English Book Review Guidelines

Book titles in English available for review. 

Thank you for your interest in writing a book review of the Canadian Journal of Education! Below you will find guidelines on how to write a high quality book review and the process for submission.

Book reviews submitted to CJE should offer a critical evaluation of the arguments and content of a book, rather than a simple summary. Reviews should move beyond chapter-by-chapter descriptions to engage thoughtfully with the book’s central themes, theses, structure, and style. Reviewers are encouraged to situate the work within the broader scholarly literature and/or its relevance to practical business and society. CJE values reviewers’ perspectives and welcomes reviews that provide insightful reflections while synthesizing the most crucial ideas of the book.

Expectations and Standards

The CJE regularly updates books from publishers which they wish to be reviewed through a spreadsheet housed on the CJE website. Interested reviewers are asked to contact the Book Review Editors, Chenkai Chi (chi3@uwindsor.ca) or Will Burton (w.burton@uwinnipeg.ca) if they would like to review a posted book.

Reviews are expected to be completed within 8-10 weeks of receiving the book. Once the review is submitted, the book review editor will copy edit the submitted work prior to publication. Significant revisions will be communicated to the reviewer.

Before submitting a beginning a review for consideration with CJE, please ensure:

  • The CJE welcomes reviews by graduate students, provided they have suitable knowledge or experience to assess the book being reviewed.
  • A book for review has been selected with direct relation to the field of education.
  • The book has been published within the last five years.
  • Subject to quota in the journal, unsolicited Book Reviews are also welcome. Reviewers should contact the Book Review Editors in advance to discuss this option.

Key elements to consider when writing a book review:

  • Persuasiveness of the author’s thesis
  • Originality of the topic and framework
  • Clarity and coherence of the author's presentation
  • Scholarly rigor, soundness, accuracy, and thoroughness Writing style and organization Scholarly contribution to academic discussion

Scope of Review

A strong review typically includes the following elements:

  • A clear description of the book’s topic, scope, and purpose.
  • Relevant background information about the author(s) or editor(s).
  • An exploration of the author’s perspective or theoretical framework.
  • A summary of the book’s central thesis.
  • Contextualization within a specific school of thought or scholarly tradition.
  • Comments on the intended audience or readership.
  • An evaluation of the author’s use of sources and/or supporting evidence.
  • An evaluation of the author’s success in achieving their purpose.
  • A discussion of the book’s contribution to the field including its relevance to current debates or scholarly conversations
  • Comments on the author’s writing style and overall readability.

What to avoid in a book review:

  • Avoid simply summarizing or describing the book’s content, especially a chapter-by-chapter summary. Such information is often available through publisher’s websites and does not offer meaningful insight.
  • Do not focus on typographical or minor factual errors unless they are so frequent that they significantly undermine the book’s reliability and credibility.
  • Avoid criticizing the author for not referencing certain works unless in your judgement, that other work is central to any discussion of the subject.
  • A book review is not a platform for promoting your own strongly held perspectives. Readers are interested in the book itself, not a personal essay.
  • Evaluate the book based on the author’s aims–not your expectations. Avoid criticizing the book for not being the one you would have written.

Format

  • 800-1000 words (including quotations and notes, but excluding references) submitted as a Word document.
  • Size 12 font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.
  • Adhere to the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA 7th).
  • English spelling follows the most recent edition of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.
  • All critical analysis must reflect the reviewer’s original engagement with the book. AI-generated content is not permitted in the evaluation or interpretation of the text.
  • A review should contain the following information:
    • [Book title]
    • By [author/editor name(s)]
    • [Name of publisher], [year of publication], [# of pages] [format (e.g., paperback, hardcover, eBook)]
    • [ISBN]
    • Reviewed by: [Name of reviewer], [role], [academic affiliation]

Note: Authors may include a biography of less than 100 words. The biography will be published with the book review.

 

Acknowledgement

The CJE book review guidelines are informed by the following sources.