Literature Genres

French word for a type or category of stories Genre French word for a type or category of stories

All categories of books or stories can be called either fiction or non-fiction. a made up story can tell about things that could happen is read for fun characters may be like real people or imaginary Non-Fiction has facts that can be checked and proven the author is an expert on this information it IS TRUE!

Realistic Fiction Realistic fiction is made up of stories that could really happen.

Examples of Realistic Fiction Because of Winn Dixie Crash Owl Moon Shiloh Summer of the Swans Babysitter Club series

Fantasy Events, characters, places, etc. that are not real and could not really happen. Talking animals or characters with magical powers Good vs. Evil

Examples of Fantasy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Charlotte’s Web The Wreck of the Zephyr Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Series

Mystery Mysteries are stories that have a real setting and a problem to be solved that includes clues, distractions, and an answer to the problem.

Examples of Mystery The House of Dies Drear Never Say Die The Treehouse Mystery Mystery of the Midnight Message Encyclopedia Brown Series Boxcar Children Mysteries

Adventure The characters are always thrown into a bad situation. Action, action, action! Full of surprises! The entire read is a roller coaster ride of chills and excitement. Don’t always ending in happiness. Usually a villain, or trouble maker, in the story.

Examples of Adventure The Whipping Boy Island of the Blue Dolphins Abel’s Island The Cay

Science Fiction Stories that blend fact and fiction with futuristic technology. Think aliens, living in space, living robots!

Examples of Science Fiction Aliens for Breakfast A Wrinkle in Time My Best Friend is Invisible Star Wars The Time Machine

Historical Fiction Historical fiction is made up of stories that take place in a certain time and place in the past. Real historical figures and settings may be included in a fiction story.

Examples of Historical Fiction A Boy at War Across Five Aprils Ben and Me The Butterfly Charlie Skedaddle Sign of the Beaver Titanic Crossing Dear America Series

Folklore Stories, myths, and fables that people of the same culture told each other, year after year. Later the stories were written down. They are in the non-fiction.

Examples of Folklore Aesop’s Fables Beauty and the Beast The Bunyans Cinderella John Henry The Talking Eggs The Tortoise and the Hare

Fairy Tale Special beginning and/or ending words - Once upon a time...and they lived happily ever after. Good character Evil character Royalty and/or a castle usually present Magic happens Problem and a Solution Things often happen in "threes" or "sevens"

Examples of Fairy Tale The Dog and Her Little Glass Slipper Cinderella The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Poetry Written in verses, single lines or short paragraphs Poems make you feel or think Usually rhyme

Examples of Poetry Where the Sidewalk Ends New Kid on the Block Chocolate Dreams: Poems Mammalabilia A Pizza the Size of the Sun Love That Dog

Informational or Non-Ficiton Informational books are nonfiction books that give true facts on a variety of subjects.

Examples of Informational Writing Dirt Bikes Flying Animals Danger! Earthquakes Newspapers Encyclopedias

Biography A biography is the true story of a real person’s life from the past or present.

Examples of Biography Tiger Woods: An American Master The HomerunKings: BabeRuth and Henry Aaron Clara Barton, a Red Cross Pioneer Sacagawea