Steve Sheinkin's Undefeated Review
I chose to analyze reviews of Steve Sheinkin’s Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team. I was able to locate three reviews after some rather frustrating searching. The first resource I used was School Library Journal, where I almost immediately was able to find an online review. Next, I pulled up the websites for Publishers Weekly and VOYA but was unable to find any reviews. I then tried Booklist but was discouraged when I discovered an account was needed to access full-text reviews. Fortunately, Library Journal was able to help me find a review from Horn Book Magazine even though it did not have review on its own site. Finally, I was able to find a review on Kirkus Reviews even though my internet connection was disrupted at home and I had to go to the local public
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It is a much more useful and well-balanced review, combining a brief overview of the book’s content with comments concerning the book’s organizational structure, chapter design, relevance for today’s readers, production values, and other features of the book. Gall’s review provides exactly the kind of information I would be looking for when it comes to purchasing a product. Another nice feature of Gall’s review is a parenthetical reference to other titles by the author reviewed in Horn Book Magazine that may be useful when deciding to order multiple titles from the same author. Interestingly, Gall never explicitly recommends the book for purchase in the text of his review, though his approval of the title is strongly implied and reinforced by the presence of a star in front of the title at the top of the review. As a would-be purchaser of a book, I appreciate when a reviewer helps me learn exactly what to expect from a product when I order it, and Gall’s vivid attention to detail concerning the physical and textual characteristics of the book definitely fill the void lacking in Sumser’s
It is a much more useful and well-balanced review, combining a brief overview of the book’s content with comments concerning the book’s organizational structure, chapter design, relevance for today’s readers, production values, and other features of the book. Gall’s review provides exactly the kind of information I would be looking for when it comes to purchasing a product. Another nice feature of Gall’s review is a parenthetical reference to other titles by the author reviewed in Horn Book Magazine that may be useful when deciding to order multiple titles from the same author. Interestingly, Gall never explicitly recommends the book for purchase in the text of his review, though his approval of the title is strongly implied and reinforced by the presence of a star in front of the title at the top of the review. As a would-be purchaser of a book, I appreciate when a reviewer helps me learn exactly what to expect from a product when I order it, and Gall’s vivid attention to detail concerning the physical and textual characteristics of the book definitely fill the void lacking in Sumser’s