responsibility and the impact of his actions Are known.

The story ends with Tom and Becky trapped in a cave, sparking a dramatic rescue that draws the community together and Tom finally emerges as a hero who has overcome the physical danger of the cave and its emotional challenges, the victory of youth.

Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” offers more than just a simple children’s story. It subtly depicts life in small-town America in the 19th century, focusing on social interactions, cultural attitudes, and youthful innocence. Twain’s subtle style of writing and human behavior and her sly gaze make the story both funny and thought-provoking.

Tom Sawyer is a particularly interesting character, displaying the defiance and curiosity associated with infancy. Readers will experience the joys and challenges of growing older through Tom’s eyes, from the joys of discovery to the heartache of pain. Twain masterfully captures the essence of childhood, making one approachable and memorable.

Furthermore, the work delves into issues of autonomy, identity, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing society. Whether Tom defies authority, faces ethical challenges, or makes friends across social boundaries, his journey reflects a universal struggle to find his place in society while staying true to himself.

In conclusion, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” remains a timeless work that continues to captivate readers of all ages. Mark Twain’s vivid storytelling, memorable characters, and insightful comments on society ensure the novel remains relevant and engaging more than a century after its publication. Through Tom Sawyer’s Escape, readers are reminded that the journey to adulthood is about the enduring power of imagination, friendship, and adventure.

What length should a book report be?

The length of a book report varies according to the assignment criteria. Book reports are typically one to three pages long, but they can be lengthier for more detailed assessments.

Should I add my opinion to a book report?

Yes, you should include your perspective in a book report. However, be careful to back up your thoughts with facts from the text. Your comments and evaluations contribute to the report’s interesting and informative nature. 

Do I have to read the whole book to write a book report?

While it is preferable to read the full book to produce a thorough analysis, you can still write a book report based on substantial chunks of it. However, make sure you fully comprehend the plot, characters, and themes.

How should I format a book report?

Follow any formatting guidelines specified by your instructor or institution. Book reports are typically written as essays, having an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Can I utilize outside sources for my book report?

It depends on the assignment’s requirements. In some situations, you may be asked to use outside sources to supplement your analysis.

Should I use quotes from the book in my report?

Yes, using quotes from the book can help to strengthen your analysis and provide evidence for your observations. Simply make sure to correctly cite any quotations using the required citation style.

How should I conclude a book report?

At the end of your book report, summarize your main themes and share your final thoughts on the book. You can summarize your overall assessment and describe the book’s significance or impact.

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How to Write a 7th Grade Book Report

Lynn holmgren.

Book reports are a quintessential part of the school experience. If you're in seventh grade, however, the book report can pose new and sometimes intimidating expectations. Teachers may require more written report and less craft project than what you were used to in elementary school. No matter what the guidelines, there are a few tips that will help you accomplish this task.

Pick a book that looks interesting to you, but also adheres to the book report guidelines. Make sure it has the appropriate number of pages and is an approved genre (science fiction, mystery, romance, historical fiction, etc.). Read the book thoroughly. You may want to highlight or mark pages that you find especially important or interesting.

If your book report requires a visual element, decide the best way to present the book to the class. Some ideas might be a poster, 3D diorama, CD soundtrack, mock author interview, newspaper headlines or an alternative book cover. Make sure you have all the materials you will need to create your presentation. Use lots of bright colors, pictures and big lettering for an attractive visual.

Identify all of the important information from the book. Name the characters, or who the story is about. Identify the setting of the book--where and when it takes place. Figure out what the genre of the book is. Identify the point of view, or how the story is told. Finally, identify the tone, or why the story is being told.

Locate your favorite scene or character and write down several ideas about it. Don't be afraid to have an opinion about the book. Write down all of your likes and dislikes. Make interesting comparisons between the book and your own life. Think about who you might recommend the book to.

Before handing in your report, make sure to have someone proofread it for any spelling or grammar mistakes. Review your teacher's guidelines and grading rubric for the book report and make sure you have done your best work. Finally, enjoy sharing the book with your classmates.

• 1 Books for 7th and 8th Grade

About the Author

Lynn Holmgren is a freelance writer based in York, Penn. She has published articles about writing, international exchange, travel and outdoor recreation in ShowcasePA! magazine and Bootsnall.com. Homgren also enjoys writing and reviewing short stories on her blog Long Story Short.

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How to Excel at Junior High Book Reports: Free Book Report Template Inside!

Inside: Thinking of ditching book reports in junior high? Hold that thought! Book reports teach vital skills to teens. Learn how to quickly organize and effectively create comprehensive book reports by using my free book report template, a sample of my comprehensive The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

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In elementary school, book reports are fun and creative. Just grab a book report template, and you’re ready to go. As students progress to middle and high school, the focus shifts towards deeper writing and analytical skills.

If you homeschool, you might think about skipping book reports. But don’t do that! These assignments are more than just a writing exercise, they are crucial for encouraging critical thinking, comprehension, and organizational skills.

The problem is not every student enjoys them. For kids like mine who dislike writing, or those who are more STEM-oriented and prefer literal thinking, book reports can feel overwhelming.

Recognizing that kids like Marc need a bit more guidance in writing and analyzing literature, I created The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide specifically to support him and other teens with organizing and writing comprehensive book reports.

The guide demystifies the book report process by breaking it down into easy steps. It begins with choosing an appropriate book and extends to writing a well-structured report. Each step is clearly outlined, ensuring kids understand what is expected at every stage.

What about kids who hate reading? They can still do book reports!

I believe that sharing read-alouds with teens is a great way to expose them to good literature even if they dislike reading. Don’t give up on the book reports either. Many times I read the books aloud to Marc so I could follow up with questions, delve deeper into the subject, and get him ready to think about book reports. It’s easier to do so when you know the story firsthand.

Pin this image to read the article later. 📌

Why book reports matter in middle school and beyond

When it comes to book reports in junior high, many of us (including myself) have felt the temptation to skip them altogether.

It’s a natural reaction, especially when we see our kids struggling with or dreading these assignments. But before deciding to leave book reports out, it’s worth considering the skills they bring to the table:

• Critical Thinking : Book reports challenge students to analyze a story’s plot, characters, themes, and messages. This kind of analysis fosters deeper thinking and it’s a skill that translates across subjects.

• Comprehension : Reports require students to not just read but engage with the text. This active involvement boosts their ability to comprehend and remember information, skills that are crucial for academic success in all subjects.

• Expression : By expressing their views on a book, students develop their ability to communicate effectively. This develops their communication skills both in written and oral form.

• Organization : Reports teach students how to structure their ideas logically. Organizing ideas in a book and getting out the essentials is extremely difficult and it takes time and patience to master. Book reports offer this opportunity.

• Resilience : By doing something that might appear difficult, teens are only building their resilience. Writing a book report is not something they can do in a couple of hours. It takes days of hard work from actively reading and taking notes, to organizing, planning, and editing their work to make it the best they can make it.

While the initial knee-jerk reaction for us this year was to quickly skim and skip over book reports, particularly since writing isn’t Marc’s favorite, I thought about these benefits and decided to model them as best as I could for him. That’s how my The Ultimate Book Report Master Guide was born.

The Ultimate Book Report Template for junior high

Ever felt stuck finding the right book report template for junior high? So did I! That’s why I rolled up my sleeves and created the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

Writing a book report in upper middle school or high school is challenging. It’s not just about summarizing a story. Students need to learn how to analyze books in depth, but often they don’t get enough guidance on how to do this and we expect them to magically formulate the perfect book report.

When I created this guide, I thought about all the questions and challenges students like my son might face. I wanted to address everything from the basics of writing to the more complex aspects of literary analysis. This guide helps students not only write and summarize but also critically analyze literature. It teaches them how to organize their ideas and express their understanding clearly in writing.

This template is more than just a basic structure for a book report, it is a master guide that teaches students how to analyze literature critically, organize their thoughts, and articulate their understanding in writing. It emphasizes critical thinking, comprehension of literary elements, and structured writing skills, making it a valuable resource for teens.

You can get my full guide on Amazon: Monkey and Mom Homeschool Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

You can also get a 30+ pages free sample of this guide, including a full book report template, checklists, instructions, and examples by subscribing to my newsletter. Remember, this is just a small piece of the full book.

What are the 5 secret ingredients of comprehensive book reports?

What I like telling Marc is that there are almost always recipes for writing a certain assignment. You only need to analyze examples or the rubrics provided to get a sense of direction.

Writing a book report for junior high is not that difficult when kids know what’s expected. So what’s the secret recipe for writing a great book report?

1. Use advanced vocabulary

The main aspect of well-developed book reports and even essays is using advanced vocabulary. Encourage kids to start with simple words in the draft, then spice it up with stronger vocabulary during revisions.

Remind them that it’s not about using big words for the sake of it, but about choosing words that add clarity and depth to the writing

We all know how overused words can affect the level of a written paper. The writing program we use, Structure and Style for Students has special sections of “banned words” prompting kids to select other words instead. This has helped Marc be more creative in his writing and actually open up the thesaurus.

The trick here is not to overdo it, and never encourage them to use words they don’t understand.

2. Master literary analysis

A junior high level book report goes beyond mentioning the author and summary of the book. As the requirements keep increasing, it’s essential to start explaining literary terms to kids and encourage them to start using these terms.

While this is a part of literature, book reports present the perfect opportunity to start using these terms. If your kids only know a few of these, or they are just learning literary analysis, encourage them to only use the terms they know. This not only makes the report sound better, but it also cements the information they have about literary terms.

Literary analysis isn’t easy, but you can help kids to start using terms like ‘narrative’ instead of story, ‘character development/evolution’, or ‘plot’. Their sentences will automatically sound better with a few tweaks.

As always, it’s important kids understand what these all mean and how to integrate them seamlessly into their reports, that’s why I included the most important terms for literary analysis in my Ultimate Book Report Master Guide .

A great way to learn how to use these in context is by exposing kids to literary critiques or advanced book reports. Modeling is still very important even in junior high years when kids are transitioning to more advanced requirements. To help, I included both beginner and advanced examples for book reports in my book.

Encourage kids to create a list of expressions and words they like when they see these used in the examples provided. They can refer back to the list when they are writing their own reports to see if they can incorporate them.

3. Start with the rubrics

If you have rubrics or guidelines, start there before planning the book report or using any book report template. There are various requirements for structure and what needs to be included, depending on the school or curriculum you use. Make sure kids know exactly what the requirements are before starting to plan their report.

I included teacher and student rubrics in my book, but use these only if your curriculum or school didn’t provide any.

If the requirements are different, make sure to adapt the book report template I included and change the sections that need to have different information.

4. Critical thinking

Great book reports include personal points of view, connections with other works, and recommendations that are backed up with evidence.

One critical step to make sure your kids have all that included is to ask them to take notes of the way they feel while reading certain sections of the book. This doesn’t have to be extensive.

Also, especially when reading nonfiction, ask kids to dig a little information about the author and the context in which the book was written. They can later use this while reading the book to see if the context influenced the views presented in the book in any way.

Encourage them to think of other similar works, or books written by the same author, or even connect the book with the movie if they’ve seen it and include brief comparisons and parallels between these.

5. Active reading

Maybe the most important prerequisite of a great book report is the act of active reading.

Encourage kids to keep a notebook close while they read and use sticky notes and sticky highlighters to mark pages that impressed them or seemed important to them.

Also, encourage them to take out any quotes that they found memorable. They can use these as evidence when writing their report to back up any claims they make. That’s what makes a great critique.

Active reading is a great way to stay focused and pay attention to what happens in the narrative.

Planning the perfect book report

Creating a standout book report involves a few key stages – before, during, and after reading the book. Let’s walk through each phase to ensure kids are fully prepared to tackle their book report assignments:

Pre-reading

Encourage kids to pick a book that really interests them, not just because it’s short or easy. It’s important they feel connected to the book to stay engaged in the project. For inspiration, we often turn to BookShark ‘s historical fiction reading lists – they’re full of engaging and adventurous choices.

While reading

Ask kids to think about the setting, characters, plot, and themes of the book while they are reading. They should write down any ideas they have on these while they read.

If they have any questions or parts they don’t understand they should note those questions down as well.

Encourage even younger readers to take a moment to think about the kind of language the author uses. Do they notice anything special about it? Can they use this in their report?

Post-reading

Once they finished reading, encourage them to think about the book as a whole. How do they feel about it? What are the highlights of the book and what do they remember most vividly? Did the book change their perspective on anything? Did they learn something new?

After this thinking exercise, it’s time to plan the actual book report, making use of any rubrics, book report templates, and requirements.

In my Ultimate Book Report Master Guide , I broke down every paragraph in a book report to show kids what needs to be included in each. I also added examples of well-structured paragraphs for each part. Depending on the assignment, you might only choose to do part of these.

Here are the main paragraphs:

1. Strong introduction

A good book report has a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. If kids don’t know how to write strong hooks, make sure you cover this with them before asking them to write it.

The introduction should also cover the basics of the book, like title, author, and genre as well as a very condensed summary in 1-2 sentences that outlines the main theme or content of the book.

The introduction should then end with a thesis statement that clearly outlines all the topics that the book report will cover.

2. Body paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a single topic that was included in the thesis statement. These usually include (but aren’t limited to) the summary, setting, characters, and theme. Kids can also be asked to analyze an author’s intent, analyze the mood or tone of a story, and more.

Whenever they craft a paragraph kids should remember to use a topic sentence and then supportive examples. Ask them to think if they can go further by using concrete examples or important quotes to help underline their points.

One trap some kids fall into is they go into too much detail. Remind them they have to choose only the most important and relevant aspects of the story to mention in the book report.

Another trap is simply summarizing what happened in the story. Remind kids to stop and offer their insight into every paragraph they write. Is there anything they noticed that pertains to literary analysis and they can add to cement their topic sentence?

4. Evaluative paragraphs

These are still part of the body paragraphs, but since they are so important and relevant to book reports, I chose to highlight them separately.

Kids should write one or two paragraphs around their opinion about the book (whether they liked it or not) and recommendation (whom would they recommend the book to). This doesn’t always need to be positive but remind them it always needs to be supported by details and examples.

5. Reflective conclusion

A great conclusion will summarize everything covered in the book report. Kids should restate the thesis (preferably in different terms than in the introduction), and reflect the introduction.

Remind kids to also include a last sentence containing the essence of the report and book they read. They will use this at the end to craft a compelling title for their report.

6. Presentation (optional)

If they are required or want to, kids can illustrate the book report or choose to make a presentation, write a theme song, create a video, or include another creative outlet to accompany their report.

Our 7th grade book report choices

For 7th grade this year we are doing BookShark’s history curriculum , so we decided to choose some of the books we will read for history to do our book reports.

Our school, Bridgeway Academy asks 4 book reports per year, so we chose the following (click on the image to see the book on Amazon- affiliate links)

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction, ancient Egypt, and coming-of-age stories.
• Educational value: Offers insights into ancient Egyptian culture, history, and the life of a young protagonist.
• Reading level: Generally accessible to 7th graders with average reading skills.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction set in medieval England and adventure stories.
• Educational value: Provides a glimpse into medieval life and the challenges faced by a young minstrel.
• Reading level: Accessible to 7th graders, though it may require slightly advanced reading skills.

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction, theater, and mysteries.
• Educational value: Offers insights into Elizabethan England, the world of Shakespearean theater, and moral dilemmas.
• Reading level: Generally accessible to 7th graders, although some of the language may be challenging.

The Samurai’s Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard:

• Recommended for: Students interested in historical fiction set in feudal Japan, samurai culture, and coming-of-age stories.
• Educational value: Provides a rich portrayal of feudal Japan and explores themes of honor and loyalty.
• Reading level: Accessible to 7th graders, though some passages may require additional explanation due to cultural differences.

How we approach book reports in 7th grade

Since this year is the first year I introduced Marc to literary analysis, I will guide him every step of the way.

We are reading the four books together and I am using the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide to explain every section of a book report to him. He has done book reports in 4th grade , but this time I want him to go beyond merely using a book report template, and into actually writing it as an essay.

So far, we’ve covered The Golden Goblet . You can get the typed version of our book report with the freebie I am offering.

We used the included book report template from my book as an outline which Marc filled in himself. The questions helped guide him. Then I helped him craft a rough draft guiding him with questions and using the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide as a guide.

Once he was done with the rough draft, I encouraged him to change some expressions and words to more advanced ones from our list and I made him read it aloud to me. When we’re both happy, I dictated it to him to write by hand. The Egypt-inspired paper he wrote them on was from my Egypt Printable Writing Pack .

I don’t let him type these, because I intervene quite a bit while he is writing them.

He is capable of creating decent ones on his own, but I see these last two years until high school as perfect opportunities for more modeling. And great writing only happens through constant exposure and modeling.

There’s very slow growth if we allow kids to make the same mistakes over and over again because we fear interfering.

By showing him how a sentence can sound better, how he can replace some of his overused words with stronger ones, I model to him not only advanced writing, but also my whole thinking process.

And he is learning. He tells me a lot of times he wouldn’t have thought of that particular way of putting it and is impressed on how good it sounds. I’ve been doing this with him for years now and I noticed him picking on my habit of wanting to improve his writing with better words.

Wrapping up

It’s no secret that writing book reports can feel overwhelming, especially if your kids are more inclined towards non-humanities subjects. It might even be tempting to skip them altogether. But let’s pause and reconsider.

Book reports are more than just assignments. They’re valuable tools in teaching our teens a range of skills. From building resilience to enhancing critical thinking, and from improving communication to honing organizational and writing abilities, book reports play a crucial role in a teen’s development.

I created the Ultimate Book Report Master Guide with the hope that it makes the journey less daunting for both you and your kids. My goal is to help you guide your children in crafting book reports they can be proud of, contributing to their growth as resilient, lifelong learners. Remember, these skills are built gradually, one step at a time.

So, before you decide to bypass book reports, think about their long-term benefits.

I’m curious to know your thoughts. Do you feel book reports in junior high are unnecessary? Are you relying solely on templates for book reports? Share your strategies and experiences in the comments below. Leave a comment below and let’s talk more.

This post may contain affiliate links. By making a purchase through these links, I get a small percentage for the item you bought while the price stays the same for you. Thank you for supporting me . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Read my Disclosure to find out more about how I support my website and how you can help.

I'm a homeschool mom and photographer that loves reading, traveling and writing about our homeschool adventures.

I live in Europe with my 13-year-old son who is a handful to raise and educate. He is gifted in STEM and my opposite in every way. So life is never boring for us.

I've been homeschooling for 7 years ⭐️ now and I feel I still have so much to explore and learn but at the same time, I've gathered a lot of information during these years.

I want to share my ideas and discoveries with you and I love talking to other homeschool parents and learning from them.

"We rise by lifting others" is my favorite motto. That's why I love sharing and helping whenever I can. So don't shy away from dropping me a line. I always love hearing from you 🤗

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The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12 .

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

The Apothecary, Book 1

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

Goodbye Stranger

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Genesis Begins Again

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

A Long Walk to Water

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

One Crazy Summer

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

The Red Badge of Courage

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

Thoughtful sci-fi about the price of beauty.

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

All-American Muslim Girl

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

Long Way Down

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

My Name Is Not Easy

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.

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• How to Raise a Reader
• Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters
• How Comics Helped My Kid Love Reading

How to Write a Book Report (+ a FREE Step-by-Step Printable for Your Kids)

Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure  HERE .

We read a lot of books (homeschool moms, can you relate?). Right now, we are reading the Harry Potter series together as a family, and as my kids have grown, it’s been fun to see them become more interested in reading for fun. As part of our homeschooling this year, we have been learning how to write a book report, which has been a great way for me to evaluate how well my kids are understanding what they read.

My son is in 3rd grade this year and recently had a book report as one of his assignments in English. While there were a couple of steps given to him, he struggled with the process and actually putting the book report together. So I decided to create a step-by-step book report printable to help him learn how to write a book report.

I hope these printables will be a big help to your kids, too! They will walk your kids through the steps of organizing their book report, writing a draft, revising and proofreading, and writing a final copy. Plus, I’ve included a rubric for you that you can use to give helpful feedback if you’d like.

Not only will this template help your kids learn how to write a book report, but they will be fun to add to your homeschool portfolio and look back on in the future.

Why Should You Use Book Reports in Your Homeschool?

Writing a book report or using an organizer to respond to what they have read is a great way to help your kids with their reading comprehension . It’s also fun to see their unique writing styles come to light and learn what they think about the books they have read.

Plus, I have found that incorporating book reports into our homeschool is a fun way for my kids to practice their writing skills because they get to write about a book they have loved. My son doesn’t necessarily love to write, so making the writing topic interesting is really important in our current season.

They also will obviously get to practice their handwriting, and you can include an oral presentation component if you’d like to as well!

Teach Your Kids How to Write a Book Report

A book report is just what it sounds like – a detailed report your kids will write after reading a book. In the report, they will give a summary of the book and share some of the important plot points, as well as share their opinion of the book.

When my son first attempted to do his book report from his English assignment, he struggled with what to write, and how to pull it all together in one cohesive report. I wanted to really lay out the process for him, to break it down into manageable steps .

If your child is new to writing book reports, I would recommend doing the first one together . Choose a book you have been reading aloud as a family (or a new one to read together), so you can then walk through the template and process with them.

If you are reading the book together, model how to take notes of important characters and plot points as you read . These notes will be great to reference later when writing the report.

Once you are finished reading and taking notes, grab your book report template and work through the process of putting together the report ( this printable makes it so easy! ).

My Book Report Template for Kids

There are many options out there with ideas for creative and different styles of book reports (I love these ideas from We Are Teachers), but if you are looking for a simple way for your elementary-aged student to organize their thoughts into a basic book report, these are for you.

The pages include:

• 2 Book Report Planning Pages where your kids will organize their thoughts about the main characters, important plot events, and what they learned and liked about the book. They will also have space to draw out their favorite scene from the story.
• First Draft Pages where they will write a rough draft. These sheets also include checklists that will walk them through the revision and proofreading process.
• My Book Report Pages where your kids will write their final copy of their book report.
• Book Report Rubric which is a sheet you can use to offer comments and suggestions on their work, if desired.
• Reading Log page that your kids can use to keep track of what they are reading (great for your homeschool record keeping as well!)

Using a template like this will help your kids organize their thoughts in the planning pages, so it’s easier for them to put the final review together. They will see all of the important parts that need to go into their book reports, which will help them learn how to write effective reviews and recommendations.

Printable Book Report Template

I’d love for this book report template to be a blessing to you and your family as well! Grab it below when you join my subscriber list – I love to send out freebies, homeschool tips, inspiration and more as I go through my own homeschooling journey.

Grab your FREE Book Report Printables!

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And if you love all of those, take a peek at my shop where I share some other helpful printables I’ve created for your home and homeschool.

Drop a comment below and let me know – what are some of your kid’s favorite books they have read, or what are they reading now?

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FREE Book Report Templates (All Grades Included)

Published: October 17, 2019

Contributor: Bonnie Rose Hudson

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Some kids love them. Other kids dread them. But nearly every kid has to learn how to write a book report. Help make it fun (and less painful!) with these FREE Book Report Templates . 

This set of 16 book report templates helps alleviate the stress of staring at the blank page. With prompts and questions, they help students remember key parts of the book as well as what is important to share in a book report. 

These FREE Book Report Templates  include forms for: 

• middle school
• high school

They are designed to be used with: 

• biography or autobiography
• informational books

Print just the ones you need. Scroll down to get your FREE Book Report Templates.

Could you use some more tools to help your kids learn (and enjoy!) writing? Be sure to take a look at all the writing resources available in our Subscriber Library ! They are all FREE to our subscribers. Check them out today! There is even another DIY Book Report Kit. 

You might also want to take a look at these free book report posts:

Instant Download: FREE Book Report Templates

• language arts

Bonnie Rose Hudson

Bonnie Rose Hudson’s heart’s desire is for every child to feel the love of God and know how special they are to Him. She would love for you to stop by her website WriteBonnieRose.com for homeschool and history curriculum, resources to help teach your children about missions and the persecuted Church, free history and writing printables, and to check out her newest release from JourneyForth, The Hidden Village , an early reader set in India.

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Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

The Best Books for 7th Graders

You’ll notice that the best books for seventh graders tend to veer into upper middle-grade territory. That’s the case with the books on this list. I have so many beloved upper middle-grade books and I’ll link to the full list at the bottom of this post, but this list also has several books I have never recommended on the blog before.

Seventh graders are on the brink of teenage life, and may relate most strongly to books about body image, crushes, and things like that. They’re also more able to tolerate tastefully done stories about sexual harassment, domestic violence, addiction, serious mental illness and other harsh, unpleasant realities of life. On this list, you’ll find books that hit all of these themes. Of course, as always mentioned, seventh graders can always read up or down. They can read and enjoy many of the books I’ve recommended for 6th graders and 5th graders , as well as books for 8th graders .

Excellent Books for 7th Graders to Enjoy

Here are some of my favorite books for 7th graders:

Genesis Begins Again

Published: January 15, 2019

Thirteen-year-old Genesis grapples with intense self-hate worsened by her father’s verbal abuse and her grandmother’s backward ideologies about skin color. Readers first meet Genesis when she brings her “friends” home for the first time. In an embarrassing turn of events, they arrive to meet all her belongings in the street. The landlord has put Genesis’s family out because her gambling, alcoholic father defaulted on the rent,  again . Things seem to look up for their family when they move into a posh neighborhood. Genesis makes new friends, joins the school choir, and even gets a helpful math tutor. Yet, her self-hate follows her. This is a remarkable middle-grade debut with a strong message about colorism, self-love, and  the power of music .

The Wrong Way Home

Published: April 2, 2024

This book is mind-blowingly good. Fern and her mother have been living on The Ranch, under the thumb of a charismatic leader named Ben. But her mom has been acting off, and Ben has put her on a water fast to help her get readjusted. One day, Fern’s mother wakes her in the middle of the night and takes her across the country from NY to CA, where they live in a motel in her mother’s teenage neighborhood and adjust back to normal life. There’s only one problem: Fern hatches a plan to return to The Ranch because she thinks her mom has made a mistake. I loved the way this book explores cults in an accessible way for tween readers, and Fern is a highly realistic character I think will resonate with a lot of kids. Readers should know that one side character in this book is gay and another is non-binary.

The Liars Society

Published: February 6, 2024

Weatherby is a new kid at a Boston private school. She’s at the school on a sailing scholarship and immediately is thrust into a world she knows nothing about. Old school phone booths, scrambled phone service at school, friends with kids who go to the country club, and a boy who seems to hate her guts. Jack is a rich kid at the school who is also on the sailing team and is constantly pressured by his father to be the best. When the money for a famed school trip is stolen, Jack, Weatherby, and some of their friends are invited to play a high-stakes secret game that leads to the revelation of shocking family secrets. This suspenseful mystery, told from Jack’s and Weatherby’s perspectives, is fast-paced and high-stakes, perfect for the upper middle-grade crowd.

Twin Cities

Published: July 19, 2022

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they enter sixth grade. Luisa will attend middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they face different but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart. Twin Cities  is a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

Saint Ivy: Kind at All Costs

Published: May 18, 2021

Thirteen-year-old Ivy needs to be good to people, even when it’s bad for her. That’s why she pretends to be okay with her mom being a gestational surrogate, a kid at school asking her to let him copy her homework, and never sharing her problems with her friends. But can she keep up the pretense? With a touch of mystery and plenty of heart, this is a thought-provoking novel about people pleasing and being true to oneself.

Life in the Balance

Published: February 16, 2021

Veronica’s life seemed like it was on track until her parents announced that her mom is going to rehab for alcoholism. Her mom who was a softball player when she was younger, her mom the lawyer, her mom who was supposed to help her and her friends practice for softball tryouts. Veronica is frustrated, sad, worried, and even angry at her mom for being unable to stop drinking. She also worries that things will never be the same again. So she throws herself into softball — their family sport — even though she isn’t sure she’s all that into it anymore. At the same time, she’s afraid to share her family’s secret with her best friend (whose parents are getting divorced). Will Veronica ever find a balance? This is a rare portrayal of alcoholism, addiction and rehabilitation in the family — especially in a parent.

All You Knead Is Love

Published: March 30, 2021

All You Knead Is Love  follows 12-year-old Alba whose mother forces her to move from NYC to Barcelona, Spain where her grandmother lives. Alba is gender non-conforming, which means that she doesn’t like the typical “girly” dresses or frilly tops her parents often want her to wear. She’s happiest in her jeans and t-shirts. Alba’s father is physically abusive, especially towards her mother, and generally treats Alba with disregard. When Alba arrives Barcelona, she’s quickly drawn in by the vibrant city and its warm people, one of whom is her grandmother. But just when Alba begins to get comfortable, Toni’s bakery is threatened with closure because it just isn’t earning enough money. Alba needs to find a way to save the hub of her newfound community. This is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about identity, family, community, and, of course, food.

We Dream of Space

Published: May 5, 2020

Siblings Cash, Fitch, and Bird move through the daily trials of pre-teen life in the 1980’s. Fitch and Bird are twins who are now in the same grade as their older brother, Cash — because Cash was held back in the seventh grade. Bird is a space aficionado and dreams of being an astronaut. Fitch has anger issues and hates that he’s getting crushed on by a girl he doesn’t like — and whom his best friends consider unattractive. Cash feels lost and cannot seem to find his place anywhere. It doesn’t help that the situation at home is tense, with parents who are constantly bickering and a family that cannot seem to make time to talk as a unit or nurture their children. Bird is eagerly anticipating the Challenger launch and is a huge fan of Judith Resnik — the Challenger’s Mission Specialist. This novel follows the siblings until the ill-fated launch day which changes their relationship forever. This character-driven slice-of-life novel shows how different families can be, addresses the struggles of navigating sibling relationships, and highlights what difference an enthusiastic teacher can make.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Published: February 1, 2022

Maizy and her mother have returned to Last Chance, Minnesota, because Maizy’s grandfather is ill. Maizy’s mom had her with the help of a sperm donor, and she seems to have taken a less traditional, unexpected career route since her parents expected her to take over their historical Chinese restaurant, The Golden Palace. However, Maizy’s grandparents love her, and Maizy quickly bonds with them, especially her grandfather. One day, she sees pictures of several young Chinese men, and when she asks her grandfather about them, he begins to tell her a sprawling story about their family’s history in Last Chance, which is interwoven with love, racism, and community. At the same time, The Golden Palace experiences a hate crime, and Maizy is shocked to discover who the perpetrator is. This is a spellbinding middle grade book about one Chinese family’s heritage and the granddaughter who ties it all together. 

More to the Story

Published: September 3, 2019

More to the Story  is a modern middle-grade novel inspired by the classic novel,  Little Women. Four Muslim-American sisters, Jamee la, Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza, are distraught when their dad has to go abroad for six months for a job. Thirteen-year-old Jam, as she is fondly called has just become the features editor for her school’s newspaper. She’s determined to impress her dad with her first story. At the same time, a family friend’s nephew, Ali moves from the UK to Atlanta. As Jam and Ali’s friendship blossoms, one of her sisters receives devastating news about her health. This is a heartwarming, charming middle-grade novel about sisterhood, family, and following your passion, perfect for fans of books like Little Women .

Published: September 7, 2021

In the aftermath of her little brother’s death, Lucy and her parents move to a small town that is still healing from a school shooting four years ago. It’s jarring for Lucy to be around all these kids who lost friends when they were in the third grade, but it’s even harder because, unlike the situation in her home, the kids talk a lot about the shooting, their grief, and seeing therapists. But in all their sharing, the students have cast the shooter’s younger sister and their classmate, Avery — whom Lucy befriends — as an outsider. Will Lucy ever find her place and deal with her grief? Aftermath  is a powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful middle grade book about the impact of school shootings, grief, and friendships.

Partly Cloudy

Things are looking partly cloudy for Madalyn Thomas and her family. After being out of work for the last 7 months, her dad has found work in another state and her mom’s schedule as a social worker has become more packed from taking on overtime. Madalyn’s parents send her to live with her Great Uncle Papa Lobo during the week to allow her to attend school in a different district because of security issues at her former school. But as the  only Black girl in class , Madalyn faces a new set of challenges at this new school. Partly Cloudy  is an insightful middle grade story about family, community, and handling microaggressions in middle school.

Counting Thyme

Published: April 12, 2016

I loved this story about a family dealing with a cancer-fighting child and finding the balance to be good parents to all three of their kids. If you love books that tackle hard situations with a hopeful lens and sibling stories set in NYC, you’ll adore Conklin’s debut.

Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

Yusuf Azeem is not a hero like his dad who talked down a gunman in their small-town A-Z Dollar Store. But his dad’s heroism doesn’t prevent him from getting worsening hateful notes in his locker telling him to “Go Home.” Yusuf and his friend Danial had expected that this would be their year — their entry into middle school and a chance to compete in a robotics contest. However, when some of the townspeople, including a group called the Patriot Sons try to stop the construction of their town’s mosque and begin to target Yusuf and other Muslims in the community, they are forced to take a stand. This is a poignant  look at the impact of 9/11 on Muslim communities  in America.

Published: October 18, 2022

Five kids form an unlikely friend group at the start of a new school year with surprising results. Lucas is processing his older brother’s death and his mom leaving his dad and him, Robbie is the group goofball with his own challenges, Finn is the walking encyclopedia, Cat is the star athlete, and Anna is the popular girl whose drawn to the group. As the kids play sardines (reverse hide-and-seek), they learn about each other’s most wanted wishes and plot to help each one get them. But when it’s Lucas’s turn, he’s afraid to bare his soul. Can he get past the fear and make his own wish come true? Sardines  is a heartwarming middle grade novel about friendship, mental health, bullying, identity, and community. 

The Prettiest

Published: April 14, 2020

Eve, Sophie, and Nessa are three different girls in Ford middle-school whose lives are changed when their names appear on “ The Prettiest ” list posted online by someone called “LordTesla.” Sophie is the Queen Bee of middle school, and Eve is the bookworm and poetry aficionado who’s started wearing her brother’s sports jerseys to hide her changing body. Nessa is a plus-sized theater geek with a melodious voice who experiences a slew of emotions — indifference, annoyance, disgust at beauty standards — when she realizes her name didn’t even make the list. The three girls band together in an unlikely friendship to find the person who made the list and make him face the consequences of his actions. This a powerful look at female objectification and sexual harassment in middle school.

How to Find What You’re Not Looking For

Published: September 14, 2021

This book follows 12-year-old Ariel whose life is upturned when her big sister (the best of them all), Leah, elopes with her Indian-American boyfriend after the  Loving vs. Virginia  ruling. Ariel’s parents are upset, Ariel is struggling with being able to write well at school, and she can’t stop thinking about her sister and everything happening in the world. How to Find What You’re Not Looking For  is a poignant, moving, and brilliantly written middle grade novel about family, identity, and love.

Averil Offline

Published: February 13, 2024

Averil’s mom and several parents of kids in her school and neighborhood use an app called Ruby Slippers to track their kids’ location, request video and photos from them on demand, and generally monitor their behavior and actions all day and Averil and her classmate Max are sick of it. Especially when they find out that the app will be updated soon to let parents remotely turn on their kids’ cameras at will. Both kids make a plot to ditch a camping trip and find the original app developer, Rider Wollybeck, in hopes of asking him to rescind the update. This hijinks-filled story is reminiscent of classic stories where kids run away to save the day as Max and Averil stay on their town’s college campus, eating at the cafeteria and sleeping in the library for the 2-3 days needed to accomplish their plan. I love the gentle mystery, STEM angle, and theme of childhood autonomy this book explores. I think it has major kid appeal — and it’s only 208 pages long!

That’s What Friends Do

Published: January 28, 2020

Sammie and David are best friends who first met at Little League. As the only girl on the baseball team, Sammie enjoys being one of the guys, and she and David get along excellently. She’s convinced herself that she’s just better at being friends with the boys. Things are great until a new boy, Luke, moves into the neighborhood. Luke is taller than David and keeps trying to flirt with Sammie even though it obviously makes her uncomfortable. While Sammie looks to David for support, David — who has a crush on Sammie — is preoccupied with being jealous of Luke’s seemingly “smooth” skills. As a result, David starts to focus on making his affection known to Sammie, just as Luke seems to be doing. Eventually, an incident on the bus between David and Sammie jeopardizes their friendship and forces Sammie to re-examine the meaning of true friendship. I loved everything about this wonderful, wholesome story.

Violets Are Blue

Published: October 12, 2021

12-year-old Wren lives with her mom after her parents’ divorce. Her dad has moved to New York City and married his lover (with whom he was unfaithful to her mother), who is now expecting twins. Wren is also a special effects makeup aficionado. Caught up in a new school, navigating new friendships, and balancing her relationships with her parents — whose relationship with each other is strained — Wren notices her mom has begun behaving strangely. Violets Are Blue is an engaging middle-grade book with a relatable, creative protagonist dealing with parental substance abuse.

12 to 22 (POV: You Wake Up in the Future)

Published: August 16, 2022

On her 12th half birthday, her parents surprisingly gift her their approval to post on social networks. Thrilled, Harper starts posting TikTok videos like her idol, Blake Riley. Her first video goes viral and brings her closer to the popular crew in her school who only befriend her so she can teach them her edits. Their interest in her creates a rift between Harper and her best friend Ava. In the midst of the chaos, Harper tries a TikTok filter, which, combined with a wish to be 22, suddenly makes her 22! Unfortunately, her future is much different than she imagined. Is being 22 as great as she imagined? Or will she just want her old life back? And can she even get it back? Or is it too late? This is a charming, light,  feel-good story  about  time travel , social media, and treasuring friendships.

Across the Desert

12-year-old Jolene has a tough life. Her mom is misusing opioids and can barely care for her. She’s mocked at school for wearing too-small clothing and looking haggard. Jolene’s only bright spot is a tween pilot she watches via livestream at the library, “Addie Earhart.” Addie and Jolene gradually form a warm friendship and encourage each other through life’s hardships. But one day during the livestream, Addie crashes her plane. No one but Jolene is watching the stream, and Addie’s mom doesn’t know she even flies planes. It’s up to Jolene to save her, but she’s a kid with no money — and Addie’s is stuck miles away in the Arizona desert. This is a heart-pounding middle grade novel about self-worth, friendships, and the struggle of a parent with addiction.

A Perfect Mistake

Published: July 12, 2022

Max and his community are reeling from a night out gone wrong. Max and his friends Joey and Will went out with two older boys, but Will ended up unconscious and in a coma, and Joey won’t speak to Max anymore. Max also has ADHD and is over six feet tall at 11, which means he stands out in his class. Frustrated that he can’t figure out what happened to Will, Max teams up with an inquisitive classmate, but the truths he unravels aren’t pretty. Can Max get to the bottom of this mystery? A Perfect Mistake  is a pitch-perfect  middle grade mystery  about honesty, peer pressure, and standing up for what’s right. 

Published: July 5, 2022

Marianne Blume has convinced herself that she’s not smart. She’s gotten through school so far by charming teachers out of questioning her. But her eighth-grade teacher, Mr. Garcia, isn’t easily fooled. To pull up her grades for high school, Marianne tries to win his favor by joining the school’s trivia team (which he coaches). But as the term progresses, Marianne bonds with the trivia kids and learns that there’s more to being smart than book smart — but also, she’s more intelligent than she gives herself credit for. Bright  is a deeply insightful book about labels, persistence, and self-belief, featuring themes like sisterhood, female friendships, and family.

Wishing Upon the Same Stars

This debut middle-grade novel by Arab-American author Jacquetta Nammar Feldman follows young Palestinian-American Yasmeen Khoury, whose parents move from Detroit (which has a thriving Arab-American community) to San Antonio, Texas, where there are few to no other Arab-American families. But just before Yasmeen despairs, she discovers that their next-door neighbors are Arab-Americans too — only, they’re Israeli-American, not Palestinian-American. She befriends their daughter Ayelet, but her father is not pleased, especially with the current Palestinian-Israeli tensions. On top of adjusting to a new school and finding her place in the world, can Yasmeen help her dad see beyond the differences? This is a moving, poignant exploration of finding common ground despite differences and strife.

Coming Up Short

Published: June 21, 2022

Bea is winning at being a shortstop, finally making headway with her crush, and is excited to go to summer camp with her friends when her dad’s legal license is suspended in a town scandal. Suddenly, she develops a case of the yips and begs her parents to send her to another softball summer camp on Gray Island, where her mom grew up. Throughout the summer, Bea learns more about her parents’ previous marriages and other secrets.  Coming Up Short  is a sporty, summery, and serious coming of age story about a girl dealing with difficult emotions and circumstances. 

The Bridge Home

Published: February 5, 2019

This heartbreaking middle grade novel follows sisters Viji and Rukku, who flee an abusive home situation into the streets of Chennai, India, where life isn’t so much better. Faced with hunger and homelessness, the sisters befriend two other kids in the same situation and keep trying to find respite until a tragedy upends their lives. This is great for readers looking for more books about poverty and homelessness or stories set in India.

The Road to Wherever

Published: May 11, 2021

11-year-old June (Henry Junior) Ball’s mother sends him off on the road with his adult second cousins after his father disappears without a word. Cousins Thomas and Cornell are “Ford Men” traveling throughout the US to fix people’s old Ford trucks for free. The Ford owners only have to buy spare parts. As the road trip progresses, the men teach June about Ford trucks, fixing cars, and being kind. June also processes his father’s absence while expanding his heart by meeting just as many broken humans as Ford trucks. This is a heartfelt  road trip adventure story  about family,  community , and purpose. 

Golden Girl

Published: February 22, 2022

Afiyah has a problem with taking things (seemed like kleptomania) even when she tries really hard not to. Fortunately, she’s often remorseful and returns the stolen items. She’s shaken when her father is wrongfully arrested for embezzlement at the airport during a family trip. The situation puts a strain on her family and moves Afiyah to strongly examine her tendency to steal — especially after she gets caught in the act. Golden Girl  is a touching, realistic coming-of-age story about trying to break bad habits and dealing with a  family crisis . 

Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes

Published: May 17, 2022

Alex is looking forward to spending the summer (as she’s always done) with her best friend, Will. Will’s mother runs the concession stand at their community pool, and both kids have spent several summers playing games at the pool. This summer, though, a schoolmate named Rebekah has eyes for Will — and him for her! As Rebekah and Will begin a tentative crush-friendship, Alex feels threatened and ropes Will into a big summer project (building their treehouse), for which they’ll need several summer jobs to afford building supplies. Surprisingly to Alex, Rebekah also wants to be her friend too. Can Alex get over her jealousy and other issues in her life to figure out this summer friendship drama? This is a terrific  summery middle grade book  about  evolving friendships , growing up, and adjusting to changes.

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

Published: April 26, 2022

Tae Keller’s newest middle grade book,  Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone , opens with new girl Jennifer Chan declared missing at her middle school. As whispers begin, her next-door neighbor Mallory Moss worries that Jennifer may have been abducted by aliens (which Jennifer believed existed). Mallory reunites with two former friends begging them to help her find Jennifer following clues from her time with Jennifer and the diary Jennifer left behind. The story alternates between past and present as readers discover that Mallory’s search is also motivated by an ulterior motive: the need to prove that she and her popular friends didn’t run Jennifer Chan out of town with their bullying. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone  is a razor-sharp, realistic portrayal of kids mismanaging their insecurities and coping by  bullying others .

Falling Short

Published: March 15, 2022

In  Falling Short , we meet Marco and Isaac. They’ve been besties for as long as they can remember and now they share one pain in common: both their dads aren’t in their lives as they’d like. Isaac’s dad is attentive but currently struggling with alcoholism. Marco’s dad wishes Marco were more athletic, instead of nerdy. At the start of middle school, both boys decide to help each other reach their goals. For Isaac, it’s getting better at more than just basketball — getting better grades and being more responsible. And for Marco, it’s learning a sport: basketball. Can they reach their goals? And will their friendship survive it? I loved this look at a warm friendship bond between boys. 

Everywhere Blue

Published: June 1, 2021

When Madrigal’s (Maddie) older brother, Strum, goes missing from his college campus, her musical family loses its harmony. Her French mother is distraught — broken for the first time as Maddie has never seen her. Her piano-playing father doesn’t even touch his instrument, and her fiery sister retreats into a rebellious funk, drinking and partying, even though she’s only 16. Maddie tries to keep everything together: focus on her oboe lessons and compulsive counting that calms her mind. But when her parents leave to look for Strum and Maddie is left with Aria, things seem hopeless. Maddie continues trying to manage school work, friendships, practicing her instrument, and maybe joining a new eco club at school. Eventually, though, with all leads looking dead-ended, Maddie just might have what it takes to find Strum. But can she find her way to him? Everywhere Blue  is a poignant, moving  middle grade verse novel about family ,  mental health , music, and  caring for the environment .

The Kate in Between

When a bunch of popular kids seems to welcome Kate into their clique, she is torn about ditching her longtime best friend, Haddie. Things get complicated, however, when Kate is a passive participant in a bullying incident that leads to Haddie sinking on thin ice. Then, Kate is captured on camera saving Haddie, and the video goes viral. While news outlets hail “Kate the Great” as a shining example for tweens who should not be bullying other kids, Kate continues to oscillate between craving acceptance from the popular kids and trying to keep her friendship with Haddie, all the while maintaining her public image by appearing in newspapers and on popular YouTube channels. But how long can she keep up the charade? And, is Kate great? Or is she a bad person? The Kate in Between  is a timely, complex, and engaging middle grade book about identity, popularity,  bullying culture , and going viral.

Those Kids from Fawn Creek

Published: March 8, 2022

This book follows 12 seventh-graders in Fawn Creek’s middle school. These kids have grown up together in their small factory town and know each other in and out. They’ve formed semi-permanent cliques and it’s tough for them to break out from the general expectations of their peers. The story is told by multiple narrators, including the new girl Orchid Mason (who says she’s from New York and has grown up in cities around the world), shy girl Dorothy, and her best friend (and the only person she talks to) Greyson. Cousins Janie and Abby have recently become a duo since their “Queen Bee,” Rennie Dean, moved away to a nearby town but still tries to keep tabs on them and control their actions. When Rennie and her crew find out about Orchid’s seemingly exotic background, they’re at once jealous and convinced that she’s lying. But is she? Those Kids from Fawn Creek  is a gorgeously written, character-driven, slice-of-life middle grade  book about bullying  and the power of kindness.

Published: March 9, 2021

Starfish  features Ellie, a fat girl who has been bullied for her weight since she wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash in the pool. Even her older brother and sister make fun of her weight. Her mom controls her diet, monitoring her portions and choosing lackluster “healthy” alternatives. Ellie is feeling more disheartened because her friend Viv who is also plus-sized is moving away. Thankfully, after Viv moves, Ellie finds a friend in her new neighbor Catalina and her family. The family loves food and welcome Ellie with open arms, never judging her for her weight. At school, bullying intensifies when a chair breaks after Ellie sits on it. Her mom is also pushing for gastric bypass surgery for Ellie. Eventually, her father gets her mother to ease off by taking Ellie to a therapist who helps her accept her body and defend herself against bullies. Starfish  is a powerful, fat-positive middle grade  verse novel  about a girl who is learning that she deserves to take up space.

No Fixed Address

Published: September 11, 2018

12-year-old Felix Knuttson is a sweet kid whose brain soaks up trivia like a sponge. His mom Astrid (whom he calls by her name), is loving but unreliable and can’t seem to hold on to a job or a house. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, Astrid “borrows” a camper van from an ex and moves them in there “just for August” until she finds a job. But September comes, and there’s still no job or house, and Felix needs an address to enroll in school. Astrid figures out a way to do that, but Felix can’t tell anyone about their home situation. At the new school, he makes two new friends and finds out about a trivia contest that might change their housing situation. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. This is a compelling, realistic, and funny middle grade  book about homelessness, poverty , friendship, and mental health.

Violet and the Pie of Life

12-year-old Violet wishes that math could solve all her problems — and she does try to use her math. Unfortunately, her parents are fighting more and more. Her mom seems to nag constantly while her dad is the fun one who does things like buying them fried chicken for dinner. Eventually, after a heated argument one night, her father moves out and her mom won’t tell Violet where he’s gone. At school, her best friend Mackenzie seems to make fun of just about anyone, but especially the nice, pretty girl in their class, Ally. So when Violet gets cast as the Lion in the Wizard of Oz play and Mackenzie gets a small role, while Ally plays Dorothy, Mackenzie asks Violet to quit the play with her. Violet refuses. That and a budding friendship with Ally put a strain on her friendship with Mackenzie, adding to Violet’s overall stress. Violet and the Pie of Life  is a realistic portrayal of the impact of  parental separation  on a child.

A Song Called Home

Published: March 15, 2022

Lou and her sister Casey have to move from the city to the suburbs to live with their new stepfather, Steve, leaving behind their old schools and Lou’s best friend Beth Tsai. Forming this new family is hard on Lou and Casey for different reasons. Lou feels like she’s leaving their alcoholic father behind and Casey worries that Steve is being too nice and the “real Steve” will show up soon. On the day before their move (which is also Lou’s birthday) Lou finds a guitar right outside their old apartment addressed to her. Convinced it’s from her dad, she starts learning to play guitar to maintain that bond with him. As they all navigate the blending of their families, Lou learns about herself and what family truly means. A Song Called Home  is a realistic, heartrending depiction of the process of  blending a family  while dealing with the trauma of having an alcoholic parent.

Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla

Published: September 5, 2023

1960, Cuba. Cousins Victoria and Jackie love living in their island country with their large family. When when Fidel Castro’s communist government takes hold, things change swiftly, leading Victoria’s father to relocate his family to Miami, leaving Jackie and her family behind. As Victoria adapts to life in the US, Jackie and her family struggle in Cuba—until the family decides to send Jackie over to the States with Operation Peter Pan. But will Jackie ever see her family again? Both girls band together to bring the rest of their family to America. Farewell Cuba Mi Isla  is a moving, authentic book chronicling the impact of Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba.

Published: March 31, 2020

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh-grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness, and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it? Wink  by Rob Harrell is a brilliant, funny, and thoughtful middle grade book about navigating a cancer diagnosis in 7th grade.

Kyra, Just for Today

Published: March 5, 2024

In this companion to A Song Called Home , Kyra’s mother is an alcoholic in recovery. She could always count on having her best friend, Lu — until now. Lu has new friends and splits her time between both friend groups, eventually asking Kyra to join them sometimes. Kyra is also getting bullied for being bigger than most other 13-year-olds. Already, Kyra does so much at home: cooking, and even helping her mom out with her cleaning job. But then her mother starts acting weird, leading Kyra to believe that she’s relapsed. I loved how the author shows readers that recovery is not linear and I enjoyed watching Kyra feel safe in her own skin. Hand to fans of Sumner’s Maid for It and readers who love books featuring food and cooking.

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper

Published: April 11, 2023

7th grader Gemma Hopper’s mother has left their family. Gemma lives with her dad, older brother Teddy, and their twin younger brothers. While their dad works overtime to fend for the family materially, Gemma is saddled with caring for the home and her twin siblings while also serving as a ball machine/practice partner for her brother, who’s a baseball prodigy of sorts. One day, while practicing with Teddy, she strikes him out with two impressive pitches, capturing the attention of some scouts from a competitive baseball team. All of a sudden, Gemma now also has star potential. Can both siblings find a way to work together? This is an engaging graphic novel about family (absent mothers), baseball, and  sibling relationships . 

The Braid Girls

Published: June 13, 2023

In  The Braid Girls , Maggie’s summer is off to a rocky start when her parents announce that she has a half-sister—a daughter her father never knew about until now. Callie’s presence throws off soft-spoken Maggie’s dynamic with her outspoken best friend Daija, even more when Callie joins their hair-braiding business. This is a sweet, relatable middle grade  book about sisterhood , entrepreneurship, and finding your voice.

No Matter the Distance

  Published: February 21, 2023

This book centers on young Penny, a middle schooler with cystic fibrosis. Penny has to take digestive enzymes and do her breathing treatments to help her lungs get rid of mucus that affects her breathing. While her CF case is relatively mild-moderate, she still struggles with being chronically ill. One day a dolphin shows up in the lake near their house and Penny feels a strong connection with the animal. It turns out the dolphin (whom Penny names Rose) is also sick and needs to return to her pod to get better. Penny may be the only one who can help the scientists take Rose back. But can she do that, when she feels so drawn to the animal? No Matter the Distance  is a beautiful  middle grade verse novel  about living with cystic fibrosis and finding belonging in community.

Morning Sun in Wuhan

Published: November 8, 2022

I’ve had  Morning Sun in Wuhan  on my radar for a long time because it’s set in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic (and mostly because of the cover). 13-year-old Mei loves cooking and playing a cooking video game with two of her friends. She lives with her physician dad and is still grieving the loss of her mother. Her life suddenly turns upside down when a new virus starts killing people in her hometown Wuhan. Her dad is stuck working at the hospital and leaves Mei at home when the city is locked down. Can Mei cope with the pandemic — and find a way to help others around her? Morning Sun in Wuhan  is a fascinating, insightful middle grade account depicting the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. 

Absolutely Positively Natty

  Published: May 9, 2023

Reeling from the impact of her mother’s depression on their family, Natty decides she’s going to be “Good Vibes Only.” She even starts a pep rally club in her cheerless new town. But her pursuit of positivity wears on her friendships and her–until the facade starts to crumble. An insightful exploration of toxic positivity and how kids can manage tough situations instead.

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

Published: July 11, 2023

Maudie is a sweet, autistic girl spending the summer with her dad. When her dad’s home is razed in a California wildfire, they move to the small beach town where her father grew up. Throughout the summer, as Maudie makes new friends, starts learning to surf, and enters a surfing contest, a secret tugs at her–one her mother has asked her to keep from her dad.  The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn  is a vivid, triumphant, and authentic coming-of-age story about discovering one’s inner strength.

A Work in Progress

Published: May 2, 2023

Will feels like the only chubby kid in his class and feels insecure about his weight. Add to that the bullying he faces and his observations of his mother’s attitude toward food, and he falls into a pattern of disordered eating and over-exercising. Thankfully, a budding friendship with a new classmate changes his view. This is a great book about body image issues, and it’s done in an illustrated verse format that I think kids will love.

The Wildly Unknown Myth of Apple and Dorothy

Published: September 19, 2023

Apple and Dorothy are half-gods, descendants of the Greek gods Zeus and Hera and Pandora, respectively. When Dorothy’s mother refuses to return to Olympus one solstice, she becomes a full human and is soon killed in a car accident, leaving Dorothy and her father grieving. Motivated by a promise she made to Dorothy’s mother, Apple befriends Dorothy. But when the gods rule that all half-gods must return home to Olympus and take their place as gods or remain human, Dorothy chooses Earth, to Apple’s dismay. Apple’s fear of losing Dorothy leads her to make a decision with terrible consequences. As a non-fantasy reader, I loved this book — how clever, creative, and profound it is, especially in the way it approaches friendship and grief. I think fans of  Greek mythology  will love it.

There they are: 50 of the best books for seventh graders! I hope you find something appealing for your kids. If you’d like more upper middle-grade book recommendations, here’s my list of upper middle grade books .

Which of these books for seventh graders have you read and enjoyed? And which other ones would you recommend?

More Book Lists

• Realistic fiction for 7th graders
• Mystery books for 7th graders
• Historical fiction for 7th graders

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• About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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Reader Interactions

What do you think leave a comment cancel reply.

November 16, 2020 at 2:53 pm

The only one I’ve read here is Amal Unbound. So good! 🙌

November 17, 2020 at 4:57 pm

Another handy list! I’ve read a few of these and a few are new to me. I should really check out The Prettiest. The Story That Cannot Be Told caught my eye. (BTW, you have the description for One Last Shot underneath Serena Says).

November 18, 2020 at 4:10 pm

Hi Jenna! Thank you so much for your kind comment. Yes, you’ll love THE PRETTIEST! And thanks for the heads up, I’ve fixed that mistake now 🙂

November 21, 2020 at 12:40 pm

There are so many amazing books on this list! And a few I haven’t read yet!

June 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm

Bookmarking this post! Love it!

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

6. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

7. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

8. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. See the sandwich and pizza options above and check out this blog for more delicious ideas.

9. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

10. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger.

11. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

12. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over the report.

13. T-Shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint. Get step-by-step directions .

14. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

15. Watercolor Rainbow Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

16. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

17. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

18. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

19. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

20. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

21. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

22. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

23. Book Report Triorama

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but Elisha Ann provides a lesson to show students how to glue four triangles together to make a 4D model.

24. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8 x 11 sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

25. Clothes Hanger Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

26. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then give them a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

27. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels , and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

28. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

29. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

30. Letter to the Author

Write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

31. Book Report Charm Bracelet

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

33. Cereal Box TV Book Report

This book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut-out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

34. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

35. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

36. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach , this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

37. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment. For more, here are step-by-step directions .

38. Comic strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strips. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

39. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

40. Cereal Box

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report Wheaties-style. Decorate all sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a “wanted” poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

What creative book report ideas did we miss? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most popular kids’ books in every grade..

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7 Printable Book Reports

There are numerous ways to present a book report. Over the years, my kids have created bookmobiles, book posters, and even a book shoe box. Yes, there is such a thing. Book reports encourage reading comprehension, the skill of summarizing, sequencing, and even reflection. However, sometimes we don’t want a book report to become a week-long project. That’s where printable book reports become beneficial. There are 7 FREE Printable Book Reports below! Take a look at which one would work for you and yours!

* Be sure to check out our  Hamburger Paragraph Organizers and for your younger students, take a look at our large collection of Draw & Write sheets .

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Why Printable Book Reports

For starters, Printable Book Reports are flexible. They can be used once a year, month, quarter, or for every book your student reads. For us, we use them multiple times in a year. Printable Book Reports are also versatile and easily accessible. There are 7 different versions of our Printable Book Reports to choose from. Some versions are more appropriate for younger students while others are geared toward an older student. My 4th grader chooses a different one than my 6th grader, but both book reports offer the same benefits.

How to use Printable Book Reports

Any time you add an activity to your homeschool, make sure it is worth your time and your student’s effort. For us, these book reports allow my student the opportunity to summarize and work on their writing skills. Specifically, my kids practice developing concise sentences, editing, sequencing, and writing with a flow.  That can be difficult for even experienced writers.

Before assigning your student the book report, engage in open dialogue with your child about the book. Ask them questions about their book. Get them talking about the characters, plot, setting, and dynamics of the story. This alone will assist your budding writer greatly. It is almost like verbal brainstorming. Once you have gotten a grasp on your student’s take of the book, assign them one of the 7 book reports.

From my experience, print two copies of the book report. The first copy will be their rough draft. After they complete it, address any grammar or sentence structure errors. This is also the appropriate time for them to clarify details or add sentences to connect ideas. Once this has been done, your student is ready to write their final draft. For those of you looking to expand this into a full book report project, encourage your student to illustrate a book cover on a separate sheet of paper. Then, have your student attach the illustration and written book report onto a small poster board side-by-side. It makes an impressive display!

So, no matter what book report template you choose, these can be a valuable language arts teaching tool!

DOWNLOAD 7 PRINTABLE BOOK REPORTS

Another reading comprehension option for younger students.

Your student may not be ready for the Printable Book Reports above. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an appropriate teaching tool to use after they have finished reading a book. We use a very simple 4-square graphic organizer for our younger students when wanting to work on reading comprehension. It is something that you can work on together and can be used for a mere storybook rather than a novel. Check out our 4-Square Graphic Organizers here.

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