Book Review Project: This will be a group project.
Pick one of the following books to read:
Cane by Jean Toomer
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Native Son by Richard Wright
She Would be King Wayétu Moore
After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Vanishing Half Brit Bennett
Salvage the Bones Jemyn Ward
Grand Union Zadie Smith
On October 3, groups will present a 3-5 minute talk on their book. A book talk is a formal
presentation in which you tell/instruct us about the book WITHOUT summarizing it in its
entirety. It is NOT a summary from beginning to end. Tell us, instead, about the important
characters and the essence of the book—in one sentence, what is the book about? What is the
central question or theme the author grapples within the book? Discuss the text within that
framework and what the author’s message was in the text.
Outline:
Introduction:
· Find an interesting, exciting, or mysterious quote to start off your book talk and get the
audience’s attention. Don’t just pick any quote… choose carefully and deliberately to try
to capture the attention of your audience (the class).
· Explain why you chose the quote.
· Clearly introduce your book by presenting it as a visual and stating the name and author
of the book.
Body:
· Tell a little about the setting, important characters, and plot in general without giving
too much away of the story. Do not just list the characters and the setting and don’t give
a drawn-out summary of the book. Under no circumstances should you give away the
ending of the novel.
· State at least one theme of the novel with evidence.
Conclusion:
· Convince your audience that you loved this book and that this is the book they want to
read next. Infer which readers would enjoy the book. For example, “If you like mysteries
and books with suspense, this is a book for you.”
Your presentation must include a visual aid, such as an illustration or original book cover,
poster, power-point, or google presentation. If you are super tech-y, you might have an even
better idea.
You will also submit an individual worksheet.
Rubric for Book Talk
Criteria
Introduction
Below Average 0 – 3
Introduction/quote does
not grab the audience’s
attention
Average 3-4
Somewhat interesting
introduction/quote
Eye contact
Rarely or never maintains
eye contact
Does not discuss all three:
setting, characters & plot
Sometimes maintains eye
contact
Average discussion of
setting, characters, & plot
Plot, setting, &
characters
Theme
Conclusion
Enthusiasm and
understanding of
the book
Speech
Does not discuss or is
Somewhat discusses
incorrect about the theme theme but doesn’t provide
evidence
Very little conclusion or
Concluded but did not
no conclusion at all
draw the audience to read
the book
Did not show enthusiasm Some enthusiasm and
or understanding
understanding
Speech is too fast, too
slow, or difficult to
understand or hear
Visual aid
Does not have the book
Time: 1-3 Min.
30+ seconds over or
under
Comments:
Speech is sometimes
difficult to understand or
hear
Has the book but doesn’t
present it
1-30 seconds over or under
Excellent 4-5
Creative introduction with
a well-selected quote that
gets the audience’s
attention
Always or almost always
maintains eye contact
Thorough and interesting
discussion of setting,
characters, and plot
Thoroughly discusses the
theme with evidence
Very enticing conclusion
which draws the audience
to read the book
Obvious enthusiasm and
understanding
Speech is easy to
understand with good
tempo (not too fast or slow
Has the book and presents
it to the class
Between 3-5 minutes