Question to ask when you are CHOOSING a book

• What is my purpose: reading just for fun? Or reading for a school assignment?

• If for a school project, are there any expectations I have to take into consideration in picking a book (such as length, reading level, topic, etc.)

• What have I read in the past that I enjoyed? What was it about that book that caught my interest?

• Do I want to read something similar now, or am I ready to try something new or something outside my comfort zone?

• Ask your best friend or sibling or parent: "Can you suggest a book I should read?" Then ask them, "Why that book?"

• What do I know about this author? Do I want to find an author who I can relate to specifically in terms of something like race or gender or does that not matter to me?

• Where can I find out more about an author or a specific book?

• Am I looking for a book with characters who I can really relate to (in terms of gender or race or religion for example)? Or am I looking for a book with characters who are different from me? Or does that even matter to me?

• When was the book written? Why might that make a difference to me?

• Is there a particular topic or social issues that I am passionate about (or even just vaguely interested in!) that I would like to read more about?

• Based on the cover, the "blurb" on the back, and the first paragraph of the book, does this capture my interest? Why or why not?

Questions to ask BEFORE you start reading

• Based on the cover, the "blurb" on the back, or what people might have told me, what do I think this book will be about?

• Is this book fiction or non fiction? What's the difference? How might knowing this change how I respond to this book?

• If fiction, what genre is this book written in? (if you know): mystery, adventure sports, horror, classic literature, science fiction, fantasy, romance, humour, teen drama, graphic novel, etc.

• How does knowing the genre help me to prepare for what will happen? Or does it even matter if I know or don't know the genre?

• What do I already know about the author? How might knowing something about the author (such as their race, gender, nationality, age, etc.) have an impact on me as I read this book? Or does it even matter if I know anything at all about the author?

Questions to ask DURING reading

• Does this book reflect my own identity? Can I see myself in any character or situation? If so, in what ways?

• Are their characters or situations in this book that I just cannot relate to? If so, why?

• What privileges do I have that people in this book do not? How do my privileges affect my reaction to this book?

• How does reading this make me feel?

• What do I do if I am uncomfortable or angry or confused or upset by something I am reading?

• If the author was sitting in front of me, what are the three most important questions I would ask them?

• How does the setting (time and place) and/or when it was written affect the way I interpret it?

• How can I find out more about an issue described in this book that interests me or that angers me?

Question to ask AFTER reading

• In the end, how did this book make me feel?

• in the end, what did this book make me think?

• Did my response to the book change as I was reading it? Explain.

• Did I learn something about myself? Did I learn something about other people? If so, what?

• Has this book changed any ideas I used to have? If so, how?

• Did this book inspire me to want to learn more about something? Or to want to change something in my own life or in my community?

• Would I recommend this book to my friends? Why or why not?

• What do I want to read next?