Can You Write a Book
Review???
It’s easier
than you
think!!!
In This Lesson………
We will learn to
write a three
paragraph book review
using the novel,
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen
as our sample book.
Just the Facts…..
Here’s How to Begin:
• In paragraph one, give the facts about
the book:
• The book, (title), by (author), was written in
(year). It is considered to be (genre) with a
little bit of (mystery, humor, suspense, etc.)
thrown in. The protagonist in (title) is (name).
The antagonist(s) is(are) (name). Other
important characters in the novel are (names).
The setting is (where and when).
First Paragraph
The book, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, was written in
2002. It is considered to be realistic fiction with a little
bit of mystery and humor thrown in. The protagonist in
Hoot is Roy Eberhardt. The antagonists are Dana, the
school bully, and Curly and Chuck Muckle, who both
work for the Mother Paula’s Pancake Corporation.
Other important characters in the novel are Mr. & Mrs.
Eberhardt (Roy’s parents), Napoleon Bridger, (AKA the
running boy), Beatrice Leap (Napoleon’s step-sister),
and Officer Delinko The setting is Coconut Cove,
Florida, an imaginary city near Miami.
The Summary
• After the introduction (paragraph one) to
your review, you should write a summary.
In a summary, you summarize the action
(plot) in the book. One big mistake
students make on a book review is to write
a big, long, boring summary. Sometimes
they tell too much of the story.
Writing a Summary
• To keep from ruining your review with a
summary that is too long and boring,
follow this template. It will help you keep
your plot events in order, guide your
audience through the story, and lead the
rest of your essay into what is
important....... the analysis of the story
(paragraph three).
Here’s How to
Write Your Summary:
• In the (genre) novel (title) by
(author), (protagonist name)
learns/ changes/ grows through
(theme).
Example:
In the realistic fiction novel, Hoot, by
Carl Hiaasen, Roy grows through
realizing that it is important to stand
up for what you believe in.
Summary Template
• In the exposition of the novel,
(character name) is a (age) (gender) who
is (a character trait or situation).
Example:
• In the exposition of the novel, Roy is a
teenaged boy who is new to town and
discovers a mysterious boy running away
from the school bus.
Summary Template
As the conflict develops, (character name) faces
the challenge of (name the major conflict of the
story).
Example:
As the conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge
of tying to discover the mysterious boy’s identity
and is drawn to a construction site where a
Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built.
Meanwhile, he is being bullied at school.
Book Report Summary
• In the rising action of the story,
(character name) (what the
character does). Then (something
else happens). Later, (one more
event).
Example:
In the rising action of the story, Roy meets the
running boy and his sister and finds that he is trying
to save the burrowing owls on the construction site.
Then, he joins the boy in trying to save the owls.
Later, the running boy gets sick and uses Roy’s
identity to get treatment at a hospital.
Summary Template
• The climax of the story happens when
(character name) faces the greatest
challenge when (event that turns the
story around).
Example:
• The climax of the story happens as Roy
faces the greatest challenge when he
organizes a protest at the construction
site and the owls are saved.
Book Report Summary
• The falling action tells of
(character name) (action).
Example:
• The falling action tells of Roy finding out
the running boy’s true identity and
discovering that the Mother Paula’s
Corporation knew about the owls all
along.
Book Report Summary
• In the resolution, (character name)
(how he is at the end of
the story).
Example:
• In the resolution, Roy has made friends,
adjusted to his new school, and has
learned it is important to protect
endangered species.
Summary Paragraph
In the realistic fiction novel, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, Roy grows through
realizing that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. In the
exposition of the novel, Roy is a teenaged boy who is new to town and
discovers a mysterious boy running away from the school bus. As the
conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge of trying to discover the
mysterious boy’s identity and is drawn to a construction site where a
Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built. Meanwhile, he is being
bullied at school. In the rising action of the story, Roy meets the running boy
and his sister and finds that he is trying to save the burrowing owls on the
construction site. Then, he joins the boy in trying to save the owls. Later,
the running boy gets sick and uses Roy’s identity to get treatment at a
hospital. The climax of the story happens as Roy faces the greatest
challenge when he organizes a protest at the construction site and the owls
are saved. The falling action tells of Roy finding out the running boy’s true
identity and discovering that the Mother Paula’s Corporation knew about
the owls all along. In the resolution, Roy has made friends, adjusted to his
new school and has learned it is important to protect endangered species.
Finish it Up
(Paragraph 3)
• Now, the analysis of the story…...
• This is when you give your opinion about the book.
• Tell whether you would / would not recommend this
novel to a friend.
• Give at least three reasons why.
• Make sure you use time order words for your reasons
(first, next, finally).
• Tell what you learned from the book.
• Finish with a flair: All in All if you are looking for a
book that…………, you’ve found the perfect
novel/read in…………
Final Paragraph
• I would recommend Hoot to other readers. I enjoyed
this novel for several reasons. First, the characters
were realistic. Second, I was entertained by Carl
Hiaasen’s sense of humor. Finally, I could relate to
the conflicts experienced by the characters. This
book taught me that it is important to take care of our
environment and animals that are endangered. I also
learned that young people can make a difference in
the world. All in all, if you are searching for an
exciting realistic fiction novel with a little mystery and
humor thrown in, you’ve found the perfect read in
Hoot.
Your Book Review:
The book, Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, was written in 2002.
It is considered to be realistic fiction with a little bit of
mystery and humor thrown in. The protagonist in Hoot
is Roy Eberhardt. The antagonists are Dana, the
school bully, and Curly and Chuck Muckle, who both
work for the Mother Paula’s Pancake Corporation.
Other important characters in the novel are Mr. & Mrs.
Eberhardt (Roy’s parents), Napoleon Bridger, (AKA
the running boy), Beatrice Leap (Napoleon’s stepsister), and Officer Delinko The setting is Coconut
Cove, Florida, an imaginary city near Miami.
In Hoot, Roy grows through realizing that it is important to stand up for
what you believe in. In the exposition of the novel, Roy is a teenaged
boy who is new to town and discovers a mysterious boy running away
from the school bus. As the conflict develops, Roy faces the challenge of
trying to discover the mysterious boy’s identity and is drawn to a
construction site where a Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built.
Meanwhile, he is being bullied at school. In the rising action of the story,
Roy meets the running boy and his sister and finds that he is trying to
save the burrowing owls on the construction site. Then, he joins the boy
in trying to save the owls. Later, the running boy gets sick and uses
Roy’s identity to get treatment at a hospital. The climax of the story
happens as Roy faces the greatest challenge when he organizes a
protest at the construction site and the owls are saved. The falling action
tells of Roy finding out the running boy’s true identity and discovering
that the Mother Paula’s Corporation knew about the owls all along. In
the resolution, Roy has made friends, adjusted to his new school and
has learned it is important to protect endangered species.
I would recommend Hoot to other readers. I
enjoyed this novel for several reasons.
First, the characters were realistic. Second,
I was entertained by Carl Hiaasen’s sense
of humor. Finally, I could relate to the
conflicts experienced by the characters.
This book taught me that it is important to
take care of our environment and animals
that are endangered. I also learned that
young people can make a difference in the
world. All in all, if you are searching for an
exciting realistic fiction novel with a little
mystery and humor thrown in, you’ve found
the perfect read in Hoot.
I told you writing a book review was