Sample Introductions for a Book Evaluation Essay

# 1 – Audience: Princeton High School teachers considering letting their students read this book.

"This book has problems…," said Anthony Bukoski about his book, Time Between Trains.  However, I do believe that there are also some good things about this collection of short stories.  Even though high school students might find some parts of Anthony Bukoski's book, Time Between Trains, to be slow and twisted, I still believe that you should give your students the opportunity to read this book:  high-school students like short stories, they will be able to relate with some of the characters, the suspense makes you want to read the next story, and Bukoski was descriptive without over exaggerating.

# 2 – Audience: College students who are looking for a book to read.

As college students, we are starting a whole new chapter in our lives and we are searching for our true identity.  Everyday we are learning something new about ourselves and accepting the person that we are becoming.  If you agree with me, then Anthony Bukoski's Time Between Trains would be a great selection for you to read.  This book is a collection of short stories that reflects upon Bukoski's personal experiences throughout his young adult years.  It also expresses his heritage, because Bukoski is a Polish American author who was raised in the East End of Superior, Wisconsin.  I enjoyed reading his short stories and I would encourage college students to read this book based on my experiences, especially learning about each character's challenges and outcomes on how to accept the person that they are to fulfill their future.

# 3 – Audience: High School Students

There's a saying that states, "One person's reality is another person's nightmare."  That's what I thought of Anthony Bukoski's book, Time Between Trains.  Bukoski's book is centered on different Polish residents living in Superior, Wisconsin.  Each character is represented through a short story describing only a small amount of their lives.  Even though the book was easy to read, had an interesting, reoccurring character, and a couple interesting stories, I would not recommend it to high school students because the story endings were unclear, and the stories were unfocused, boring, and confusing.

# 4 – Audience: I am writing to high school teachers thinking about having their students read this book.

David Haynes' Right by My Side is an enjoyable and realistic novel that many different people are able to relate to.  The characters in the book learn many lessons about family, friends, and life.  Although the ending may be upsetting for some, the overall plot will keep your attention throughout the entire story.

# 5 – Audience: High School-Aged Students

Despite the disappointing ending in the novel entitled Right By My Side by David Haynes, Haynes presents a good and thorough example of how a young boy going through many changes in his life can react positively to these changes and gain positive rewards from them.  Haynes is a good teacher for young high school students who may be going through some of the same situations and may need help dealing with these types of events.  Haynes does this by showing a child dealing with the pain of losing a mother, seeing a friend abused and hurt, and dealing with the idea of gaining a new mother.  The main character, Marshall Finney, provides a good role model for teens today.