This is based on and borrowed from Slashdot Book Review Guidelines, which utilise a similar 10 star rating system. If it works for Slashdot, it probably works for me .

If there are any purists out there, feel free to suggest different wording.

Any book with a rating of 0 stars (aka no stars) indicate a book that hasn't been officially rated yet, even if there exists a review text.

1. Execrable. Possibly fit for lining cages or usage as landfill
   material in East-African housing projects. Only a truly bad book should
   ever get a 1, and the review should justify this well.
2. A thoroughly bad book, but not perhaps quite so bad as to deserve a 1.
3. A 3 book might have flashes of good, but is one you're disappointed with in most respects
4. Mediocre; it may have some redeeming qualities, but they're
   overshadowed by the flaws, or is simply mis-aimed. A book might rank a 4 but still be worthwhile for particular readers.
5. Neither terrible nor terribly good, but with enough good points to make it useful for a fair number of readers.
6. Decent and useful (or enjoyable), but difficult to strongly recommend for reasons outlined in the review; run of the mill.
7. A good book; better than merely adequate, though not outstanding.
8. Very good.
9. Outstanding, but with enough shortcomings that a perfect score would be stretching things.
10. Excellent; unsurpassed in its niche, a classic work. A review which makes a book sound merely Good should not be paired with a 10 rating.