Sample Fiction Book Reviews by Middle School Students

Sample Nonfiction Book Reviews by Middle School Students

Parrot in the Oven

Author: Victor Martinez

How do you earn respect when you are poor and live in the projects? This is a question that 14 year old Manny Hernandez needs to answer. Most of the boys he knows join gangs, but Manny is not so sure.

Things are difficult for Manny's family because his father is unemployed and has a drinking problem. His older brother and sister are too busy for him, and his mother just cleans and worries. Many says, “My dad refers to people as money. A well-respected man is a hundred-dollar person, the next one down is a fifty-dollar person. To my dad, I am a penny.” So Manny joins a gang, but finds out that the gang leaders is not a person to respect. He steals, hurts people, makes fun of school, and is mean. Many decides he'd rather think for himself.

This book is a good example of how hard it is to do what is right and moral. I understand now, after reading this book, that you cannot have other people's respect if you do not respect yourself.

Spenser H.

The John Cooper School, The Woodlands, Texas

Ryan White: My Own Story

Authors: Ryan White and Ann Marie Cunningham

A deadly disease. An incurable illness. How would you deal with these terms the they were describing your body? Well, for Ryan White, a 12 year old hemophiliac, these words became reality when, in 1984, he was diagnosed with AIDS. However, he battled this virus and remained caring, optimistic, and strong. But the inhabitants of his small Indiana town, Kokomo, responded with a lack of compassion so great, it can only be described as intense hatred. Ryan knew that this emotion was caused by ignorance, so he began to educate people about AIDS. Ryan's diligence and hard work not only paid off with acceptance, but with invitations to speak publicly.

I strongly recommend this autobiography. The courage he showed will remain in my heart forever. Everyone can learn something from a boy who rejoiced in his strengths and rose up to face his weaknesses. The words of Ryan White can never be silenced.

Rachel F.

Fairfield Woods Middle School, Fairfield, Connecticut

Johnny Voodoo

Author: Dakota Lane

When Dedri's mother dies of cancer, her artist father makes Dedri and her brother move from New York City to a town in rural Louisiana, leaving behind her friends just when she needs them most. Dedri knows that she will never fit in at her new school, which is divided into cliques that won't accept her. She has no friends—until she meets Johnny, a street musician. The kids at school call him Johnny Voodoo, and they think he's crazy. Dedri falls in love with Johnny, and they become so close that they can look at each other and know what the other is thinking and feeling.

This book puts you in Dedri's world right from the first page and won't leave you until the last. Dakota Lane's themes of finding love, losing love, and going on with your life gave me a lot to think about. I loved this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good realistic novel that you won't be able to put down.

Catharine H.

Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb, Maine

Adventure New England: An Outdoor Vacation Guide

Authors: Pamela Wright and Diane Blair

If you like laughter, adventure, and the great outdoors, then this books is definitely for you! This book puts you in the shoes (or should I say the hiking boots!) of Pamela Wright and Diane Blair, from backpacking in the crisp alpine air of the Presidential Mountain Range where they sample homemade bread and let their stress drain away, to canoeing in Vermont, where Diane curls up in an Adirondack chair next to the fire and sips her cocoa. You trot along the trail on horseback, paddle through a glossy river, or go kayaking in Maine and camp on islands where sheep roam freely. Along the way, you discover another view of life, and go home a new person, with respect for who and what you are.

Although this book is filled with exciting experiences, it is not an all-purpose vacation guide. But if you like a book that will make you laugh, calm your soul, give you a rush, go wild on this thrilling New England adventure!

Seth D.

Oyster River Middle School, Durham, New Hampshire

Traits of Writing

4: Excellent

3: Proficient

2: Approaching Proficient/Developing

1: Needs Significant Work

IDEAS

Meets the description of the 3 PLUS summarizes the theme or big lessons about life from the book. Also, includes especially engaging, yet concise details about the book.

Meets the description of the 3 AND explains more than ONE reason for recommending or not recommending the book.

FICTION

Clearly summarizes the main characters, the main problems they face, the setting of the book.

Clearly explains a thoughtful reason for recommending or not recommending the book.

NONFICTION

Clearly summarizes the main topics and important facts, people, places related to the book.

Clearly explains a thoughtful reason for recommending or not recommending the book.

May be missing a part of the summary described in the 3, is unclear in one place.

May not clearly explain a reason for recommending or has a reason that is too vague or general.

May be missing multiple parts of the summary or includes too many details that make it not a summary.

May be missing a reason for recommending the book.

ORGANIZATION

Meets the description of the 3 AND also has an attention-grabbing opening line and an ending sentence that is thought-provoking.

Has a clear beginning, middle and end. In other words, there is a clear opening sentence, supporting details, and a clear concluding sentence.

May be missing either the beginning, middle, or end, but the reader can still follow the writer's thinking.

Is hard to follow because it is missing the beginning, middle, or end.

STYLE (Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Voice)

Meets the criteria of the 3 BUT does these things throughout the ENTIRE review.

Uses strong verbs and specific nouns in most of the review. Uses a variety of sentence beginnings and sentence lengths in most of the review.

Meets the criteria of the 3 in SOME parts of the review.

Uses word choices that are general and/or overused. Sentences may begin the same for the most part and may almost all be the same length so that the review sounds choppy when read aloud.

CONVENTIONS

Meets the description of the 3 PLUS is typed on a computer.

Has no errors in grammar, punctuation, or mechanics.

Has a few errors in grammar, punctuation, or mechanics.

Has a lot of errors in grammar, punctuation, or mechanics.

Fiction Book Review Checklist and Graphic Organizer

Did you…

•  give title and author of the book?

•  name and describe the main character?

•  describe where the story takes place?

•  describe the main problem or conflict the character faces?

•  describe the main lesson about life or theme you got from this book?

•  give at least one reason why you would or would not recommend the book to someone and what type of reader/person you would recommend this book to?

Paragraph 1

Did you. . .

•  give your opinion of the book and at least one reason why you would or would not recommend the book to someone and what type of reader/person you would recommend this book to?

Paragraph 2

Nonfiction Book Review Checklist and Graphic Organizer

Did you. . .

•  give title and author of the book you read?

•  describe the main topic or topics in the book?

•  give some interesting facts you learned?

•  describe the main people or places described?

•  describe a lesson you learned from this book?

Paragraph 1

Did you. . .

•  give your opinion of the book and at least one reason why you would or would not recommend the book to someone and what type of reader/person you would recommend this book to?

Paragraph 2