How to write and format a book report or book review + free downloadable book report template PDF.

What is a book report?

A book report is an original and concise written summary and analysis of a book’s contents. Book reports should show your understanding of the contents of the book — the plot, theme, setting and characters. A book report will usually include a brief and objective summary of the key elements of the book and then your reaction to it. Book reports can be written about both fiction and non-fiction books.

Is there a difference between a book report and a book review?

Book reports and book reviews are similar and the terms are often used interchangeably, but there are differences. While both book reports and book reviews involve discussing and analysing the contents of a book, the focus and purpose of each do differ. A book report primarily provides a summary of your reflections, while a book review offers a more in-depth critical analysis and personal opinions on the book.

Three key differences between a book review and a book report include —

1. The purpose. The primary purpose of a book report is to provide a summary of the book's content. A book report typically includes details about the plot, characters, setting and other key elements of the story. Book reports are often assigned as academic exercises at all levels of education to assess a student's understanding of the material.

In comparison, a book review may include a summary of the book, but the primary purpose of a review is to offer a critical analysis and evaluation. Book reviews express more of the reviewer's opinions on the quality of the writing, the themes explored, the author's style and other aspects of the book. Book reviews also often form part of academic assignments and they are also often written for a broader audience and formal publications.

2. Your personal opinion and reflection. Generally, book reports are more focused on presenting factual information about a book. Book reports include your reactions, but the emphasis is on providing a neutral and objective summary.

Book reviews, on the other hand, tend to require more subjective opinions and judgements. A book review may include your response to the book, your discussion of what worked well and what did and whether you would recommend the book to others.

3. The length and level of detail. Book reports are usually shorter, more straightforward and focused on summarising the book’s content. They tend to cover the main elements of a book without delving too deeply into analysis.

Book reviews can be more extensive and in-depth. A book review may delve more into the book's themes, characters, style and the author's possible intentions. With a book review, you may also provide more detailed insights and discuss the book's broader implications or connections to other works.

The skills you develop when writing book reports.

The process of writing a book report or book review helps you to develop a range of analytical and communication skills. The skills used in book reports are not only useful while you are a student, but they’re also skills that you’ll always use in your both personal life and career. Writing book reports helps to cultivate —

Time management skills.
Being able to complete a book report assignment to meet a deadline needs a few time management skills. You’ll need to allocate time for reading, researching, taking notes and writing and editing your book review.

Reading comprehension skills.
Writing a book review or book report requires you to first read and understand the book’s content. Reading comprehension is all about being able to process what you read and understand the content’s meaning.

Research and note-taking skills.
Notetaking, researching and exploring elements of the book, such as the author, characters and context, all help to fine-tune and apply all those individual skills and your ability to both seek and summarise information.

Critical thinking skills.
Evaluating the contents of a book encourages your critical thinking skills. You’ll be reporting on how each of the elements contribute to the book and possibly identifying strengths and weaknesses depending on how in-depth you go. Learning how to provide constructive criticism on strengths and weaknesses when you express your opinions is a valuable interpersonal skill.

Perspective-taking skills.
Understanding the characters, the author's perspective and the themes in a book helps to develop skills in being able to understand different perspectives and have empathy for others. This ability to see the world from different points of view is invaluable in today’s world.

Analytical skills.
Breaking down a book into its components and critically evaluating them improves your analytical skills. This involves assessing the plot, characters, writing style, themes and any other relevant elements.

Communication and writing skills.
Being able to express your thoughts and opinions clearly and concisely in writing is crucial when writing a book report. You may also have the opportunity to speak about your book report with your class. This helps improve your overall communication skills, including effectively articulating and arguing your ideas.

Crafting a well-organised, coherent and engaging book report will help to develop your writing skills. In writing a book report, you’ll be structuring your thoughts logically, using appropriate language and paying attention to grammar and style.

Getting an assignment to write a book report.

You may be assigned to write a book report in class or as homework throughout your education. Being able to understand a piece of written work is a great skill to have and something we all need in a world full of written information and communication.

Your teacher or lecturer will provide guidance or instruction on the specific requirements and level of understanding your book report or book review should demonstrate. Follow their guidance first and foremost. They will have determined the level of analysis you are required to show for your class or coursework.

Then, work through our guide for writing and formatting a book report and try our free downloadable PDF book report template to present your assignment.

How to write a good book report.

When you write a book report, you’ll be summarising the key elements of a book in an organised and thoughtful way. To get started, follow this step-by-step guide on how to write a book report.

Understand your assignment requirements.
Review your assignment instructions to understand any specific requirements of your book report. Pay attention to the length, format and any specific questions or prompts that your teacher or lecturer wants you to cover in your book report.

Read the book and take notes as you do.
Read the book in its entirety from cover to cover. Yes, you do need to read the whole thing! Take notes while you’re reading on any key plot points, characters, themes and any significant quotes or passages. Choose the topics you want to highlight. As you read, jot down your reactions, thoughts and questions you may have. This will help you to remember your thoughts when it's time to write your book report or review.

Start with basic information.
Begin your book report by completing the essential information such as the book title, the author, genre and publication date of the book. Writing this information is a great way to start getting focussed on the writing process and can also be included in your introduction.

Write the introduction.
Start your book report with a brief introduction that includes the book's title, author, genre and publication date. Clearly state the purpose of your book report. A clear statement of purpose helps you to stay focused and set the scene for your review. You may also mention any relevant background information about the author or the book itself in the introduction.

Summarise the key elements of the book.
Summarise the main events, characters and themes of the book into different paragraphs and/or sections. Keep your summaries of the key elements concise and to the point.

Identify and analyse the central themes, ideas and messages conveyed in the book. Explore their significance and relate them to the broader context. Use relevant examples and quotes from the text to support and strengthen your analysis. Focus on the most crucial aspects, key events and significant turning points of the plot, without giving plot twists or major spoilers. Highlight the elements that contribute most to the story’s development.

Discuss the main characters in the book. Describe their personalities, motivations, roles and relationships within the story. Consider how the characters evolve or change over the course of the narrative. Write about how the themes contribute to the overall impact of the book or any deeper meaning of the story.

Consider your audience.
While a book report is mostly objective, it's also helpful to consider your potential audience and what they might find valuable in a review. Remember to tailor your book report to the specific requirements of your assignment and consider the target audience for your report, for example, your classmates, teacher or a general audience or publication.

Write your reaction and evaluation.
Share your reactions and opinions to the book. Did it engage you emotionally? Did it make you think? Did you enjoy the experience of reading it? Talk about what you liked or disliked. Be specific and provide examples or quotes from the book to support your opinions. Be honest but remember any criticism should always be constructive.

Write a conclusion.
Write a brief conclusion that summarises your overall assessment of the book. Mention whether you would recommend it to others and why or why not. End your report with a strong concluding statement that summarises your key points.

Proofread.
Always proofread your book report or book reviews before you submit them. Use the grammar and spellcheck tools in your software but re-read it again as well. Check and correct any grammar, spelling and punctuation errors. Well-written and well-edited book reports demonstrate your attention to detail and add credibility to your work.

How to structure a book report.

A basic book report typically follows a standard structure of four main parts. A typical book report format or structure includes —

A title or cover page.
Include your name, your course or class name and the date you write your book report. List the book title, the author, the publisher and publication date and the book’s genre.

An introduction.
Start with a brief introduction that includes the title and author of the book. You can also mention the genre and any relevant background information about the author or the context in which the book was written.

Body paragraphs and/or sections with your summary and analysis.
The body paragraphs or different sections of your book report will be your summaries of the plot, characters, setting and theme, along with your reaction and evaluation.

A conclusion.
Your conclusion should be one paragraph that summarises your main arguments and key points in one paragraph. Highlight how the details you’ve mentioned support your book report or review.

How to format a book report.

Submitting a well-formatted book report not only enhances readability but also creates an impression that you care about your work and are committed to presenting assignments or homework that meets standard presentation requirements.

Book report formats can vary depending on the guidelines provided by your teacher, an instructor and the requirements of your assignment, such as the length.

Some design and layout tips to ensure your book report is organised, easy to navigate and visually pleasing to your reader, include —

Choose clear and easy-to-read fonts.
Make sure you choose clear and easy-to-read fonts. Fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri are often used in assignments, textbooks and other types of printed material because they are easy to read. Body text is typically 12 points and headings are a few point sizes larger.

Use spacing and paragraph breaks.
Proper spacing between lines and paragraphs improves readability. Book reports and assignments often have requirements of double spacing or 1.5-line spacing throughout, with a blank line between paragraphs. This provides visual breaks, makes text easier to read when marking and makes it clear where the next paragraph starts.

Add headings and subheadings.
Add headings and subheadings to help organise and present your book reports and assignments. Make headings and subheadings different from your main body text by using a larger font size or a bold font. This helps your readers to navigate and read your different book report sections at a glance.

Align and indent text.
Always align your text to the left margin to maintain consistency and make your book report easy to read. If your book report contains a lot of paragraphs, consider indenting the first line of each paragraph to add another visual cue that you are starting a new topic or paragraph.

Add page numbering.
Include page numbers at the top or bottom of every page. Page numbers enable your readers to find their place in your document quickly and easily.

Be consistent.
Be consistent with your formatting and presentation style throughout your book report. This includes your margins, spacing, font styles and sizes. Consistent formatting will enhance the overall presentation and readability of your book report.

How to create a PDF book report template.

Create a book report template that you can quickly complete every time you have to do a book report or review. That way, you’ll save time with the next one.

Portable document format (PDF) files are ideal for submitting assignments because they can be sent and viewed from any device and none of the formatting is lost. All others need to be able to view and read your book review in a PDF is the free Adobe Acrobat reader on their mobile or computer.

There are a couple of ways to create and use a PDF book report template.

Create and convert a Word template to PDF.
Use Word, PowerPoint or Excel to create a book report template and then easily convert files to PDF online.

Use Adobe Acrobat to create a book report template.
If you’re in an academic setting, make the most of the Adobe Acrobat pricing for students and teachers and create a PDF template from scratch in an Acrobat application.

Download a free book report template.
Try our free downloadable book report template. You can download this free book review template and use it as it is or adapt it to meet the requirements of your class or course.