Young Readers Review Scheme

Young Readers Review Scheme


Calling all young readers! Would you like to read the newest books before anyone else? Sign up to become a Young Reader and review all the latest releases!

Our young readers review scheme is suitable for children aged 5 and up who read chapter books. Unfortunately, we do not have picture books to review.

We always try to match young readers with books we think you’ll enjoy. It varies from month to month as to how many books we have available to send out and it can sometimes take a while for us to have a book we think you’ll like. We also have to make sure that all children signed up to the scheme get a chance to read and review a book, so you will often have a wait a while between books from us.

We’ll get back to you when we have a book we think you’ll like to review. Books must be collected from the bookshop (we can’t post out books for review), so please only sign up if you’re able to do this.

SIGN UP BELOW!


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How to Write an Effective Review

While we try to match Young Readers with books that we think match their likes/dislikes, you may not like every book that we ask you to review. We do not post negative reviews out of respect for the authors and publishers involved, however we do appreciate honest feedback. If you are not enjoying a book given to you, do not feel that you need to finish it and leave a review, but do contact us to let us know.

Top Tips for Reviewers from Imogen Russell Williams (Guardian Children’s Editor):

Don’t just retell the story (and don’t spoiler it!) A quick summary of the book’s set-up, giving us a sense of the setting, characters, and the challenges they face, is great – but don’t forget to tell us what you think the writer has done really well (or not so well) too. This is the actual review part – don’t leave it out!

If the book has illustrations, talk about what you think they add to the story, whether the illustration style and the writing go well together, and don’t forget to mention the illustrator’s name.

What you might want to include in a review:

Your favourite character (and why)

Your favourite part of the book (and why)

Any parts you didn’t like (and why!)

Other books this one reminded you of

The sort of reader you think this book would suit.

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Young Readers Reviews

Below are the latest books reviewed by our Young Readers. So now, there’s no need to take the word of us grown-up booksellers – you can trust the opinion of kids instead!

Books for 5 to 8 year oldsBooks for 9 to 12 year oldsBooks for teens


Books for 5 to 8 Year Olds

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Books for 9 to 12 Year Olds

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Books for Teens

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Young Reader Testimonies

Our passionate team of Young Readers are a vital and valued aspect of our children’s bookshop.

We run a Young Readers’ Review Scheme, where children are able to read new and upcoming books in exchange for an honest review. Our Young Readers have also been involved in the production of a Young Readers’ magazine, which were lucky to produce between 2019 and 2020. We have hosted two Young Readers’ Festivals in 2018 and 2019 for, and partially in collaboration, with our team of Young Readers.

We have been very lucky to receive lovely testimonies from some of our Young Readers, as well as some incredible pictures of our Young Readers enjoying the books they’ve read as part of the Young Readers’ Review Scheme!


Charlie (age 8)

I love Sevenoaks Bookshop because it has a huge selection of books and the displays always make me want to go inside and choose a book. Everyone is really friendly.  I really like the reviews left by Young Readers as they help me decide which book will suit me the most.  

I was very excited when I was asked to be a a Young Reader – I read my book within a week as I wanted to write my review to help others.   Thank you Sevenoaks Bookshop for encouraging all us Young Readers.”


Yumi (age 14)

“I have really enjoyed reviewing books for Sevenoaks Bookshop because it is really exciting to get unpublished books that not many people have read before. They are really good reads and I always look forward to the next one!”


Jacob (age 7)

“I love reading in my reading chair, when I get a new book I can’t wait to get home and start reading it”


“I like it because you get to read the books before they are published.  I particularly liked the book called “Stink” because it is really funny” – Toby (age 7)


Charlotte (age 7)

“Reading takes me into different worlds – as though I am watching stories happen right in front of my eyes! Being a Young Reader means I get to try new books and I love it!”


Ellie (age 13)

“The bookshop has an amazing sense of community and I love all the unpublished books that I get to review. Additionally, there are so many more marvellous opportunities that the bookshop holds; like I was in the magazine editorial group.”


“I love reviewing books because I get to read a variety of books I would not normally pick” – Katie (age 10)


Rosie (age 14)

I really enjoy the young readers program. I love receiving new books to read that may be be different to my usual novels. This expands my understanding and empathy for others in the world.

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