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Level 3Week 11WritingReadingVocabulary

Would you recommend it? Write a book review

Students read a model review of an invented adventure novel, learn the structure and the language of opinion, then plan and write a review of a book they know.

Ages 10 to 14A2 to B160 minutesChecked 7 November 2026

At a glance

From
Level 3, Bridge English: Week 11, Reviews and recommendations
Grammar
-ed and -ing adjectives; because, so, although
Key language
thrilled / thrilling, bored / boring, surprised / surprising, disappointed / disappointing / because..., so..., although... / I would recommend this book to...
Children make
A review of about 100 words with details, a summary without spoilers, two opinions with reasons and a recommendation.
Class size
Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.

Objective

Students write a review that gives opinions with reasons, using -ed and -ing adjectives and the linkers because, so and although.

Success criteria for children

  • I can use the -ed or -ing adjective correctly.
  • I can give a reason for my opinion.
  • I can recommend a book without telling the ending.

Timing: 60 minutes

MinutesStageWhat happens
0 to 6Warm-up: book speed datingStudents tell a partner about a book in one minute.
6 to 16Read the reviewRead the model review; find the four parts.
16 to 26Teach: -ed and -ing-ed for how we feel; -ing for what causes the feeling.
26 to 36Practice: adjectives and linkersWorksheet tasks 1 and 2.
36 to 42PlanTask 3: plan using the grid.
42 to 56Write the reviewWrite about 100 words.
56 to 60Exit ticketA one-sentence recommendation.

Materials

Step by step, with teacher talk

0 to 6 minWarm-up: book speed dating

  1. Pairs tell each other about a book or film: What was it called? Did you enjoy it? Why? Swap partners once.

6 to 16 minRead the review

  1. Students read the review and label the four parts: details, summary, opinion, recommendation. Check as a class.
  2. Ask: "Does the review tell us the ending?" (No, which is correct: no spoilers.)

16 to 26 minTeach: -ed and -ing

  1. Write: "I was bored." "The film was boring." Underline -ed (feeling) and -ing (what caused it).
  2. Quick drill: say a situation (a long wait); students say "I felt bored." or "It was boring."
Concept-check questions
  • "The book was exciting." Is the book excited? (No: the book causes excitement.)
  • How do you feel if a film is boring? (Bored.)

26 to 36 minPractice: adjectives and linkers

  1. Students complete both tasks. Check aloud.

36 to 42 minPlan

  1. Students complete the plan grid for a book they know well.

42 to 56 minWrite the review

  1. Students write their review in four short paragraphs or sections. Success check: no spoilers, one -ed adjective, one -ing adjective, because, so, although.

56 to 60 minExit ticket

  1. See below.

Differentiation

Support

  • Give a review frame with the four parts and sentence starters.
  • Allow students to review a film or a game instead.

Stretch

  • Add a comparison with another book by the same kind of author.
  • Use "not as ... as" in an opinion: "It wasn't as exciting as the first book."
  • Write a star rating with a one-line headline.

Reading passage

An invented book and author, written for this lesson. Any real book with the same title is a coincidence.

Reading passage: The Map in the Marmalade Jar, a review

The Map in the Marmalade Jar by Rosa Adeyemi. Adventure, 224 pages. Rating: 4 out of 5.

Twelve-year-old Nell finds an old map hidden in a jar of marmalade at her grandfather's shop. When she follows it, she discovers a trail of clues that leads her through the market, the canal tunnels and the town clock tower.

I was thrilled by the fast action, and the tunnel chapter was the most exciting part of the book. Nell is brave but she also makes mistakes, so I felt close to her. Although some of the clues were a bit too easy to guess, the chapters are short, so it is an easy book to read in small pieces. The ending surprised me, but I was slightly disappointed by the last page.

I would recommend this book to readers aged nine to thirteen who enjoy puzzles. Overall, it is a satisfying adventure that kept me guessing.

Questions

  1. Who is the main character, and what does she find?
  2. Which part of the book was the most exciting?
  3. Why does the reviewer feel close to Nell?
  4. Why is the book easy to read in small pieces?
  5. Who would the reviewer recommend it to?

Printable worksheet

Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.

Litlings Free English · Level 3 · Week 11NameDate

Book review language

1. Choose the correct adjective.

  1. The tunnel chapter was really (excited / exciting).
  2. I was (thrilled / thrilling) by the fast action.
  3. It is a very (satisfied / satisfying) ending.
  4. Some readers might feel (confused / confusing) in chapter three.
  5. The idea of the map is very (interested / interesting).

2. Join with because, so or although.

  1. I liked Nell. She is brave. (because)
  2. The chapters are short. It is easy to read. (so)
  3. The clues were fun. Some were too easy. (although)

3. Plan your review.

PartMy notes
Title, author, kind of book
What happens (no ending!)
Two opinions with reasons
Rating and who would enjoy it
Free to copy for classroom use.english.litlings.com/lesson-plans/write-a-book-review-writing-lesson/

Answer key

Reading passage questions

  1. Nell finds an old map in a jar of marmalade.
  2. The tunnel chapter.
  3. She is brave but she also makes mistakes.
  4. The chapters are short.
  5. Readers aged nine to thirteen who enjoy puzzles.

Worksheet

  • 1: exciting; thrilled; satisfying; confused; interesting.
  • 2: I liked Nell because she is brave. / The chapters are short, so it is easy to read. / Although the clues were fun, some were too easy.
  • 3: answers will vary. Check the plan has all four parts and no spoilers.

Exit ticket

Write one sentence recommending a book, film or game. Use because or although, and one -ed or -ing adjective.

Homework

Write a 100-word review of a book, film or game you enjoyed at home. Read it to someone and ask whether they would like it.

Teaching this to a whole class?

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Sources and free resources
  • Level 3, Week 11: Reviews and recommendations (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
  • All reading texts, dialogues, scripts, worksheets and answer keys on this page are original to Litlings and free to copy for classroom use.