{{Short description|US publisher}} {{POV|date=June 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox organization |name = Midwest Book Review |image = Midwest Book Review.gif |image_border = |image_size = 100px |image_alt = |caption = Organization logo |formation = 1976 |status = Active |purpose = Book reviews |headquarters = [[Oregon, Wisconsin]] |region_served = [[California]], [[Wisconsin]], upper [[Midwest]] |language = [[English language|English]] |leader_title = [[Editor-in-Chief]] |leader_name = James A. Cox |budget = |website = {{URL|http://www.midwestbookreview.com/}} }}'''Midwest Book Review,''' established in 1976, produces nine book-review publications per month.
==Organization== Midwest Book Review was established in 1976.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Connelly | first = Valerie | title = Calling All Authors | publisher = Nightengale Press | year = 2007 | page = 156 | isbn = 978-1-933449-43-2}}</ref> The [[editor-in-chief]] of the organization is James A. Cox.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Moses | first = Alexandra R. | title = Joe Joe Rawlings: a new literary hero for children | newspaper = [[Associated Press]] | page = Section: Entertainment News | date = March 4, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last = Cantu | first = Hector | title = Parents might be surprised by dark side of new 'Harry Potter' | newspaper = [[The Dallas Morning News]] | publisher = [[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] | date = June 25, 2003 }}</ref> The review puts out nine publications on a monthly basis, with a focus on community and academic library organizations, booksellers, and the general reading public.<ref name="booth">{{Cite book | last = Booth | first = Doris | title = Writer's Handbook of FAQs, Second Edition | publisher = Authorlink | year = 2004 | page= 98 | isbn = 1-928704-34-4}}</ref>
Publications produced by the organization include: ''The Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|321345897}}</ref> ''California Bookwatch'', ''The Children's Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|13100762}}</ref> ''Internet Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|80547565}}</ref> ''Library Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|65356742}}</ref> ''MBR Bookwatch'', ''The Midwest Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|13212440}}</ref> ''The Reviewer's Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|54958751}}</ref> ''Small Press Bookwatch'',<ref>{{oclc|80547560}}</ref> and ''The Wisconsin Bookwatch''.<ref>{{oclc|65356746}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Neal |date=July 6, 2021 |title=Reading for pleasure: Oregon-based Midwest Book Review turns 45 in September |url=https://www.oregonobserver.com/news/business/reading-for-pleasure-oregon-based-midwest-book-review-turns-45-in-september/article_89af98ce-5de4-5409-834f-b2dfc0e1f528.html |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=The Oregon Observer}}</ref> ''The Children's Bookwatch'' is a newsletter made as a resource for [[librarian]]s.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Woodall | first = Martha | title = Who said improving vocabulary had to be scary? | newspaper = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | page = E01; Section: Philadelphia Business | date = June 11, 2001 }}</ref> Some reviews from ''Reviewer's Bookwatch'' are provided in greater depth at the organization's website.<ref>{{Cite news | last = St. Petersburg Times staff | title = Hometown Citrus | newspaper = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | location =[[Florida]] | page = 4 | date = February 25, 2004 }}</ref> ''Midwest Book Review'' is made up of volunteers,<ref name="booth" /> and frequently seeks additional individuals to serve as book reviewers for the organization.<ref name="smallwood">{{Cite book | last = Smallwood | first = Carol | title = Writing and Publishing: The Librarian's Handbook | publisher = [[American Library Association]] Editors | year = 2009 | pages = 25–26 | isbn = 978-0-8389-0996-6}}</ref> The organization is located in [[Oregon, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{Cite news | title = Local Book News | newspaper = [[Sarasota Herald Tribune]]|location=[[Sarasota, Florida]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] | page = 5F | date = May 23, 1999}}</ref> It has a motivation of increasing [[literacy]], public utilization of libraries, and fostering [[small press]], to which it gives priority.<ref name="booth" /><ref>{{Cite book | last = Pryor | first = Alton | title = Publish It Yourself | publisher = Stagecoach Publishing | year = 2002 | page = 111 | isbn = 978-0-9660053-5-6}}</ref> Of the 1,500 books submitted to ''Midwest Book Review'' for consideration per month, the organization chooses to review approximately 450 of them.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Sansevieri | first = Penny C. | title = Get Published Today! No More Rejections | publisher = Infinity Publishing|location=[[Pennsylvania]] | year = 2002 | page = 133 | isbn = 0-7414-1111-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last = Poynter | first = Dan | title = The Self-Publishing Manual | publisher = Para Publishing | year = 2004 | page = [https://archive.org/details/selfpublishingma00danp/page/182 182] | isbn = 1-56860-115-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/selfpublishingma00danp/page/182 }}</ref>
A visitor to the website [[Amazon.com]] emailed Cox in 2006 and asked about the organization's practice of giving all reviews posted to the site a five-star recommendation.<ref name="coxreport">{{cite news| last = Cox | first =Jim | title = Jim Cox Report: June 2006 | publisher = Midwest Book Review | work = Jim Cox Report | date =June 2006 | url = http://www.midwestbookreview.com/jimcox/jun_06.htm | access-date = 2010-01-21 }}</ref> Cox replied explaining that he disagreed with the star-rating system in general, and noted that reviewed books pass an initial screening.<ref name="coxreport" /> In 2007, an author asked Cox about the organization's position with regard to Amazon.com ratings.<ref name="coxreportjune2007">{{cite web| author=Cox, Jim| title=Jim Cox Report: June 2007| work=Jim Cox Report| url=http://www.midwestbookreview.com/jimcox/jun_07.htm| publisher=Midwest Book Review| date =June 2007| access-date = 2010-01-21}}</ref> Cox explained, "for a book to make it all the way through the Midwest Book Review process. ... it merited the highest recommendation available under the Amazon rating system. Inferior books, flawed books, substandard books are assumed to have been weeded out and never made it to the 'finish line' of publication in one of our book review magazines."<ref name="coxreportjune2007" />
In a 2001 interview with ''[[The Denver Post]]'', Cox stated that ''Midwest Book Review'' considers submissions from [[print on demand]] (POD) publications.<ref name="halls">{{Cite news | last = Halls | first = Kelly Milner | title = 'Print-on-demand' publishers reject 'vanity' label | newspaper = [[The Denver Post]] | page =DD-02; Section: BKS | date = December 9, 2001 }}</ref> Cox does not believe that book reviewers should be fee-based, and said, "Any reviewer that wants money from you for any purpose whatsoever is operating a scam, engaging in unethical behavior that is in violation of the publishing industry etiquette norm."<ref>{{Cite book | last = Weber | first = Steve | title = Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors, Book Publicity through Social Networking | publisher = Weber Books | year = 2007 | page = 52 | isbn = 978-0-9772406-1-6}}</ref> In 2008, ''Midwest Book Review'' had gained reviewers as a result of cutbacks in print media publications.<ref name="calvani">{{Cite news |last=Calvani |first=Mayra |date=June 1, 2008 |title=Interview with James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, The Midwest Book Review |url=http://blogcritics.org/books/article/interview-with-james-a-cox-editor/ |access-date=2009-12-14 |newspaper=[[Blogcritics]] |publisher=Newstex |page=Blogcritics.org Books}}</ref> Cox noted, "The drastic cutbacks in newspaper and magazine space for reviews has redounded to the benefit of the ''Midwest Book Review'' and other online review sites. These displaced reviewers have turned to us as an outlet for their reviews previously published in print sources. Over the past few years we have gained at least ten reviewers this way."<ref name="calvani" /> After stating that charging fees is a scam, Cox began charging a reading fee in 2011. However, those fees are sent directly from the author to their assigned reviewer. Mr. Cox, nor does any of his MBR employees/volunteers, collect any fees for themselves. Initially fees were only charged for e-books, but since then has expanded to include any "ebooks, pre-publication manuscripts, galleys, uncorrected proofs, ARCs, and pdf files".<ref>{{Cite web|title = MBR: Author/Publisher Information|url = http://www.midwestbookreview.com/get_rev.htm|website = www.midwestbookreview.com|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref>
==Impact and reputation== Every review produced by ''Midwest Book Review'' is indexed to the review index maintained by [[Gale Research]].<ref>{{Cite book | last = Rose | first = M. J. | title = The Secrets of Our Success | publisher = Deep South Publishing | year = 1999 | page = 78 | isbn = 0-7394-1018-0}}</ref> ''[[Book Review Index]]'' indexes reviews for the ''Midwest Book Review'' publications ''Bookwatch'' and ''Children's Bookwatch''.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Ferguson | first = Dana | title = [[Book Review Index]]: 2005 Cumulation | publisher = Thomson Gale | year = 2005 | location = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]] | pages = xii, xiii | issn=0524-0581 | isbn =0-7876-7841-4 }}</ref> [[Online Computer Library Center]] described the website of the ''Midwest Book Review'' as "a resource to locate book reviews, resources and advice for writers and publishers".<ref>{{oclc|439279392}}</ref> ''Writing and Publishing: The Librarian's Handbook'' published by the [[American Library Association]] recommends ''Midwest Book Review'' as a resource for information for writers.<ref name="smallwood" />
''Midwest Book Review'' is listed as a resource, in Doris Booth's ''Writer's Handbook of FAQs''.<ref name="booth" />
==See also== {{Portal|Books}} *''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' *''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' *''[[The New York Times Book Review]]''
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading== *{{Cite news | last = Calvani | first = Mayra | title = Interview with James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, The Midwest Book Review | newspaper = [[Blogcritics]] | page = Blogcritics.org Books | publisher = Newstex | date = June 1, 2008|url=http://blogcritics.org/books/article/interview-with-james-a-cox-editor/}}
==External links== *[http://www.midwestbookreview.com/ The Midwest Book Review] {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Book review magazines published in the United States]] [[Category:Magazines published in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Companies based in Wisconsin]] [[Category:1976 establishments in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Publishing companies established in 1976]] [[Category:Magazines established in 1976]]