Booktalk Styles

A good booktalk should be like a movie trailer:

show just enough to get the reader hooked.

Don’t give away the ending!

1.     First person- Do the entire booktalk in the first person to show the point-of-view of the main character. Change your voice and speech patterns.

2.     Cliffhanger- The classic: when describing the plot, stop at a very exciting part to hook the audience.

3.     Questions- Build the entire booktalk around a series of “what if” questions.

4.     Quotations- Include a passage from the text that sets the stage for the story.

5.     Style- Recreate the style or mood of the book. This works well with science fiction, poetry and horror.

6.     Ripped From the Headlines: Relate the book to a current event of local news story.

7.     Now Playing: Link a book with a hot movie or another popular book with a similar theme or setting.

8.     The Scene Stealer: If one memorable scene surprises you, horrifies you, or makes you laugh hysterically, then try this angle. Variations include:

·        Action, Action- Tell about the most risky, frightening, or ridiculous thing a character does.

·        The Shocker- Cut to the chase: jump right into the most shocking incident.

·        You Disgust Me- Is there any scene that makes you pale/or inspire nausea? Use it.