LibGuides: Nathaniel P. Hill Library: Books & Book Reviews

Ebooks

Participate in the Rhode Island's April Reading Challenge. Learn more here.

Ebook Central
Search and access the full-text of over 140,000 academic ebooks from any computer. For remote access , enter through ProQuest Research Library.
EBSCO eBook Collection
Access to EBSCO ebook collections, including Academic, Public Library and various school level collections. Available through June 2020. Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)

Ocean State Libraries eZone
Access ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming music and movies for free through the library's eZone. Check materials out with your valid RI Public Library card and download them to your preferred device or access them through the cloud reader on any electronic device with internet.

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Contains Reference Ebooks on science & environment, history, politics, and religion. For remote access, enter the password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal into the SIGN IN box.

National Emergency Library from Internet Archive
A collection of books from Internet Archive that supports emergency remote teaching, research activities, independent scholarship, and intellectual stimulation while universities, schools, training centers, and libraries are closed. You must create a free account to access the materials.
TeenBookCloud
TeenBookCloud is a curated database of e-books and other digital content for Middle Schools and High Schools, as well as Public Libraries. The collection features over 1000 titles, including student-favorite Graphic Novels, enhanced e-books with full audio narration and highlighted text, classic literature, national geographic videos, and more! Courtesy of OSL.
TumbleBooks
TumbleBookLibrary Premium has over 1100 titles for grades K-6, and includes unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French. Plus, the collection features Graphic Novels – a student favorite!
Online Learning & Enrichment Resources
From RI's Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) access a vast array of online learning materials for all ages.

What is a book review?

Book reviews are published in magazines, are written by scholars, and provide information about why a book is important in a particular area of study. Examples of good book reviewers are Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and reviews in the major US newspapers (New York Times, Boston Globe, etc...)

Why use a book review?

A book review is helpful for determining which books are recommended by scholars as the most useful for studying a particular topic of study.

Where can I find book reviews?

The library subscribes to many online databases listed below, which all contain book reviews.
Follow the instructions listed underneath each database to get started.

Literary Reference Center
Provides users with a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and their works across literary disciplines and time frames. It contains full text for plot summaries, synopses and work overviews, literary criticism, as well as author biographies and interviews, book reviews, classic and contemporary poems, short stories, texts, and more. Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)
NoveList Plus
Provides readers’ advisory for fiction titles. It includes "Grab and Go" booklists, Recommended Reads, as well as book discussion guides, suggestions for further reading, Awards Lists, feature articles, book talks, and curricular connection articles on a wide variety of genres, topics and reading levels. Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)

New York Times Book Review
Available online and in print at the library in the magazine section. Arrives every Sunday.

ProQuest Research Library
Using the Advanced Search, enter the title of the book in quotation marks and scroll down to "Document Type" and choose "Review" from the list to search for book reviews.
JSTOR
Using the Advanced Search, enter the title of the book in quotation marks, and click the "Review" button under "Narrow By" to limit your search to book reviews.
EBSCO Discovery
EBSCO Discovery allows you to search all of the EBSCO databases at once encompassing a wide range of topics and source types. One stop shopping! Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)