Summer Reading Contest Samples

Here are a few book review samples to help you when you’re writing your own book reviews for our Summer Reading contest. You can write as little as three sentences or as many as you’d like.

Sample #1:

Book Title: The Kite Runner

Book Author: You can write Khaled Hosseini or Hosseini, Khaled

Review: It is so good, I cried! A lot. Both from the beautiful writing and the line “for you, a thousand times over” I cried. Everyone should read this book (instead of seeing the movie, even though that is probably good too) In this country, we’re given such a bleak image all the time of Afghanistan…and this book really brings life and hope and color to that image. Plus, it’s such an artful tale of friendship and weakness turning into strength–sigh. Read it now! Best book since The Time Traveler’s Wife. Hands down.

Sample #2:

Title: Moby Dick

Author: Herman Melville

Review: So, what really is the point of Moby Dick? Is it about obsession? The things that drive each of us in our ambitions, whether they be wealth, hate, prejudice or love? Is it a deconstruction of Puritan culture in colonial America? Is it a Joseph Campbell-esque heroic tale? Is it a good ol’ yarn of men against the sea? Is it all of these things?

Perhaps.

Is it a colossal bore?

Decidedly.

Sample #3

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Sebold, Alice

Review: I enjoyed this story of a murdered 14 year old girl who is able to observe her family and other living people after her death. The book is told from her point of view, most of it taking place after her death. This is primarily the story of a family and how each member relates with each other and the world, including how this girl’s death and life has affected them; that was the aspect of the story I found fascinating and most of it rang true. It was a sad book and the girl’s dying experience was horribly upsetting, but I didn’t find it a depressing book at all, even though it was poignant as the dead girl narrator is the only one who knows what happened to her; parts of the book were even funny and parts suspenseful.