Item logo image for Book Report

Book Report

Book Report is the best way for indie authors and publishers to track their sales data.

Book Report automatically fetches your latest sales numbers and turns them into simple, insightful reports. We don't ask for your password, and your sales data is always fully encrypted, so you can have peace of mind that your data is safe.

3.5 out of 5 33 ratings Google doesn't verify reviews. Learn more about results and reviews.

Review's profile picture

Nicholas C. Rossis Jan 9, 2024

While much of BookReport's functionality is now offered by Amazon's own KDP Reports, I still use it regularly for the wealth of information it conveys, the elegant interface, its user-friendliness, and its simplicity. Yes, both Amazon and Chrome do have a nasty tendency to disable it and ask for confirmation every now and then - but that's nothing to do with Book Report: it's just Amazon and Google trying to keep you safe. Try it, see if it works on your browser, and if it does I hope you fin... Show more

Review's profile picture

MagMinecraft Feb 24, 2023

Simply doesn't work with some authentication issue.

Review's profile picture

Mike Evans Author Oct 15, 2022

For something that they charge $ for it is difficult to understand how it can have so many times which it is down. I have had the free version and was upgraded to have to pay and had the same experiences. They have some serious bugs that need to be fixed. If that wasn't the case it would be a powerful as well useful website for authors but it growing frustration does nothing to help creativity.

  • Version 2023.12.01
  • Updated December 2, 2023
  • Report a concern
  • Offered by Book Report
  • Size 673KiB
  • Languages English
  • Developer Email [email protected]
  • Non-trader This developer has not identified itself as a trader. For consumers in the European Union, please note that consumer rights do not apply to contracts between you and this developer.

Book Report has disclosed the following information regarding the collection and usage of your data. More detailed information can be found in the developer's privacy policy .

Book Report handles the following:

This developer declares that your data is.

  • Not being sold to third parties, outside of the approved use cases
  • Not being used or transferred for purposes that are unrelated to the item's core functionality
  • Not being used or transferred to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes

For help with questions, suggestions, or problems, visit the developer's support site

book report app

ScribeCount

ScribeCount helps indie authors and publishers to track their Royalties and Profits across platforms and marketplaces.

book report app

Transform your Amazon KDP sales reports.

book report app

Also Boughts Downloader by Kindletrends

Downloads Also Bought, Also Viewed and Also Read data, as well as Top 100s and Hot New Releases from the Amazon Kindle Store

book report app

Merch Search For

A chrome extension for Merch by Amazon seller & KDP publisher

book report app

Amazon Book Research Helper

Writing to market? This extension shows the most important information about a book right at the top of the page.

book report app

KDP SEO BOT

The Best And Only Software You Will Need To Publish PROFITABLE Books On Amazon KDP

book report app

Book Organizer For Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) by Amazon.

book report app

Productor for Merch by Amazon

Productor for Merch by Amazon is a toolkit that improves your Merch on Demand product management and research.

book report app

BookEdge the ADVANCED Amazon Author Reporting Tool

book report app

DS Amazon Quick View

Productivity extension for Amazon !!! Works only on amazon.com. For other marketplaces please use the extended version:…

book report app

AMZ Suggestion Expander

Chrome extension to expand the number of search suggestions that are shown in the Amazon search bar.

book report app

Tangent TESS

Tangent TESS Helper

Kindlepreneur

Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Home / Book Publishing / Best Book Sales Tracker: How to Track Book Sales Across All Platforms

Best Book Sales Tracker: How to Track Book Sales Across All Platforms

When I only had one book on one platform like KDP, using a book sales tracker service was unnecessary.

However, when I started having multiple books on multiple platforms like KDP, D2D, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, etc…it would seriously take a lot of time to check each platform’s sales and ensure things were tracking.

And let’s face it, as self-published authors, it’s important to track things like daily sales because this is your income lifeblood. But to do that daily eats up too much time.

On average it takes me 15 minutes to adequately review all sales platforms and look for trends in my different markets. If done every day, that would equate to 92 hours a year wasted…eek!

That’s way too much.

Luckily, there are some services that help alleviate this. Not only do they present your book’s sales information in a much better layout, they’ll make it seamless for you to keep a thumb on your sales pulse and allow you to focus on more important things….like writing your next book .

  • What book sales reporting services can do
  • List of book sales tracking services
  • My favorite service and why you should use it
  • And yes, there is one that is superior to the others and one of my all time favorite services out there.

Table of contents

  • What Can Book Sales Trackers Do?
  • ScribeCount Pricing
  • ScribeCount Pros and Cons
  • PublishWide Pricing
  • PublishWide Pros and Cons
  • Book Report Pricing
  • Book Report Pros and Cons
  • BookTrakr Pricing
  • BookTrakr Pros and Cons
  • Verdict: What is the Best Book Tracking Software?

Note that if you click the links below, I may get a small commission from them, but it costs you nothing extra, and every scrap goes to our collective coffee fund.

Put simply, book sales trackers allow you to see all of the data from your book sales in one place.

Let’s face it, KDP’s own sales reporting platform is not great. It can be difficult to parse out the data in beneficial ways (dividing your books up by series, for example), and if you’re on any other platform, it won’t do you any good.

A good book sales tracker will not only let you see all your sales from across multiple platforms, but will also help you organize that data to give you the best insights into the performance of your books.

But book sales trackers are hard to come by. In fact, Amazon is tricky who it allows access to its information. For that reason I actually found quite a few sales trackers that have closed down because Amazon shut them out. See these for example:

  • eBookTracker
  • SalesRankExpress  
  • AuthorEarnings

Obviously, none of these links work anymore, which only leaves a few services that provide quality book tracking.

Thankfully, all that technical pressure means that the remaining candidates are the cream of the crop. Here are my favorite book tracking tools for authors:

What is the Best Book Sales Tracking Software?

The best book traking tool is ScribeCount, with PublishWide coming up as a close (but expensive) second. I generally would only recommend PublishWide over ScribeCount if you are a large publisher and want to make simple sense of big data.

Here is a general comparison of the top book sales tracking apps:

ScribeCount – My Favorite

ScribeCount is by far my favorite option for tracking all your book sales. It is affordable, it has a clean interface, and it interacts with all the major book retailers to track your sales.

It includes integration with the following platforms:

  • Google Play
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Draft2Digital
  • Smashwords (now owned by Draft2Digital)

These are the big players in the self-publishing space, and it’s rare that you will have any major outlets besides these. They’re also working to integrate Audible and Findaway Voices so you can track audiobooks as well (which as far as I know will make it the only service that does this).

But wait, there’s more!

ScribeCount does more than just track your sales. It also pulls in the following data:

  • Your Kindle Unlimited page reads
  • Your book ranks
  • Your book reviews
  • Geographical sales data

That definitely makes it one of the best aggregators of all time, and definitely the best on this list.

ScribeCount has a LOT of customization options, as they are pulling a lot of data from all of these platforms. It can sometimes get a bit overwhelming, which is my only issue with ScribeCount, but a lot of data and customization options are almost universally a good thing.

ScribeCount has several tiers of pricing:

  • $9.99/month – For authors earning between less than $1000 a month
  • $19.99/month or $185/year (approx. $15/month) – For authors earning over $1000 a month

All data and features are available at all tiers, meaning that if you are just starting out and don’t make more than $1000 yet, you can absolutely access all the features at the $9.99 tier.

Additionally, ScribeCount has a 14-day free trial.

Here is everything that I liked and didn’t like about ScribeCount:

  • A ton of data collected and available to authors
  • A great selection of platforms
  • You can sort by series or create custom tags to organize your data
  • Shows you the earnings based on marketplace, author, book, or custom tag
  • It doesn’t require you to log in to each and every sales platform every time you want to check them
  • The sheer quantity of data can be overwhelming and the UI design could be easier to understand or use
  • It would be nice to be able to customize the home dashboard
  • No free version

The Bottom Line: ScribeCount is (by a HUGE margin) my best pick for book sales tracking. Its sheer volume of data and customizability make it the clear winner for most authors.

PublishWide – Good for Large Publishers

There is one other big name in book sales tracking and that is PublishWide. 

PublishWide, like ScribeCount, pulls in a lot of data so you can clearly see how your books are doing across all major platforms. It currently pulls from the following:

  • Apple Books

While this is still less than what ScribeCount offers, they are continuing to add new platforms.

One of my favorite features for PublishWide is that it gives you the opportunity to integrate with Amazon Ads and Facebook Ads, to give you new insights into your overall profits, and the effectiveness of your ad spend.

PublishWide also does a really good job with its design and interface, making it really clean and easy to understand.

Overall, PublishWide is a good option, but I recommend it mostly for large publishers and people with a MASSIVE number of books, as this seems to be their target audience.

The big reason why it’s not #1 on this list is largely due to a lack of customization and the pricing…

PublishWide is primarily geared towards larger organizations, going so far as to ask for those earning more than $1 million dollars to contact them about enterprise pricing.

For the rest of us, the program costs $29/month regardless of income level.

This is a MUCH more expensive option than what ScribeCount or Book Report offer, and it doesn’t offer anything that at least one of those tools offer, which is why PublishWide is not my #1 recommendation for most authors.

However, if you are interested in trying it out, they do offer a 14-day free trial.

Here’s my breakdown of the good and the bad from PublishWide:

  • Excellent design and understandable breakdown of the data
  • Gives insights on ad spend from Facebook and Amazon Ads
  • Good for sorting large quantities of data for people like big publishers
  • Offers a downloadable PC or Mac version
  • More expensive without the features to justify it (THIS IS A BIG CON)
  • Not as customizable as ScribeCount
  • Still lacks several publishing platforms to report on
  • Almost too simple in its reporting

The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a good book tracker, PublishWide will certainly do the job. However, its features do not justify the expense, since you can easily get the same features with other platforms. The only instance where I might consider it is if I were a large publishing house and wanted to simplify big data.

Book Report – For Amazon-exclusive Authors

Before ScribeCount came along, Book Report was one of the go-to book trackers for authors. However, they have one mega-downside: they only track Amazon data.

In essence, Book Report came about because KDP’s own sales reporting dashboard was awful. However, KDP’s beta reporting dashboard has gotten better with time, and is almost (not quite) as good as what Book Report will give you.

That said, Book Report has a very clean-looking interface, and makes it really easy to see your data, and its pricing is almost the same as ScribeCount.

But if you’re wide and want to see other platforms included in Book Report, you are out of luck. You might as well look elsewhere.

Book Report has two pricing tiers:

  • FREE – for authors making less than $1000/month
  • $19/month – for authors making more than $1000/month

That puts their pricing strategy at almost exactly the same as ScribeCount, except they don’t have the middle tier of $15/month, and they also don’t have an annual tier.

For those who are already making more than $1000/month, Book Report will also provide a 14-day free trial to test it out.

Here is what I did and didn’t like about Book Report:

  • Nice clean interface
  • You can sort the data with a really nice tagging system
  • Does not include other sales platforms (THIS IS A HUGE CON)
  • Frequently requires logging into my KDP account again
  • Does not pull in any other data besides basic sales and Kindle page reads

The Bottom Line: I recommend Book Report only for those who are exclusive to Amazon, and only if you want a simple layout without many bells and whistles. Otherwise you can get the same benefit with ScribeCount.

BookTrakr has been around for a while, and it was originally my favorite choice. However, a lot has changed since back then.

While they are still technically around, a lot of their features are well out of date (their website still lists CreateSpace as a platform that they offer). However, it still works, so let’s talk about it.

BookTrakr covers all of the major platforms, including:

  • Amazon 

That places it above PublishWide for the number of platforms that it integrates with. 

BookTrakr also pulls in review and ranking data, making it comparable to ScribeCount in those respects.

One of the features that I used to love about BookTrakr was the fact that it would send a daily email with updates on my book sales. This was great because it meant that I didn’t have to keep logging into my KDP account for this to work, until Amazon changed the way they operate. Now you can still get the emails, but also have to frequently check that you are logged into your KDP account so BookTrakr can access the data.

Add to that the fact that the user interface seems about a decade old and I no longer recommend this tool for most authors.

For $5 per month, you'll receive daily emails about that day's book sales on all platforms and have access to their easy to use dashboard and graphs.

For $10 per month, you get the above and an update every time a new review is posted, tracking of rankings, and the ability to mark events in your graphs/analytics.

Personally, before I discontinued using BookTrakr, I only did the $5/month tier

Here’s my rundown on the good and the bad for BookTrakr:

  • Integrates with a lot of platforms
  • Offers email digests
  • The design and dashboard are difficult to navigate and nowhere near as intuitive as other platforms
  • Not easy to use
  • Lacking in more advanced features and customizations offered by other platforms
  • Emails can get a little spammy
  • Lacking in customer support

The Bottom Line: While BookTrakr will technically get the job done, it is not intuitive, nor does it come close to the capability that you can get with ScribeCount or PublishWide. Overall I don’t recommend it anymore.

The best book tracking app for authors is ScribeCount . With all of its many features, its level of customization, not to mention a great team backing it up, I’m excited to see where this one continues to grow.

I’ve used BookTrakr, and I’ve even used Book Report. Once I started using ScribeCount I immediately switched all my books over to that platform and have been using it ever since.

Be sure to check them out!

That said, there’s no such thing as a perfect tool for every author, which is why I would suggest PublishWide as a potential alternative. PublishWide is more expensive, but I believe it is set up better for authors and publishers who have a large number of books or who make a lot of revenue. If this describes you or your organization, you can check out PublishWide here .

For everyone else, check out ScribeCount today !

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

Related Posts

Amazon advantage vs amazon seller central: sell your own print books, book idea validation mastery: is your book idea a bestseller, the 3 best courses on selling books direct to readers, sell more books on amazon, amazon kindle rankings e-book.

Learn how to rank your Kindle book #1 on Amazon with our collection of time-tested tips and tricks.

23 thoughts on “ Best Book Sales Tracker: How to Track Book Sales Across All Platforms ”

Hey, I know this article is a few years old now, but do you still use BookTrakr? I’ve been trying Trackerboxs’ free trial and because I’m not great with all this data-number-analyses stuff I find it visually confusing. Booktrakr looks more colour-coded and user-friendly plus I like the idea of being able to track ratings and reviews. I have a few questions regarding Booktrakr:

– Does it only import eBooks sales, or does it show data for paperbacks also? – Does it import sales from the same book published with varying ISBNs? (As in, multiple editions, but in the same format, like a 1st and 2nd paperback edition with different ISBNs) – Does it cover Ingram Spark? (If not, I may just use Trackerbox for Ingram as there won’t be data for sales reviews etc anyway) – Is there some kind of NDA clause considering they get all your passwords (data leakage is a big concern these days)

In truth, I’ve fallen out of love with BookTrakr. Nothing that they did really, but because of Amazon’s changes, their system isn’t as easy or effective as it used to be. Right now, I’m actually a part of the beta testing for PublishWide, but they have a LOT of bugs to fix before it is ready. But once it is, and if it is as good as they say it will be, I’ll immediately update to reflect.

Okay fair enough. Are you still able to answer the questions I asked above regarding BookTrakr? I’ll post them again: – Does it only import eBooks sales, or does it show data for paperbacks also? – Does it import sales from the same book published with varying ISBNs? (As in, multiple editions, but in the same format, like a 1st and 2nd paperback edition with different ISBNs) – Does it cover Ingram Spark? (If not, I may just use Trackerbox for Ingram as there won’t be data for sales reviews etc anyway) – Is there some kind of NDA clause considering they get all your passwords (data leakage is a big concern these days)

Thanks again

1. both 2. It can so long as you give it access to the accounts that publish them 3. Not sure 4. Probably – but not sure but you can ask them or comb through their Service Agreement. My take on this is they probably have a CYA clause like most but aren’t going to start stealing your passwords to target the books. Plus it would be obvious if they changed your payment information and such. Why destroy your viable software business, in order to get yourself in legal battles, because it would leave a trail and your switching of account information would take 1.5 months before you get paid….which most of thatwould be stopped before then. So, I don’t worry about that myself.

Okay, thank you, I will give Booktrakr a go!

Sounds good.

Great article, but It is been a few years since it was posted. Do you still use BookTrackr and are you still happy with it?

Currently, yes. Because I have a lot of sales on other markets as well.

Can you please let us know if anyone has been seeing a serious difference in their kdp sales or suspecting KDP is not reporting all the sales? I have heard rumors that when marketing was retargeted from KDP`s Amazon page to an ASIN of another provider to Amazon for the same book, the sales skyrocketed leading one to suspect they were not receiving all of their sales from KDP to begin with. Can you please try this out and let us know. It is odd that you made so much more money on Create space, than via Amazon KDP for the same book. Have you heard the same rumor that KDP is not reporting all the sales they are receiving or there is a glitch in their reporting? My ads are stating 1000s of clicks to purchase the book, but then KDP is only reporting less than 100 sold.

Comments are closed.

Join the community

Join 111,585 other authors who receive weekly emails from us to help them make more money selling books.

Indies Unlimited

Celebrating Independent Authors

Indies Unlimited

Tracking Kindle Sales with Book Report

book report logo

This is all well and good, but I find the interface to be rather lackluster.

Enter Book Report. Book Report is a free app (app.getbookreport.com) that adds a hot button to your browser. When you first activate it, you may need to sign in to your KDP account in order for Book Report to sync to it, but usually once you’ve done that, Book Report operates independently and you don’t need to keep your KDP interface open to use it. I love Book Report. It’s easy to use, has lots of fun bells and whistles, and is visually appealing. I open mine first thing every morning and keep it open all day long. It updates constantly, so the numbers you see are always accurate. Matter of fact, the tab at the top of the page keeps a running total of today’s sales so you can see that even if you’re working on a different tab in your browser.

The default page comes up with several quick visual aids to give you an immediate grasp of how your books are doing. The first one is Top Earners . This shows you at a glance what your top six books are, in order of sales.

BR-TopEarners

Next is Earnings by Day . This is a line graph that shows you your earnings through pages read in KDP Select (blue) and your royalties for sales (red). If you’ve had a recent promo, it’s easy to see the spike that should ensue (as well as the cliff that inevitably follows).

Earnings by day

The last quick reference is Earnings by Marketplace . This shows you how your book sales break out over the various Amazon markets. In the example below, Amazon.com, of course, is the US; Amazon.co.uk is the United Kingdom; Amazon.ca is Canada; and Amazon.de is Germany, and of course there are many other marketplaces not shown on my example.

Earnings by Marketplace

Details follow in a list showing each book and its earnings, pages read, royalties, etc. This list, plus all the charts and graphs above, can be customized by date, book, and marketplace.

The fun stuff enters in beyond all the typical sales information on the home page. Near the top of the page is a menu with six tabs: Today , Historical , Ranks , Reviews , Books , and Settings . Today , obviously, shows you the above results for today only. Historical gives you the option of customizing the above graphs by whatever timeline you choose: this month, last month, last 90 days, the year, lifetime, or custom. Rank shows your top three books in the Paid Kindle Store, plus how that rank may have changed up or down today. Below that is a graph to show your highest-ranking books over time, and below that is a Launch Comparison graph, contrasting the stats for several books of your choice from their launch date. This could be especially useful if you’re trying out different promotional strategies for different books.

Book report launch comparison

Next is the Reviews tab, which I like to check fairly often because it shows your latest positive review, which book it’s for, and how many days ago it was posted. Below that is a chart for Reviewer Retention, which shows how many reviewers reviewed other books of yours before or after a given book (which you choose). That’s followed by a list of all your books, how many reviews each has received and the average rating for each.

Book Report Reviews

The Books tab simply shows you all your books with ASINS, and the Settings tab allows you to customize all this data in a zillion ways.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on, and it’s all easily accessible and fun to play with. I find the information on Book Report to be infinitely more useful and interesting than the dry data on the KDP page. If you haven’t tried Book Report, you might want to check it out. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to keep on top of your stats.

Share this:

' src=

Author: Melissa Bowersock

Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres. She has been both traditionally and independently published and lives in a small community in northern Arizona. Learn more about Melissa from her Amazon author page and her blog . View all posts by Melissa Bowersock

17 thoughts on “Tracking Kindle Sales with Book Report”

An interesting app, but when I tried to install it with my Google Chrome browser it wouldn’t allow it and gave me a ‘Couldn’t update data in background’ error message. When i tried trouble shooting, it mentioned having to install an extension to my browser, but didn’t name it or give instructions on how to do it, so I finally gave up. Any suggestions on what might have gone wrong?

Charles, I’m sorry you’re having difficulty. When I added mine, it gave me the option to add the app to Chrome or Firefox, and I’ve done both. It’s been a long time since I did this, but I believe I just had to choose which browser I wanted the extension added to, and as soon as I clicked that button, it did it. It adds the extension as a small, rainbow-colored open circle in the upper right-hand corner of the browser. Mine sits just to the right of the URL address window. You might check your browser and see if it’s there. If not, I’d suggest getting in touch with them at [email protected] .

Knowing about that little rainbow is the secret! I had initial trouble, but the rainbow helped. Thanks so much for sharing this. The app inspires me to get crackin.

It’s free until you earn more than $1,000 a month in royalties. Which, if you spent nearly $1,000 a month in advertising to get (grrr), isn’t going to leave you a lot of money to pay for Book Report. It is very cool, though.

Sandra, I have noticed on the Settings page, down at the bottom, there is an option to subscribe to Book Report for $19/month or $190/year, but I have never done that. I have not, so far, cracked the $1000/month ceiling, so I’ve never been required to pay. I guess that’s the good news/bad news, huh?

Very helpful, Melissa, thank you!

You’re welcome, Melinda. I love this thing.

Thanks, Melissa.

Extremely helpful. Thanks.

Thanks for the info, Melissa, I installed it without a problem. Now if they’d add d2d & kobo 🙂

Glad you found it easy, David. Maybe drop them a line about the other two?

I’ve always found the KDP info “lackluster” for sure, and that’s being polite about it. I’ll check this out. thanks, Melissa.

Well, yes, I was trying to be diplomatic. Certainly less than inspiring.

Great article, Melissa. I use Bookreport too, and like it. KDP is beta testing a new report page that gives some of the same information (link is to FAQs on the beta version):

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GVTTXHKHVPAPBEDQ#faq

It’s not quite as comprehensive, though, but it’s great for at-a-glance sales/pagereads and various other reports. Hopefully, they’ll add more bells and whistles. If they do, I might cancel my subscription to BR.

I think KDP could certainly take a few pages from BR’s format. I’ve gotten an email about the new KDP page, but haven’t seen it on my dashboard yet.

BTW, what benefit do you see from subscribing? Or is it just to donate to future research?

Comments are closed.

Bona Fide Bookworm

  • Gift Guides

9 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers [2023]

Looking for a book tracking app to track the books you read? There are so many benefits of using book trackers in your reading life, so congratulations on making a great decision to get started! With that being said, there are so many different methods of tracking reading …and it can be tough to know what method to choose. So to help you out, here are the current best book tracking apps that you’ll want to consider!

A woman's hands holding a phone on top of a stack of books

1. Goodreads

When looking for reading tracker apps, you’re likely to quickly come across Goodreads as a popular option. And this is with good reason!

Goodreads is an easy-to-use app to track books read, and allows you to create “shelves” (aka lists) of books you’ve read, books you’re currently reading, and books you want to read. You can also create custom lists to track your books other ways if you want, though these three categories are great for getting you started.

It’s also a social reading tracker, which means you can interact with other readers, discover new suggestions for what to read next, and more. Plus, they offer an annual reading challenge, which is a fun way to form good reading habits by setting reading goals !

Never set a reading goal before? Here’s why you should consider setting reading goals this year!

Libib is another of the best reading tracker apps that you’ll want to consider. It’s a high-powered app with a lot of functionality that you can use for tracking your reading or even for cataloging your home library !

This app is free and allows you to track and record up to 5,000 items in a professional, clearly-organized way. It is cloud-based as well, so allows you to access your collections via app or web browser, which means it’s handy for tracking your reading on-the-go and from all your devices.

So if you’re looking for a free app to keep track of books read and might also want it to do double duty for your home library collection or other collectibles, then be sure to check out Libib!

3. LibraryThing

LibraryThing is another cataloguing site with an app, similar to Libib, that allows you to record your reading or record collections of books, movies, and music for free.

This is a fun option for a book reading tracker app because it’s a way to keep a public reading log and also interact socially with other users.

Something else that makes this app stand out as a great app to track books you’ve read is that it works by searching libraries to find the details of the book you want to input. This means you don’t have to enter all the information from scratch, which can be so helpful (especially if you have a lot of books to enter at once!)

This app and its web interface can both feel a little dated at times, but the functionality is strong so if you don’t mind a bit of an older look then this can still be an awesome app to consider.

4. The StoryGraph

Another nice social app to track your reading is The StoryGraph , a newer app that’s been gaining prominence recently!

This app has simple reading tracking and stats functionality, but it’s especially stellar for what it does after you’ve tracked your reading: giving you new book recommendations based on what you’ve already read and liked.

With its machine learning AI, it understands your reading preferences to help you choose your next book that you’re practically guaranteed to love! It’s also a great for socializing with other readers and can help you find reading buddies on the app even if you don’t know them IRL.

So while StoryGraph is primarily known as a social book app and a reading recommendation app, it can also be used to track your reading so can be a great option if you want something super social!

Bookly is another app that tracks books read and is a somewhat-popular option on the market as well.

This app allows you to track your books, track your reading time (to know how long it takes you to finish a book), and unlock badges and achievements in the app as you make progress toward your goals. This is great if you need a little reading encouragement, and you can also save thoughts and quotes about the books you’re reading as you read them.

However, one of the downsides compared to other apps on this list is that you can only add 10 books before you have to pay a monthly subscription fee to use it. So if you’re looking for a free or one-time cost reading tracker, Bookly is not the option for you.

6. Book Breeze

When looking for apps to track reading that are also helpful with motivation, Book Breeze could be a great option for you!

Book Breeze’s philosophy is that “what gets measured gets improved,” so they help you set goals and track your progress visually, with statistics, pace tracking, smart predictions for how long it will take you to read a book, and more.

With such a focus on setting goals and measuring and improving, this app could be an especially excellent choice if you want to focus on reaching your reading goals !

Looking for a different, more visual way of tracking your reading? Litsy is a bookish social media/community of readers that has been around for a while, and could be what you’re looking for!

Litsy is kind of like a dedicated Instagram for book lovers, as it allows you to track your reading by sharing “bookish moments” with quotes, reviews, blurbs, etc. They also have “stacks” for organizing your reading lists, if you’re looking for a little more traditional reading tracking methods.

But this app primarily puts focus on connection and the social side of reading, also priding itself on giving recommendations from readers—not from algorithms. This means that you know you’re getting the best recommendations from other readers and not from a machine!

If this sounds like a happy medium for you of using an app to track your reading without going overboard on stats and data, then you should give it a try!

We’ve talked a lot about different social book trackers so far, but what about if you’re looking for one of the best apps to track your reading that isn’t social? Candl might be exactly what you need!

Candl prides themselves on being non-social—in fact, it’s right in their tagline! With this app, you can add books to your personal collection and keep track of your progress, books you want to read, your completed books, and more. You can also set reading goals and stay on top of your goals with customizable reminders, as well as taking notes and finding them again with full text search.

It’s a pretty simple way to track, rate, and review the books you read. And the best part? All your lists, collections, notes, and reminders are completely private!

9. Italic Type

And lastly, Italic Type could be another app you’ll want to check out when wanting to keep track of your books read.

This reading tracker is still in the early phases of development, and currently offers both desktop and mobile versions (the iOS app is coming soon). It functions as a reading tracker, personal reading tracker with Book Boards to record notes and ideas, and a place to read with friends.

If you’re looking to try out a new reading app, then this is a social one you might end up loving!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Try Book Report Ai Writer "WriteApp"

Experience a new way of creating book reports with WriteApp, our AI book report writer. WriteApp uses cutting-edge AI technology to generate detailed and comprehensive book reports in a fraction of the time it usually takes. Try WriteApp today and revolutionize your book report writing process.

AI book report writer

About AI book report creator

Simply input the book details and set your parameters, and WriteApp will produce a high-quality, insightful report. Whether you need a brief overview or an in-depth analysis, WriteApp adapts to your needs, saving you time and stress. Plus, you can use the AI-generated reports as a learning tool to improve your own writing and analytical skills.

AI book writer

How It Works

Step 1: Input Your Book Details Start by entering the details of the book you need a report on. This includes the title, author, and any specific aspects you want the AI book report writer to focus on, such as themes, character analysis, or plot summary.

Step 2: Set Your Parameters Next, set your preferred word count and choose the level of detail you want in the report. WriteApp can generate everything from a brief overview to a comprehensive analysis.

Step 3: Let WriteApp Generate the Report Once your details are set, WriteApp gets to work. Our AI book report writer uses advanced algorithms to generate a high-quality, detailed report that captures the essence of the book and meets your specified requirements.

Step 4: Review, Edit, and Download The generated report is ready for review in a matter of moments. You can read through it, make any necessary edits, and learn from the AI’s approach. Once you’re satisfied, download the report and use it as you wish!

With WriteApp, generating book reports becomes a stress-free and efficient process. Try our AI writer today and see the difference it makes!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can we help you?

Can AI write a book report?

How to use ai to write a book report, can ai write books, how to use ai to write a book, benefits to use our ai book report writer named writeapp, swift report generation.

WriteApp, our AI book report writer, generates comprehensive book reports in a fraction of the time it would take to write manually. Now you can meet your deadlines with ease and efficiency.

High-Quality Content

Powered by advanced AI, WriteApp ensures that every book report is of exceptional quality. It synthesizes information and presents insights in a coherent, compelling manner that demonstrates a deep understanding of the book.

Customizable Reports

WriteApp is adaptable to your unique needs. Whether you need a simple summary or an in-depth analysis, our AI book report writer can customize the report to suit your requirements.

Consistent Learning Tool

WriteApp is more than just a writing aid; it’s also a learning tool. By reviewing the structure, style, and content of the AI-generated book reports, users can improve their own writing and analytical skills.

See also: Write my Term Paper |

Brit + Co Guides Logo

How to use google docs for a book report

Use google docs for a book report.

Open Docs app and click the plus on the bottom right. Then click Choose Template.

Scroll down a few times until you see the Education category, and then find the Book Report by Reading Rainbow template. Click on it.

Now you can scroll through this document that's already formatted nicely. It contains good ideas and suggestions, too.

Delete and add text and images as needed throughout the document.

Our students use iOS creation apps for book report alternatives (Book Creator, ThingLink, Padlet, etc.), but this seems like a kid-friendly way to practice more of a typed/essay book report format.

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Arts and Entertainment

A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

  • Researching
  • Drafting the Report
  • Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,416,772 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

  • Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
  • Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
  • Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

Step 1 Follow the requirements of your assignment.

  • For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
  • Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

Jake Adams

  • Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

Step 3 Write down the key elements of the book.

  • Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
  • Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
  • Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
  • Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
  • Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

Step 4 Read the entire book.

  • Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
  • Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
  • Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

Step 5 Take careful notes when reading.

  • For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

Step 1 Create an outline.

  • Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
  • Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
  • Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
  • Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
  • Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
  • Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
  • Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
  • Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
  • Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

Step 2 Intermix examples and quotations from the text.

  • Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

Step 3 Don’t try to cover everything.

  • For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
  • When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
  • Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

Step 1 Open with an informative intro paragraph.

  • For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
  • Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

Step 2 Describe the book’s setting.

  • Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

Step 3 Include a general plot summary.

  • For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

Step 4 Introduce the main characters.

  • For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
  • Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

Step 5 Examine main themes and/or arguments in your body paragraphs.

  • You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
  • For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

Step 6 Comment on the writing style and tone.

  • For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

Step 7 Write a concise conclusion.

  • Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
  • When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Step 8 Include a bibliography, if required.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

Step 1 Edit your paper.

  • Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
  • Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

Step 2 Ask someone else to read it.

  • If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
  • Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

Step 3 Polish your final draft.

  • For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
  • Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

book report app

  • Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

  • Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
  • Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
  • Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

book report app

  • Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Write a Comparative Essay

  • ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
  • ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
  • ↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
  • ↑ https://library.valleycollege.edu/elements_of_book_report.pdf
  • ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
  • ↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
  • ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
  • ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

Jake Adams

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Louise Pena

Louise Pena

May 17, 2016

Did this article help you?

book report app

Ashley Egerage

Nov 13, 2017

Anonymous

Aug 20, 2016

Charlotte Arney

Charlotte Arney

Mar 10, 2023

Birb

Nov 16, 2017

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

How to Avoid the Icks that People Can't Stand

Trending Articles

How to Answer “How’s It Going?” in Any Situation

Watch Articles

Make Homemade Liquid Dish Soap

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

  • Try for free

How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example) 

Download for free, specific tips for writing effective book reports..

Write better book reports using the tips, examples, and outlines presented here. This resource covers three types of effective book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. It also features a specific book report example for students.

How to write a book report (+ book report example) 

Whether you're a student looking to show your comprehension of a novel, or simply a book lover wanting to share your thoughts, writing a book report can be a rewarding experience. This guide, filled with tips, tricks, and a book report example, will help you craft a report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of your chosen book.

Looking for a printable resource on book reports? See our Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

What is a book report? 

Book reports can take on many different forms. Writing a book review helps you practice giving your opinion about different aspects of a book, such as an author's use of description or dialogue.

You can write book reports of any type, from fiction to non-fiction research papers, or essay writing; however, there are a few basic elements you need to include to convey why the book you read was interesting when writing a good book report.

Close up shot of student writing a book report in class. Book report example.

Types of book reports 

Three types of effective book reports are plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. Each type focuses on different aspects of the book and requires a unique approach. These three types of book reports will help you demonstrate your understanding of the book in different ways.

Plot summary

When you are writing a plot summary for your book report you don't want to simply summarize the story. You need to explain what your opinion is of the story and why you feel the plot is so compelling, unrealistic, or sappy. It is the way you analyze the plot that will make this a good report. Make sure that you use plenty of examples from the book to support your opinions.

Try starting the report with a sentence similar to the following:

The plot of I Married a Sea Captain , by Monica Hubbard, is interesting because it gives the reader a realistic sense of what it was like to be the wife of a whaling captain and live on Nantucket during the 19th century.

Character analysis

If you choose to write a character analysis, you can explore the physical and personality traits of different characters and the way their actions affect the plot of the book.

  • Explore the way a character dresses and what impression that leaves with the reader.
  • What positive characteristics does the character possess?
  • Does the character have a "fatal flaw" that gets him/her into trouble frequently?
  • Try taking examples of dialogue and analyzing the way a character speaks. Discuss the words he/she chooses and the way his/her words affect other characters.
  • Finally, tie all of your observations together by explaining the way the characters make the plot move forward.

In the novel Charlotte's Web , by E. B. White, Templeton the rat may seem like an unnecessary character but his constant quest for food moves the plot forward in many ways.

Theme analyses

Exploring the themes (or big ideas that run throughout the story) in a book can be a great way to write a book report because picking a theme that you care about can make the report easier to write. Try bringing some of your thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show the power of a theme. Before you discuss your own thoughts, however, be sure to establish what the theme is and how it appears in the story.

  • Explain  exactly  what theme you will be exploring in your book report.
  • Use as many examples and quotations from the book as possible to prove that the theme is important to the story.
  • Make sure that you talk about each example or quotation you've included. Make a direct connection between the theme and the example from the book.
  • After you have established the theme and thoroughly examined the way it affects the book, include a few sentences about the impact the theme had upon you and why it made the book more or less enjoyable to read.

In the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred Taylor, the theme of racial prejudice is a major catalyst in the story.

How to write a book report

Close up shot of male student writing a book report in journal. Book report example.

1. Thoroughly read the book

Immerse yourself in the book, taking the time to read it in its entirety. As you read, jot down notes on important aspects such as key points, themes, and character developments.

2. Identify the main elements of the book

Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report.

3. Formulate a thesis statement

Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book. This should be a concise statement that will guide your analysis and give your report a clear focus.

4. Create a detailed outline

Plan the structure of your book report. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs each focusing on a different aspect of the book, and a conclusion.

5. Craft the introduction

The introduction should provide basic information such as the book's title and author, and present your thesis statement. It should engage the reader and make them interested in your analysis.

6. Write the body of the report

In the body of your report, discuss in detail the book's main elements that you identified in step 3. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis and to prove your thesis statement.

7. Write a strong conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your analysis, reaffirm your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the overall book.

8. Review and edit your report

After writing, take the time to revise your report for clarity and coherence. Check for and correct any grammar or spelling errors. Ensure that your report clearly communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

9. Include citations

If you have used direct quotes or specific ideas from the book, make sure to include proper citations . This is crucial in academic writing and helps avoid plagiarism.

10. Proofread

Finally, proofread your work. Look for any missed errors and make sure that the report is the best it can be before submitting it.

High school teacher hands back graded book reports. Book report example.

Book report example 

Below is a book report example on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In  To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee presents a thoughtful exploration of racial prejudice, morality, and the loss of innocence. Set in the small, fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the book centers around the Finch family - young Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Scout's character provides a fresh perspective as she narrates her experiences and observations of the unjust racial prejudice in her town. Her honesty and curiosity, coupled with her father's teachings, allow her to grow from innocence to a more profound understanding of her society's inequalities. The plot revolves around Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, unjustly accused of raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that Robinson is innocent, and the accusation was a product of racial prejudice. Despite compelling evidence in Robinson's favor, he is convicted, symbolizing the power of bias over truth. The theme of racial prejudice is a significant part of the book. Lee uses the trial and its unjust outcome to critique the racial prejudice prevalent in society. For example, despite Atticus's solid defense, the jury's racial bias leads them to find Robinson guilty. This instance highlights how deeply ingrained prejudice can subvert justice. The book also explores the theme of the loss of innocence. Scout and Jem's experiences with prejudice and injustice lead to their loss of innocence and a better understanding of the world's complexities. For example, Scout's realization of her town's unfair treatment of Robinson demonstrates her loss of innocence and her understanding of societal biases. Overall,  To Kill a Mockingbird  is a compelling exploration of the harsh realities of prejudice and the loss of innocence. Harper Lee's intricate characters and vivid storytelling have made this book a classic.

The above is an excellent book report example for several reasons. First, it provides a clear, concise summary of the plot without giving away the entire story. Second, it analyzes the main characters, their roles, and their impacts on the story. Third, it discusses the major themes of the book - racial prejudice and loss of innocence - and supports these themes with evidence from the text. Finally, it presents a personal perspective on the book's impact and overall message, demonstrating a deep understanding of the book's significance.

Book report checklist

Always  include the following elements in any book report:

  • The type of book report you are writing
  • The book's title
  • The author of the book
  • The time when the story takes place
  • The location where the story takes place
  • The names and a  brief  description of each of the characters you will be discussing
  • Many quotations and examples from the book to support your opinions
  • A thesis statement
  • The point of view of the narrator
  • Summary of the book
  • The main points or themes discussed in the work of fiction or non-fiction
  • The first paragraph (introductory paragraph), body paragraphs, and final paragraph
  • The writing styles of the author
  • A critical analysis of the fiction or non-fiction book

Don't forget! 

No matter what type of book report you decide to write, ensure it includes basic information about the main characters, and make sure that your writing is clear and expressive so that it’s easy for audiences in middle school, high school, college-level, or any grade level to understand. Also, include examples from the book to support your opinions. Afterward, conduct thorough proofreading to complete the writing process. Book reports may seem disconnected from your other schoolwork, but they help you learn to summarize, compare and contrast, make predictions and connections, and consider different perspectives & skills you'll need throughout your life.

Looking for more writing resources? You can find them in our creative writing center .

Featured Middle School Resources

Elements of Poetry Workbook

Related Resources

sandbox logo

  • BookWidgets Teacher Blog

book report app

15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get your students excited to read

book report app

Not all students are excited to read a book. So how can you make reading a book more engaging and fun? This is a huge challenge for most teachers, so I hope I can help you out!

Here’s what you’ll find in this blog post (click on the title if you want to jump to the section directly)

5 tips to get your students excited about reading

  • 15 creative and digital book report lesson plans (free & ready to use!)
  • The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment (your students get to choose!)

Instructions on how to use these digital book report lesson activities

Before you dive into the book reports, you have to get your students excited about reading first. In this previous post about reading, I’ve listed 10 tips that will encourage your students to read . I’ve come up with 5 more amazing tips! Here we go:

1. Use AR apps

book report app

Here are a few apps with amazing storylines and AR books.

  • Wonderscope , for example, is an excellent storytelling tool. It uses augmented reality to transform ordinary places into real-time stories. Students also learn to read with the app. They ask questions to the characters in the story and listen to the characters’ answers.
  • The Ghostkeeper’s journal and field guide : This book is an immersive adventure for readers aged 10 and up, offering several AR experiences to enhance the storyline. These are accessed via a mobile app “ Ghost-o-Matic ”.
  • Bookful creates an engaging reading experience and brings stories and characters in books to life. The app holds the world’s largest 3D/AR library with hundreds of titles from leading publishers and brands such as: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, DK’s Encyclopedia, and children’s favorites such as Barbie, My Little Pony, Thomas & Friends, Transformers, and The Smurfs.

2. Escape lessons

book report app

Here are 3 fun ready-to-use escape lessons to spark your students’ joy of reading:

  • A Halloween Murder : Let your students investigate the murder of the victim: Brat Spook. When they find the murderer, they get their “inspector” badge. Let them look for evidence in the murder scene, talk to suspects, analyze lab results, and so on!
  • Finding Rudolph : Save Christmas by helping Santa find back Rudolph. Students go through different challenges, talk to eye-witnesses, and follow Rudolph through a winter maze, so Santa can deliver all the presents to the children.
  • Easter Bunny Substitute : Can your students find a good Easter Bunny replacement? In the last breakout game for the classroom, the Easter Bunny is hurt, so your students need to interview the possible applicants and take tests to replace the Easter Bunny themselves. If they succeed in the challenges, they get an Easter Bunny substitute badge.

3. Storytelling

book report app

If you bring cultural elements into your lessons by telling a story, your students will be more eager to learn. Storytelling makes students want to “live the story”. And they do this by reading it. If your story is strong enough, your students will love learning and reading. They will even remember the lesson content better.

Here’s a fun & ready-to-use example: The life of William Shakespeare

4. First chapters

book report app

5. Books & sleepovers

book report app

You can even add different parts to your sleepover. For example, let students read their favorite passage in a book of choice out loud, and 1 hour before bedtime, all your students take their book and read in silence. Or how about creating cozy themed corners? Fantasy, science fiction, detectives,… When your students are reading in themed corners, they get the full experience. They can even dress up as a character in their book whilst reading.

15 Creative and digital book report lesson plans

Step 1: Get your students excited about reading. ✅ Step 2: make sure they don’t lose their interest when you’re announcing the book report assignment! ☑️ This part can be demotivating.

As the lower grade students often still get fun book report assignments, the higher grade students often get a dull worksheet where they have to describe the characters and give a summary. Change up your book report assignments with these creative, free & ready-to-use lesson ideas.

Take a look at all these ready-to-use and free digital book report activities. They’re all made with BookWidgets . You can even make exercises like these yourself in your own BookWidgets account.

Keep on reading to find out how to use these exercises in your lessons.

How did your students experience the book? Let them fill the glasses with drawings of the storyline/the book. The glasses represent the view of the students. Students can get really creative and use the toolbar at the bottom to draw and type.

You can ask your students to present their book report artworks to the other students as well. This way, your students can explain what’s on their drawing.

Creative book report - glasses drawing

2. Bookworm

Creative book report - bookworm worksheet

3. Timeline

This interactive book report asks your students to create a timeline of the story. When did what happen, chronologically? The have to add the biggest events in the story to the timeline.

Creative book report with timeline

4. Comic book

In this book report exercise, your students have to write a comic book based upon the book they’ve just read. When they click on the “start” icon, they can choose fitting text balloons to go with their story.

Here are three other fun websites that let students create comic books: Storyboard That , Comic Life , and Toonytool . They already give you creative templates and drawings. This is a bit easier for students. This way, they don’t have to start from scratch.

Creative book report - Comic book

5. Character portrait

Creative book report - Character portrait

6. Randomness task

Just… add a little spice. I’ve turned the ordinary book report task, where students have to describe characters, the setting, plot, etc., into an exciting one. Your students don’t know yet what they’ll have to describe. They spin the randomness wheel and their task appears. The fun thing about this one is that all of your students will write a different book report.

Creative book report - bookworm

7. Book cover

Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you’ve read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc.

Creative book report - book cover

8. Character family tree

This digital mind map exercise allows your students to add boxes with text and connect them to each other. This is perfect for a book report activity focusing on the characters in their book.

Creative book report - family tree

9. Facebook Profile

Modern days call for modern book report lesson ideas. Image the main character having a Facebook profile. What would be on it? That’s exactly what your students have to figure out here. Create a Facebook profile about the main character.

Creative book report - Facebook profile

10. Book Collage

Here, students have to add 10 pictures or images that have to do with the book. They can do so by clicking on the photo icon and adding images into their collage.

Creative book report - family tree

11. Mirror selfie

In this creative book report, students have to dress up like the character in their book, including holding 3 attributes that refer to the personality of the main character. They have to take a picture or mirror selfie of themselves dressed up, and add that picture to the whiteboard. You can ask them to come forward and present their images and explain why they’ve chosen those specific attributes.

The fun thing about all of these exercises is that they work on smartphones as well. So in this case, students can just open the exercise on their smartphones, take a mirror selfie with their phones and add it to the mirror in the digital whiteboard exercise.

Creative book report - Mirror selfie

12. Email to the author

Your students have the chance to write a friendly email or letter to the author of the book they just read. Students have to share:

  • their opinion;
  • the character in the book they liked most, and why;
  • their favorite part of the book and why;
  • questions that they have about the book.

If you have an email address of the author, ask your students to submit their works to you, the teacher, first. After having given feedback on their letters, they can make some changes and send it over to the author.

If you have the author’s postal address, it’s much more fun to write a classic letter.

Creative book report - Letter to the author

13. Conversation between characters

There is something called a “texting thumb” or a “smartphone pinky”. This shows that students like to send texts. A lot of them. So why not include it in your book report lesson plan? In this digital book report, students have to invent a conversation between two characters in their book.

Creative book report - Conversation with a character

14. Movie vs. Book

A lot of books have a movie version too. If your students choose a book that also has a movie, it’s interesting to let your students make a comparison. With this book report exercise, you’re also sure your students actually read the book instead of just watching the movie and write a summary of the movie and not the book.

Creative book report - movie vs book

15. Emoji summary

The last exercise is also one students can relate to. Nowadays, we use emojis after almost every sentence when we’re communicating with friends. Emojis also have a strong meaning and can be used to express feelings or say something without actually saying it.

Creative book report - Emoji summary

The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment

All these book report exercises are so much fun and yet they don’t take up a lot of time. Perhaps they just ask your students to only describe a certain part about the book. Cue… the planner widget.

With this type of BookWidgets activity, you can combine several lessons into one. You can let your students take matters into their own hands and choose which book report activities they’d like to finish.

It’s actually pretty easy. Your students read the instructions in the instructions widget and then start adding at least three book report activities to their planner. They finish the activities, submit them to their teacher, check off their planner, and that’s it!

Creative book report - Collection

Above, you can find the 15 ready-to-use book report activities. You can use these lesson examples for free. Since they’re all made with BookWidgets, I’ve listed them in this BookWidgets group . Here’s what you need to do:

  • Click on this link . It will immediately bring you to the group with all of the book report activities. If you don’t have a BookWidgets account yet, you’ll have to sign up first for free .
  • Duplicate all the book report activities. Click on the settings wheel , select all widgets , click on the settings wheel again, choose duplicate selected widgets . Choose where you want to save the activities in your BookWidgets account.
  • Go to your saved book report lessons. You can now click on the black dropdown arrow next to the ‘Show’ button of a particular exercise and select Edit . You can make some changes to this activity (if you want). If it’s perfect for you, click on Share in the upper right corner.
  • Share this link with your students. When they click on it, they can fill it out. A lot of the book report examples above have been made with BookWidgets’ Whiteboard widget, in which students can use the tool menu at the bottom to switch tools (draw, type,…), and to switch colors. When done, they can submit the book reports to you by clicking on the envelope in the upper right corner.
  • As a teacher, you go to “Grades & reporting” in BookWidgets to find your students’ answers.

Of course, now that you’ve got your own BookWidgets account, you can also create book report activities or other assignments yourself!

Attention! Once your free trial runs out, you’ll only be able to use the widgets you’ve already finished/shared with students. While your BookWidgets account will still work and you’ll still get your students’ results with the free BookWidgets version, you won’t be able to duplicate widgets nor create new widgets yourself anymore.

So that’s it! I hope these lesson ideas are useful for your classroom or at least give you lots of new ideas for your book report lessons! You can even create ones yourself!

Create your first digital book report with BookWidgets

Have fun, share this with fellow teachers and keep on rocking your classroom!

Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education.

BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

book report app

Book Summaries

Productivity Tools

8 Best Book Summary Apps in 2024 (Free & Paid)

By  Alex  · Updated Mar 2, 2024

If you're like most people, you probably have a long list of books you want to read but never seem to find the time for.

That's why book summary apps are so popular! These apps allow you to read summaries of books so that you can get the information you need in a fraction of the time.

In this blog post, we will discuss the best book summary apps in 2024.

B est Book Summary Apps

  • getAbstract

How to Choose

There are a lot of different book summary apps and websites, so how do you choose the right one for you? The best way to decide is to think about what features are important to you. Here are some things we considered:

  • How much does it cost?
  • How many book summaries does it have?
  • Which summary formats are available?
  • On which devices are the summaries available?

1. Blinkist

image

  • Available on : Web, iPhone, Android, Alexa
  • Pricing : $16/month (or $8.33/month billed annually)
  • User Ratings
  • iPhone : 4.8 ★ (99.4K+ ratings)
  • Android : 4.7 ★ (81.5K+ ratings)
  • Extra features : Audio summaries, podcast summaries

Our Take: Blinkist is the app to beat when it comes to book summaries. They have a large catalog of books, competitive pricing, high user ratings, and all the important features we expect to see in a book summary app.

2. Shortform

image

  • Available on : Web, iPhone, Android
  • Price : $24/month (or $16.42/month billed annually)
  • iPhone : 4.4 ★ (200+ ratings)
  • Android : 3.6 ★ (300+ ratings)
  • Advanced features : Related insights, exercises

Our Take: What we love about Shortform? The app goes beyond simple book summaries and relates to ideas to those from other books. It also makes the content actionable with targeted exercises.

3. getAbstract

image

  • Price : $29.90/month (or $25/month billed annually)
  • Android : 4.1 ★ (2.1K+ ratings)
  • Advanced features : Article and video summaries

Our Take: getAbstract boasts one of the largest library of summarized books. However, the app is not as engaging and interactive as others on this list.

4. StoryShots

image

  • Price : Free plan available (or $2.99/month for premium plan)
  • iPhone : 4.7 ★ (1.1K+ ratings)
  • Android : 4.4 ★ (5.5K+ ratings)
  • Advanced features : Animations

Our Take: With its generous free plan and cheap premium plan, StoryShots is a great app for budget-conscious readers.

5. Deepstash

image

  • Available on : iPhone, Android
  • Price : Free plan available (or $12.99/month for pro plan)
  • iPhone : 4.8 ★ (2.1K+ ratings)
  • Android : 4.5 ★ (74.3K+ ratings)
  • Advanced features : Article and podcast summaries

Our Take: We like Deepstash’s approach of focusing on ideas rather than books and fully recommend checking out their free plan.

image

  • Price : $9.15/month (billed annually)
  • iPhone : 4.8 ★ (5.2K+ ratings)
  • Android : 4.1 ★ (53.2K+ ratings)
  • Advanced features : Audio summaries

Our Take: 12min is an overall solid book summary app. However, it’s inferior to Blinkist at a similar price point and does not come with any of the unique features of other apps on this list. We recommend checking out these other apps first.

image

  • Available on : iPhone
  • Pricing : $15.99/month (or $8.33/month billed annually)
  • User Ratings: 4.8 ★ (17.5K+ ratings) for iPhone
  • Extra features : Daily quiz, visualizations

Our Take: Lucid’s unique selling point are its easy to understand visualizations. The app is a joy to use and we definitely recommend checking it out if you are a visual learner.

image

  • Pricing : $7.49/month (billed annually)
  • iPhone : 4.7 ★ (68.9K+ ratings)
  • Android : 4.4 ★ (41.5K+ ratings)
  • Extra features : Video explainers, spaced repetition

Our Take: By offering progress tracking and spaced repetition the Headway app focuses on helping you learn and retain the knowledge gained from its book summaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are book summary apps?

Book summary apps are mobile and web applications that provide concise summaries of books, allowing users to get the essence of a book's content in a much shorter time. They're ideal for those with busy schedules who still want to consume book content.

Are there free book summary apps available?

Yes, several book summary apps offer free plans or trials. StoryShots and Deepstash are great examples, with both offering generous free options alongside premium plans for users looking for more features.

Can I listen to book summaries instead of reading them?

Absolutely! Apps like Blinkist and 12min offer audio summaries, making it convenient to consume book content on the go, whether you're driving, exercising, or just relaxing.

Which book summary app is recommended for visual learners?

Lucid is highly recommended for visual learners. It offers unique visualizations along with its summaries, which can help users better understand and retain the information presented.

Is there a book summary app that helps with knowledge retention?

Headway is designed to help with learning and retaining knowledge. It features spaced repetition and video explainers, tools that enhance understanding and memory retention of the book summaries.

All Book Summary Apps

book report app

Which Is the Best Book Tracking App? A Comparison of 5 Book Trackers

' src=

Arvyn Cerézo

Arvyn Cerézo is an arts and culture writer/reporter with bylines in Book Riot , Publishers Weekly , South China Morning Post , PhilSTAR Life , the Asian Review of Books , and other publications. You can find them on arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo on Twitter.

View All posts by Arvyn Cerézo

As a voracious reader with a never-ending reading list and an impossible reading goal to achieve, finding the best book tracking app can be tedious. You would have to try out various apps to see which one best suits your preferences. What if you find that the app you’re currently using doesn’t fit the bill? You transfer your data and start all over with a new one. Rinse, repeat, until you find what works. Fortunately, you don’t have to waste time.

In this detailed comparison, I ranked the top five best book tracker apps, with the best coming first. Though all of these apps track the books you read, they differ in many ways. I will break them down by price, whether they are free, paid, or freemium; their core features and what sets them apart; how each one works, how easy they are to navigate; how they differ; their strong suits and their shortcomings. At the end of the piece, you will find my recommendations for which app you should use based on what kind of reader you are.

Let’s start with Bookmory, the best book tracking app I’ve tried. Bookly, The StoryGraph, Goodreads, and Google Sheets come next.

Bookmory lets you keep track of how many books you’ve read and how long you’ve read them, save quotes, take notes, share reading accomplishments, see reading statistics, and much more. The premium subscription costs $3.49 monthly and $30.99 annually.

When you add a book, it shows the number of days you’ve spent reading it and the percentage. The homepage displays the books that you’re currently reading.

screencap of Bookmory app

When you click on a book, you can use the timer to estimate how long it will take you to finish it. From there, you can add a note by writing, taking a photo with your phone’s camera, or uploading one from your gallery.

You can update your reading status by pausing, abandoning, or marking a book as read. You can also keep track of your purchases and rentals, put tags in your books, and group them together into collections. All of this is free.

The Bookmory app has a visually appealing design. It’s user-friendly as well, as it allows you to continue where you left off when you open the app again — even when you switch off your device. In addition to that, it sends out reminders to return books that you borrowed and keeps track of where you bought or borrowed them.

Along with those core features, the app has personalized settings for the timer, app color, note fonts, paragraph spacing, note decoration background, the ability to lock the app, languages, book calendar, and a lot more.

A downside is that the app may take some time to launch because it retrieves data from the phone rather than the cloud. Still, after the initial slow loading, it runs quickly and smoothly.

If you have multiple devices or need to switch between them, using this app can be inconvenient because your data will not automatically sync. When making significant updates on your reading progress, it’s best to make offline backups on a regular basis to restore them later.

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. By signing up you agree to our terms of use

Bookly ’s core features include adding reading goals, whether daily, monthly, or yearly; adding the number of minutes you want to read; keeping tabs of reminders; seeing basic stats such as pages read and time read, whether that’s seven or 30 days; having a personal assistant that pushes daily suggestions, thoughts, word of the day, and daily motivation; and generating weekly, monthly, and yearly reports.

The pro version is $4.99 per month for a month’s subscription, $19.99 for six months, and $29.99 for a year’s subscription. However, you can take advantage of the free trial period of seven days. If you have a free account, you can only add 10 books to your tracker. Pro features include the ability to add unlimited books, create image quotes, see global stats, keep track of reading progress, enable cloud sync, use ambient sounds while reading, activate a personal assistant, remove ads, and unlock collections.

The Bookly app takes a gamified approach, so it may motivate you to read more. Reading more books earns you diamonds, which you can use to unlock costumes, extend monthly reading goals by adding extra reading days, add more books, and so on.

screencap of Bookly Book Tracker

Bookly is similar to Bookmory in that it allows you to add books, set timers, and track reading goals. You can play ambient noise while reading, add a quote and your own thoughts on the timer page, save words, and set a countdown. After reading, the app prompts you to reflect on what you’ve read so far.

These may all sound good, but my greatest frustration with Bookly is that many basic features are not available with a free account. The free tier only allows adding 10 books, and if you’re constantly on the go, cloud support is not even available.

The StoryGraph

While there’s a free tier, The StoryGraph costs $4.99 per month, which removes ads, provides custom charts, adds even more stats filters, and unlocks more chart features.

The app allows you to track the books you’ve read, add reviews à la Goodreads, rate books, and see reading stats. It takes a community-driven approach and emphasizes the social aspect such as buddy reads, readalongs, and book clubs.

screencap of The StoryGraph Book Tracker

Since it’s a lot like Goodreads, the tracker is bare bones, with no timer, advanced features, or ambient sounds, but you can add private notes and edit page progress while reading.

The StoryGraph is mainly a bookish social media website, with reviewing and rating books being the core features. If you don’t want to use two apps for your bookish needs, it’s a tracker and a book review site in one.

The tracker is decent, but if you need more features, there are better apps available, such as Bookmory.

Goodreads has always been free, but as the saying goes, if it’s free, then you’re the product .

Similar to The StoryGraph, it’s a full-featured book app that functions as a tracker, book recommendation service, and review site. The tracker is a supplementary feature, though.

With Goodreads, you can create virtual shelves to which you can add books, something that The StoryGraph doesn’t support. If you update your progress, whether by page count or percentage, your friends and the rest of the world will see it. If you finish a book, you can leave a review, rate it, or add it to another shelf.

screencap of Goodreads app

If you just want to keep track of what you’re reading, Goodreads does this best. Still, there’s no timer, no ambient sounds, no book calendar — nothing extra at all.

On the bright side, Goodreads runs the famous annual Reading Challenge where you track your goals and share them each year, much like Spotify’s Wrapped.

Overall, Goodreads has basic tracking features. It’s good enough, but if you want more features, you can use one of the better apps on the list.

Google Sheets

I know of many readers who still use spreadsheets to track what they read, apart from their budget, expenses, and bills.

Using Google Sheets is free, but then again, you’re Google’s product .

To use the app as a tracker, look for free reading tracker templates online. Some media companies, such as Book Riot, provide a free Google Sheets book tracker. Book Riot’s Reading Log has customizable sheets, so you can put in any data you want. Make your own copy and start tracking your books by editing the sheets as you read. Don’t forget to save it!

screencap of Book Riot's reading tracker in Google Sheets

Using Google Sheets as a tracker generally gives you a variety of options. There are numerous free templates available from various sources, as well as features or data that you can input, which vary depending on the spreadsheet. It’s free and has a completely customizable data set. The downsides are that it may not be visually appealing, has no timer, no ambient sounds, no posting of updates on social media, no reviews, no sharing of ratings, and no badges to show.

The Best App for Certain Types of Readers

Bookmory: I recommend this app to any reader looking for a free, multi-functional book tracker app. It includes all of the advanced features that other apps lack, as well as a modern user interface. The caveat is that it doesn’t automatically sync because the data is saved offline, and you can’t publish ratings and reviews publicly.

Bookly: Use this if you want ambient sounds while reading, along with other tracker features such as note-taking and timer. Because the free tier only allows for 10 books, this may not be a viable option for those on a tight budget.

The StoryGraph: Use this if you don’t want anything to do with Amazon. Basically, its features are nearly identical to Goodreads’, but with a better user interface.

Goodreads: Use this if you don’t mind Amazon’s reputation (which some readers do). It runs an annual reading challenge, which can be motivating for some. All of your bookish friends may be in there (if they haven’t switched to other apps yet), making the community larger. A basic tracker allows you to keep track of what you read, as well as see reviews and ratings from other users.

This is for readers who care about the social aspect of reading.

Google Sheets: Use this if you fancy using spreadsheets and already use them to track your expenses or budgets. Use it if you want a customizable, free tracker that you can use year after year and repurpose for whatever you want!

When comparing these apps, Bookmory emerges as the clear winner. However, the lack of real-time syncing can be a deal breaker for some. And maybe because of that, others prefer Goodreads’ social features. But because it’s owned by Amazon, many people swear not to use it and instead opt for The StoryGraph.

I hope I was able to save you time in deciding on your book tracker app, allowing you to devote more time to reading . To help you be more organized, here are the best bookish planners !

You Might Also Like

The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week

  • for Firefox
  • Dictionaries & Language Packs
  • Other Browser Sites
  • Add-ons for Android

Preview of Book Report

Book Report by Book Report

Book Report is the best way for indie authors and publishers to track their sales data. It automatically fetches your latest sales numbers and turns them into simple, insightful reports. We don't ask for your password.

Extension Metadata

book report app

Star rating saved

This add-on needs to:

  • Block content on any page
  • Access your data for sites in the getbookreport.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the amazon.com domain

This add-on may also ask to:

  • Access your data for sites in the apple.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the google.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the barnesandnoble.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the kobo.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the ingramspark.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the acx.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the findawayvoices.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the publishdrive.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the draft2digital.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the streetlib.com domain
  • Access your data for sites in the smashwords.com domain
  • Support site
  • Support Email
  • See all versions

Business titans privately urged NYC mayor to use police on Columbia protesters, chats show

A WhatsApp chat started by some wealthy Americans after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack reveals their focus on Mayor Eric Adams and their work to shape U.S. opinion of the Gaza war.

A group of billionaires and business titans working to shape U.S. public opinion of the war in Gaza privately pressed New York City’s mayor last month to send police to disperse pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, according to communications obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with the group.

Business executives including Kind snack company founder Daniel Lubetzky, hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb, billionaire Len Blavatnik and real estate investor Joseph Sitt held a Zoom video call on April 26 with Mayor Eric Adams (D), about a week after the mayor first sent New York police to Columbia’s campus, a log of chat messages shows. During the call, some attendees discussed making political donations to Adams, as well as how the chat group’s members could pressure Columbia’s president and trustees to permit the mayor to send police to the campus to handle protesters, according to chat messages summarizing the conversation.

One member of the WhatsApp chat group told The Post he donated $2,100, the maximum legal limit, to Adams that month. Some members also offered to pay for private investigators to assist New York police in handling the protests, the chat log shows — an offer a member of the group reported in the chat that Adams accepted. The New York Police Department is not using and has not used private investigators to help manage protests, a spokeswoman for City Hall said.

The messages describing the call with Adams were among thousands logged in a WhatsApp chat among some of the nation’s most prominent business leaders and financiers, including former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and Joshua Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and brother of Jared Kushner, former president Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

People with direct access to the chat log’s contents supplied them to The Post. They shared the information on the condition of anonymity because the chat’s contents were meant to stay private. Members of the group verified the chat’s existence and their comments.

The chat was initiated by a staffer for billionaire and real estate magnate Barry Sternlicht — who never joined directly, instead communicating through the staffer, according to chat messages and a person close to Sternlicht. In an Oct. 12 message, one of the first sent in the group, the staffer posting on behalf of Sternlicht told the others the goal of the group was to “change the narrative” in favor of Israel, partly by conveying “the atrocities committed by Hamas … to all Americans.”

Israel estimates 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack. In the months since the war began, the death toll in Gaza has risen above 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry .

The chat group formed shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, and its activism has stretched beyond New York, touching the highest levels of the Israeli government, the U.S. business world and elite universities. Titled “Israel Current Events,” the chat eventually expanded to about 100 members, the chat log shows. More than a dozen members of the group appear on Forbes’s annual list of billionaires; others work in real estate, finance and communications.

Overall, the messages offer a window into how some prominent individuals have wielded their money and power in an effort to shape American views of the Gaza war , as well as the actions of academic, business and political leaders — including New York’s mayor.

“He’s open to any ideas we have,” chat member Sitt, founder of the retail chain Ashley Stewart and the global real estate company Thor Equities, wrote April 27, the day after the group’s Zoom call with Adams. “As you saw he’s ok if we hire private investigators to then have his police force intel team work with them.”

Sitt declined to comment through a spokeswoman.

A half-dozen prominent members of the group confirmed on the record their participation in the chat. Multiple people familiar with the group confirmed the names of other members.

Cypriot Israeli real estate billionaire Yakir Gabay wrote in a statement shared by a spokesperson that he joined the group because he wanted to “share support at a difficult and painful time,” to aid the victims of Hamas attacks, and to “try and correct the false and misleading information intentionally spread worldwide to deny or cover up the suffering caused by Hamas.”

Asked about the Zoom meeting with chat group members, the mayor’s office did not address it directly, instead sharing a statement from Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy noting that New York police entered Columbia’s campus twice in response to “specific written requests” from university leadership. “Any suggestion that other considerations were involved in the decision-making process is completely false,” Levy said. He added, “The insinuation that Jewish donors secretly plotted to influence government operations is an all too familiar antisemitic trope that the Washington Post should be ashamed to ask about, let alone normalize in print.”

Adams demonstrated a willingness to send law enforcement to deal with campus protesters from the beginning . He sent police to Columbia’s campus to disperse pro-Palestinian demonstrators April 18, at the university’s request — about a day after protesters erected their Gaza solidarity encampment. Officers arrested more than 100 protesters . The mayor has subsequently alleged that student activists were affected by “outside influences” — and that police intervention was needed to prevent “children” from being “radicalized.”

Both he and Columbia’s president have since drawn criticism — but also support — for involving police, adding to a fraught stretch for Adams, who is up for reelection in 2025 and faces an FBI corruption investigation into whether his 2021 campaign received illegal donations from Turkey. Adams has defended that campaign, saying he held it to “the highest ethical standards.”

Four days after chat members held the video call with Adams, student protesters occupied a campus building and Columbia’s president invited police back to campus to clear the building . Officers removed and arrested dozens of protesters, pushing, striking and dragging students in the process, The Post reported . One officer accidentally fired his gun.

Months before the protests at Columbia this spring, some chat members attended private briefings with former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett; Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet; and Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, according to chat records.

Members of the group also worked with the Israeli government to screen a roughly 40-minute film showing footage compiled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) — titled “Bearing Witness to the October 7 Massacre” — to audiences in New York City. The film portrays killings committed by Hamas. A chat member asked for help from other members to show the film at universities; it was later screened at Harvard , a showing chat member Ackman helped facilitate , attended and promoted publicly.

Sternlicht declined to comment on the record, although a person close to him — speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the chat group publicly — confirmed the real estate tycoon initiated the chat. Other members of the chat, including Ackman and Schultz, confirmed their membership.

A spokesman said that Ackman had not participated in the chat since Jan. 10, adding that Ackman never spoke to Adams about the Columbia protests or donated to Adams’s campaign, although Ackman “likes and is supportive of the Mayor.” Joshua Kushner declined to comment.

On Oct. 12, a staffer for Sternlicht relayed a message from his boss outlining the group’s mission: While Israel worked to “win the physical war,” the chat group’s members would “help win the war” of U.S. public opinion by funding an information campaign against Hamas. The campaign was referred to in the chat as “Facts for Peace.”

The news site Semafor reported in November that Sternlicht was launching a $50 million anti-Hamas media campaign with various Wall Street and Hollywood billionaires. The people involved, per Semafor’s reporting, include some members of the WhatsApp chat, a review by The Post found. The chat messages, the contents of which have never before been reported, appear to reveal the start of the campaign, as well as separate pro-Israel activities undertaken later by chat members. It is unclear to what extent the chat group and media campaign overlapped.

Some of the media campaign’s activities were public, including its website and Instagram , TikTok , YouTube , Facebook and X accounts, which together attracted more than 170,000 followers.

High-level contacts, private briefings

At a moment of rising antisemitism, the staffer for Sternlicht wrote in one of the first chat messages that his boss was proud of his Jewish heritage and wanted to support Israel, but was also concerned about security. Anonymity, the staffer wrote Oct. 12 on Sternlicht’s behalf, “is a practical need and concern for safety of my family in an increasingly complex world.”

The staffer wrote that Sternlicht understood if other members felt similarly and promised that all contributions to the media campaign would remain anonymous. “I’m sensitive to concerns about being less effective if it appears that this is a Jewish initiative,” the staffer wrote, speaking for Sternlicht.

From the start of the chat, members sought guidance and information from officials in the Israeli government.

Some of the WhatsApp chat members said in the chat they attended private briefings about the Gaza war with Israeli war cabinet member Gantz, former prime minister Bennett and Herzog, the ambassador. The chat log shows Zoom invites for these meetings.

“Most appreciative for the behind the scenes briefing by Naftali Bennett,” Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, wrote to the group on Oct. 16. “Quite extraordinary!”

Bennett did not respond to a request for comment. Gantz could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington said the briefing Herzog gave chat members was “one of dozens” the ambassador delivered that month, adding that “communities here in the U.S. understandably wanted to learn more about what was happening on the ground in Israel.”

A spokesperson for Schultz confirmed in a statement that he attended the briefing with Bennett, but said Schultz “did not participate in, or contribute financially to, any of the group’s work.” Schultz was neither involved in discussions about Adams and the Columbia protests nor screenings of the film, according to a spokesman.

In late October, the chat records show, chat members appear to have suggested to Israeli officials that they should hold a private New York City screening for media members of “Bearing Witness,” the IDF film featuring graphic footage recorded by Hamas gunmen on body cameras and cellphones as they attacked Israel. Sitt wrote in a message to the group Oct. 27 that Israeli officials wanted to thank them “for coming up with the concept of the press event in NYC.”

The next month, the group showed the film in New York, records show. Sitt wrote on Nov. 10 that the Israeli government “arranged for us” to screen the film in Gotham Hall on Nov. 17, adding in a later message the showing “will be listed as a IDF event not affiliated to Facts for Peace to keep them separate.”

In ensuing months, group members wrote in the chat to flag news articles or social media posts about Israel, events in Gaza or, later, college campus protests.

‘So NYPD can return’

Columbia students first set up an encampment April 17 , eventually leading some Jewish students to allege the protests had forged a hostile and harassing atmosphere. Police stepped in to clear the encampment at the Columbia president’s request April 18, arresting more than 100 demonstrators.

In the chat, discussion of how Adams was handling the Columbia protests — and how group members could help — took off the following day, after student protesters built a new encampment to replace the demolished one.

Lubetzky, of the snack company Kind, posted in the chat sharing a link to an Instagram video showing an Israeli Arab journalist getting hit by a man the video caption claims is an “anti-Israel protester.” Not long after, billionaire Blavatnik posted a picture of Adams and wrote, “He needs help.”

Sitt responded that he had already “been helping but can use more support.” He asked if others were “open to giving” to Adams.

Gabay, the Cypriot Israeli real estate billionaire, replied: “Pls send the info. Thanks.” Then Blavatnik posted an ActBlue link allowing donations to the Eric Adams 2025 committee.

Lubetzky messaged: “If there is a group to contribute through, or a way to ensure our contributions are known to be related to his efforts to fight antisemitism and hate, pls let us know and I will support meaningfully alongside you guys.” Sitt replied that he was arranging a “code” for such donations; asked about this message, Vito Pitta, counsel to Adams’s 2025 campaign, said “there is no ‘special code’ for contributions.”

A spokeswoman for Blavatnik said he contributed $2,100 to Adams’s reelection campaign in April. She said the donation was given “to endorse Mayor Adams’ stalwart support of Israel and firm stand against antisemitism.”

Spokespeople for Lubetzky, Sitt and Gabay said they did not donate to Adams. Loeb declined to comment.

In the chat, discussion turned to the fact that Columbia had to grant Adams permission before he could send city police to the campus.

One member asked if the group could do anything to pressure Columbia trustees to cooperate with the mayor. In reply, former congressman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), CEO of the American Jewish Committee, shared a PDF of a letter his organization had sent that day to Columbia President Minouche Shafik calling on her to “shut these protests down.”

“Also in touch with the board,” Deutch wrote to the chat group. “So NYPD can return.”

Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for Deutch wrote in an email to The Post that the American Jewish Committee “values all opportunities to engage with various individuals and institutions who support the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” Asked about the chat group and its activities, a Columbia spokesperson wrote, “We have no knowledge of this.”

A Zoom video call with chat group members and Adams took place a little after 11 a.m. April 26, according to chat records.

It is unclear how many members attended the meeting, which lasted roughly 45 minutes, chat records show. Those present included at least Blavatnik, Sitt, Loeb and Lubetzky, according to the chat logs.

Sitt wrote minutes after the call ended to summarize items “discussed today,” including donating to Adams, using group members’ “leverage” to help persuade Columbia’s president to let New York police back on campus, and paying for “investigative efforts” to assist the city.

Lubetzky replied listing concrete actions group members should take. These included resharing a link to offer financial support to Adams, calling and writing to Columbia’s president and board of trustees, and “getting Black Leaders to condemn Anti-Semitism.” He named several people he would contact and asked if anyone in the group knew Jay-Z, LeBron James or Alicia Keys.

Asked about his comments, Lubetzky wrote in a statement to The Post that “building bridges between the Black and Jewish communities … is more important than ever.”

Blavatnik, through a spokeswoman, confirmed he attended the Zoom with Adams but said he did not “participate in a conversation about private investigators and is unaware of discussions related to that subject.” The spokeswoman noted other people on the Zoom said things Blavatnik “did not weigh in on or agree with.” She said the billionaire, a Columbia alumnus and donor, only joined the Zoom to understand how Adams “was thinking about the Columbia protests.”

The evening after the call, Sitt shared the ActBlue link for donations to Adams’s 2025 committee.

The chat does not record who donated money to Adams nor how much. The New York City Campaign Finance Board website shows donations sent only up to January of this year; more recent donations will not become public until July .

Pitta, the Adams campaign lawyer, said the campaign had not received donations from Lubetzky, Loeb, Sitt or Gabay. He confirmed Blavatnik had donated but did not respond to questions asking about the timing of Blavatnik’s donation.

A day after the April 26 Zoom with Adams, Loeb wrote the chat group to share reflections on what transpired during the call. He wrote that it was “a sad state that we feel the need to grovel to ask our elected officials to do their jobs.” He added, “I’ll be grateful when the perpetrators are dragged off campus.”

Police returned to Columbia on April 30, arresting dozens of demonstrators who had occupied a university building. Columbia President Shafik had requested law enforcement’s aid in a letter, writing that the takeover of Hamilton Hall raised “serious safety concerns.” She asked police to remain on campus at least through May 17.

The morning afterward, Adams gave a news conference summarizing the action. “We went in and conducted an operation,” he said, “to remove those who have turned the peaceful protests into a place where antisemitism and anti-Israel attitudes were pervasive.”

In early May, seven months since its inception, the chat was shut down. A person close to Sternlicht said he decided to shutter the group because the activities were moving beyond the initial objectives and the people who started it — including himself — were no longer actively participating, and hadn’t been for months.

“We are incredibly grateful for the dialogue and support that this group has provided over the past 7 months,” wrote a staffer for Sternlicht. The staffer wrote that members should not hesitate to reach out if they needed anything.

“We are stronger together,” the staffer wrote in closing.

book report app

book report app

COMMENTS

  1. Book Report

    Click the button below to log into Book Report with your Amazon account. Logging in with Amazon does not give Book Report your access to Amazon password, email or any personal information. Please read our privacy policy for more details.

  2. Book Report

    Book Report is the best way for indie authors and publishers to track their sales data. Book Report automatically fetches your latest sales numbers and turns them into simple, insightful reports. We don't ask for your password, and your sales data is always fully encrypted, so you can have peace of mind that your data is safe.

  3. Best Book Sales Tracker: How to Track Book Sales Across All Platforms

    For $5 per month, you'll receive daily emails about that day's book sales on all platforms and have access to their easy to use dashboard and graphs. For $10 per month, you get the above and an update every time a new review is posted, tracking of rankings, and the ability to mark events in your graphs/analytics.

  4. How to Sync Book Report with KDP

    Click it to launch Book Report. If you see a button that says "Login with Amazon", you will need to log in before Book Report can sync. You are signed into KDP. You can click here to visit KDP. If you see a sign-in page after clicking that link, you will need to sign in before Book Report can sync. Whenever those three things are true, the ...

  5. How to Run Book Report on a Mobile Device

    To run Book Report on mobile, you will first need to install the browser extension on your desktop or laptop computer. Simply visit app.getbookreport.com in your phone's web browser to launch Book Report. If you have the browser extension installed, it will fetch your latest data when you visit that URL. If you'd like to add Book Report to your ...

  6. Book Report Support

    Basics Start here if you're new. FAQs Answers to common questions

  7. How to Add Book Report to your Homescreen

    Instructions for Android Devices. Open app.getbookreport.com in Chrome. Tap the icon in the top right of the screen. Select "Add to home screen". Tap "Add". Instructions for iPhones and iPads Open app.getbookreport.com in Safari. Tap the icon at the bottom of the screen.

  8. Tracking Kindle Sales with Book Report

    Book Report is a free app (app.getbookreport.com) that adds a hot button to your browser. When you first activate it, you may need to sign in to your KDP account in order for Book Report to sync to it, but usually once you've done that, Book Report operates independently and you don't need to keep your KDP interface open to use it.

  9. 9 Best Book Tracking Apps for Readers [2023]

    1. Goodreads. When looking for reading tracker apps, you're likely to quickly come across Goodreads as a popular option. And this is with good reason! Goodreads is an easy-to-use app to track books read, and allows you to create "shelves" (aka lists) of books you've read, books you're currently reading, and books you want to read.

  10. 7 Best Book Tracking Apps In 2022

    Rating: 4.9 on App Store & 3.8 on Google Play Store. 3. StoryGraph. StoryGraph is a book tracking app pretty similar to Goodreads. While it has a much more intuitive algorithm for book recommendations, users can also review books by mood, pace, character development, diversity level, and content labels.

  11. Free Book Report Ai Writer "WriteApp"

    Step 1: Input Your Book Details Start by entering the details of the book you need a report on. This includes the title, author, and any specific aspects you want the AI book report writer to focus on, such as themes, character analysis, or plot summary. Step 2: Set Your Parameters Next, set your preferred word count and choose the level of ...

  12. How to Write a Book Report

    Top 10 Book Writing Apps of 2024: Free & Paid! Top 10 Book Marketing Services of 2024: Features and Costs; ... A book report is an in-depth analysis, an objective summary of a book's main content and arguments. Book reports discuss a book's content, structure, and themes.

  13. How to use google docs for a book report

    TOOLS. Open Docs app and click the plus on the bottom right. Then click Choose Template. Scroll down a few times until you see the Education category, and then find the Book Report by Reading Rainbow template. Click on it. Now you can scroll through this document that's already formatted nicely. It contains good ideas and suggestions, too.

  14. How to Write a Book Report: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book. Analyze the author's writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements. Part 1.

  15. How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example)

    2. Identify the main elements of the book. Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report. 3. Formulate a thesis statement. Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book.

  16. 15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get ...

    Click to open. 7. Book cover. Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you've read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc. Click to open. 8.

  17. 8 Best Book Summary Apps in 2024 (Free & Paid)

    Blinkist. Available on: Web, iPhone, Android, Alexa. Pricing: $16/month (or $8.33/month billed annually) User Ratings. iPhone: 4.8 ★ (99.4K+ ratings) Android: 4.7 ★ (81.5K+ ratings) Extra features: Audio summaries, podcast summaries. Our Take: Blinkist is the app to beat when it comes to book summaries. They have a large catalog of books ...

  18. Which Is the Best Book Tracking App? A Comparison

    The StoryGraph. While there's a free tier, The StoryGraph costs $4.99 per month, which removes ads, provides custom charts, adds even more stats filters, and unlocks more chart features. The app allows you to track the books you've read, add reviews à la Goodreads, rate books, and see reading stats.

  19. Book Report

    by. Book Report. Book Report is the best way for indie authors and publishers to track their sales data. It automatically fetches your latest sales numbers and turns them into simple, insightful reports. We don't ask for your password. You'll need Firefox to use this extension.

  20. Free book report education presentation templates

    Skip to start of list. 30 templates. Create a blank Book Report Education Presentation. Green and Pink Stickers and Badges Book Report Education Presentation. Presentation by Canva Creative Studio. Beige Green and Blue Illustration Book Report Education Presentation. Presentation by Canva Creative Studio.

  21. Texas drivers license appointment finder app founded by teen

    For senior citizens, DriveIt is free. For others, it costs $10 dollars to book a DMV appointment through DriveIt. Customers can refresh for new appointments as many times as they want until they ...

  22. Business titans privately urged NYC mayor to use police on Columbia

    A WhatsApp chat started by some wealthy Americans after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack reveals their focus on New York Mayor Eric Adams and their work to shape U.S. opinion of the Gaza war.

  23. Foldable MacBook in 2026? Industry Analysts Report Apple's Plans for

    Are you a fan of MacBooks?If so, this news might be right up your alley. Industry analysts are hinting at a foldable Apple MacBook hitting the market in 2026. The whispers suggest an 18.8-inch ...

  24. Bridgeland vs Rockwall-Heath Baseball

    Download the app. FOLLOW SBLIVE SPORTS. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCASTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH. TX. National Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington, D.C. Florida. Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland.