Teen Book Reviews

REVIEW GUIDELINES & OUTLINE

Outline

1st paragraph: A few sentences telling us what the book is about. (If the book is a part of a series, be sure to mention that.)

2nd paragraph: Your thoughts on the book. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Who was your favorite character? How did the book make you feel?

3rd paragraph: Would you recommend this book? Why or why not? Who do you think would like this book? Did it remind you of any other books?

Criteria

• You should review a book published within the past 2 years, and it should be available at the Alameda Free Library 
• Your review should be between 200 and 500 words
• Before submitting your review, please ensure it is free of spelling and grammar errors
• Use your own words and avoid plagiarizing 
• Do not include spoilers in your review. Instead, focus on generating interest in the book without revealing the ending. 
• Remember that everyone has different tastes. Even if you didn't enjoy a book, try to find something positive to say about it. It's totally okay not to like a book, but always provide a reason for your opinion. 

Other Notes:

In addition to writing your review, please include the following information in your email:

• Your name (only your first name will be shared)
• Your grade
• The title of the book
• The author
• The number of stars you would give this book. Here’s a general guide:

• 1 star: I didn’t like it at all
• 2 stars: the book was just okay
• 3 stars: the book was pretty good
• 4 stars: the book was GREAT
• 5 stars: the book was AMAZING

Book Review Example

FAQ’S

Q: Who can write reviews?
A: Teens in the 7th -12th grade can write teen book reviews.

Q: What books can I review?
A: You are free to review books that were (1) published within the last two years and (2) are available through the Alameda Free Library. To see if the library owns the book, please visit our online catalog.

Q: How often can I submit a review?
A: You are allowed to submit one book review per month. Additionally, we can only accept a book review for the current month. For instance, if the present month is March, you can submit a book review for March. But you cannot submit a book review for February as that month has already passed.

Q: Can I submit a new review for a book I've already written a review for in the past?
A: When submitting a book review, please ensure it is for a new book you have read. This means that you cannot submit multiple reviews for the same book. For instance, if you reviewed "The Poet X" in August 2023, you can't submit another review for "The Poet X" in March 2024. 

Q: How do I earn Community Service Hours for my reviews?
A: As long as your review meets the required criteria, you will earn 1 hour of community service for writing your book review.

Q: How do I write a review?
A: Please refer to the “Review Guidelines & Outline” section to learn more on crafting a review.

Q: How do I submit a review?
A: Completed book reviews can be sent via email to refdesk@alamedaca.gov
We suggest typing your review into a Word document, spell-checking it, and then pasting it into the body of an email. Please do not attach a file.

Q: What happens after I submit my review?
A: The teen librarian will email you within a few days to let you know if your review has been approved.
If it has not been approved, she will send it back to you with some suggestions. If it is approved, the review will be added to our website and printed to be put in a binder in our Young Adult section at the Main Library.

Q: How can you verify my community service hours?
A: The teen librarian will keep a log of your reviews and community service hours. If you need to know how many hours you have earned, or need a letter verifying the hours, you may email refdesk@alamedaca.gov.