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Read a Book in 10 Minutes Instructions

  1. Record the Author, Title, Genre, Series Information, Call Number
  2. Hold the book and note any important features Is it heavy and fat or light and skinny? Is the typseface large or small? How much white space is there? Does it look easy to read or difficult to read?
  3. Look at the cover and note what it tells you about the book. Is it attractive?
  4. Read the blurb. Is it inviting, teasing, ominous…?
  5. Read the significant portion of the first chapter and note if it pulls you right in or quietly sets the tone or bores you to tears or…
  6. Skim some pages in the middle of the book and note the general flow of the book. Does the middle read like the beginning?
  7. Read the end of the book and note if it is open-ended or neatly wrapped up.
  8. Finish your log entry with your ten minute impressions of
    • Style – humorous, series, lengthy sentences, short sentences, dialogue…
    • Pacing – leisurely and quiet or action packed Format – straight line narrative, flashback, hypertext (jumps around), single or multiple points of view
    • Characters – name the main one(s), are there a significant number or just a few
    • Setting – time, place, integral or just there
    • Theme(s) – what does the book seem to be about
    • Focus – character or plot-driven
  9. Add any Readers’ Advisory/Booktalking notes for the future
    • Does this bring to mind any other authors or titles as possible read-a-likes?
    • Possible audience – which readers might enjoy this?
    • Why? Most important: What is the hook?
  10. Write a quick annotation or short booktalk.
  11. Search special keywords for easy searching.
  12. Record the ISBN.
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