How to “Hook” Your Audience:
Book Commercial
When opening up your book commercial, you don’t just want to start by saying the
dreaded phrase, “In my book…” So, below you will find some ideas for how to open up
your book commercial in an engaging and informative way:
1. Set the scene. Get your audience to imagine what life is like for one of the main
characters or in the setting of the world in which the book takes place.
Example: “Imagine a world in which you only live blocks away from one of the
most dangerous felons in the country. That is the reality of the main character
Moose in the book Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.”
2. Pose a question. Ask your audience a hypothetical question (something you
don’t really expect them to answer).
Example: “What would you do if you watched your little sister be picked to go into
a situation that may kill her? Would you let it happen? Would you stop it?
Would you sacrifice yourself? If you are Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger
Games by Suzanne Collins, you choose to sacrifice yourself!”
3. A bold or thought provoking statement. Make a statement about the book
that will make your audience think or be left with suspense.
Example: “Sometimes jealousy will drive people to do mean acts. In the story
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving readers are led to infer that
jealousy causes one character to “disappear” because of it.”
4. Engaging/Emotional/Funny quote. Share a “golden line” quote from the book.
Example: “I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a
standing ovation at least once in their lives.” In the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio,
the main character, Auggie, learns that he deserves to feel special in a great way
just like everyone else.”