Don't panic!

True, you could be outside playing or, if it's snowing, inside IM'ing your friends.

And if you want revenge on your teacher, you could write a very boring report. Very boring reports go like this:

(Author) was born in (place) in (year). Author went to school at (name school). Some of author's books are (name books). The book I read was (name book). I (liked/didn't like) it because it was (good/bad).

Of course, if you write a boring report, your teacher probably will 1) fall asleep, and 2) after waking up, he or she will give you a bad grade. Also, you will not learn much about writing - which would be the saddest part of all.

If you would prefer an awake teacher who gives you a good grade, how about writing an interesting report? A great way to do this is to start with an interesting fact about the author or an interesting fact about the book. Don't worry about what you think your teacher will find interesting. Instead, use something that you find interesting.

Let's say you have made the wise decision to write about author Martha Freeman and/or one of her books. All over this website, there are strange and weird and, in some cases, secret facts about the strange and weird and, in some cases, secret life of author Martha Freeman. Pick one that gets your attention and start your report with that.

Next, try to relate that to something in one of her books. For example, did you read a book by Martha Freeman that has pets in it? Martha talks about her pets on this website. Can you put those things together and draw the conclusion that pets are important to Martha? Putting things together and drawing conclusions shows you are thinking. Teachers become weepy with joy when their students show they are thinking.

At some point in your report, you will need to add some facts about Martha's unusually boring life, too. You do not need to use every one - I can hear your teaching snoring from here.

After you say something interesting, you will want to talk about the book you read. Do not tell every single detail. If your teacher wanted to know every single detail, he or she would not be reading your report, he or she would be reading the book. Instead, tell who the main characters are, where they live, and what problem they have to solve. Try to describe the problem in a way that builds suspense. Suspense also makes your report more fun to read.

The end of your report is a good place to put your opinion of the book you read. It is cheating to say that you liked or didn't like a book without also saying why. Did you like the characters? What did you like about them? Did they remind you of yourself or of someone you know? Was the problem that they had to solve interesting to you? Was the book funny? Can you give an example of something that was funny? Examples are good! Teachers love examples!

Warning: If all your examples come from the beginning of the book, your teacher will know you did not actually finish it. Come on now, your teacher is smarter than that!