A Book Journal Is a Great Way to Improve Your Reading Skills

Write about the characters, considering these questions:

• Which character do you like the most? Why?
• Is there a character you dislike? Why?
• Do you think that any of the characters represent real people?
• Do any of the characters represent general personality types?
• Is the author commenting on these types of people?

Consider the names in the book, using these questions:

• If you were the author, would you have changed the name of a character or the location of a scene?
• What does the name mean to you?
• What would you name the character instead?
• What would you use as a setting?

When you have more questions than answers, ask yourself:

• What are these questions?
• Would you like to direct your questions to a particular character?
• Are they questions that you may be able to answer by reading more about the author's life and works?
• What events or characters do you not understand?
• Is there anything that the author could have done to clarify or answer any questions you were left with?

• If and an idea from the book makes you stop and think, write it down and elaborate on it
• Copy your favorite quotes and line into your journal. Explain why you wrote them down.
• Write down what you learned from the book.
• Would you recommend this book? Should anyone be discouraged from reading this book?
• Would you like to read more books by this author? Why or why not? 
• Write a summary or review of the book.

A book journal can work well for poetry, plays, and other literature.

Consider reading about the reading experiences of other great writers. You may even compare notes.