Few experiences in life are more enriching and fulfilling than reading a good book. Guide your learners in making the most of these experiences with our collection of thought-provoking journal prompts! From analyzing characters to imagining alternative endings and drawing connections to their own lives, these book-related prompts are designed to inspire reflection and elicit thoughtful responses. So, dive right in and explore 35 unique prompts to help your students engage deeply with the book they’ve just read!
1. Describe the main character in the book. What traits do they possess? What are their motivations?
2. Write a summary of the book in your own words.
3. If you were in the story, what character would you be and why?
4. What is your favorite quote from the book? Explain why it’s meaningful to you.
5. What is the major conflict in the book and how is it resolved?
6. Imagine you are interviewing the author. What three questions would you ask?
7. If you could change the ending of the book, how would you rewrite it?
8. How did the book make you feel? Elaborate on the emotions it evoked in you.
9. Which character do you relate to the most and why?
10. Compare and contrast the book with another you’ve read recently.
11. Choose a secondary character in the book and write about their impact on the story.
12. What themes are explored in the book? How do they relate to your own life?
13. If the book was made into a movie, who would you cast for the main characters?
14. Write a diary entry from the perspective of one of the characters.
15. How has the book expanded or challenged your worldview?
16. What do you think will happen to the characters after the book ends?
17. Draw a map of the story’s setting as you imagine it.
18. If the book had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it and why?
19. How did the book’s setting contribute to the overall narrative?
20. Write a review of the book for a newspaper or website.
21. What three words best describe the book and why?
22. What is your opinion on the book’s title? Would you change it? If so, what would your title be?
23. Discuss the importance of the book’s cover art. What does it reveal about the story?
24. Write a letter to one of the characters offering them advice or expressing your thoughts.
25. What elements of the book surprised you the most?
26. How does the author’s writing style contribute to the story?
27. Write a poem inspired by the book or its characters.
28. Describe a pivotal scene from the book and explain why it’s crucial to the narrative.
29. What are the moral or ethical dilemmas presented in the book? How would you handle them?
30. Is there anything you disliked about the book? Why?
31. What connections can you draw between the book and real-world issues or events?
32. If the author wrote a sequel, what do you think it should focus on?
33. Choose a passage from the book that you were drawn to and analyze its significance.
34. Write about a symbol used in the book and its impact on the narrative.
35. How does the book compare to others by the same author (if applicable)?
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