Fiction Books

Many Genres to Choose From

Realistic Fiction

Stories are set in the real world.

Contains characters who seem believable.

The reader believes that the story could “really happen.”

Historical Fiction

Stories set in times past.

Blends history with fiction.

Historical fiction helps us understand what life might have been like during a particular time period.

Adventure/Survival

Setting many times in the wild.

Main character must make decisions that will determine if he or she will survive.

Main character usually grows and finds strength of character in the situation.

Exciting plots.

Fantasy/Science Fiction

The reader must suspend belief.

Many times the story takes place in another world.

May involve magic or time travel.

Sometimes animals can talk or have human characteristics.

Mystery

Deals with a problem that must be solved.

Something or someone is missing.

Strange events keep happening.

A detective or main character looks for clues in order to solve the mystery.

Nonfiction Books

Many Genres to Choose From

Informational

Informational books are nonfiction books that give true facts on a variety of subjects.

Biography

• An account of a real person’s life written by someone else.

• Tells important information about a person’s life, including his or her achievements or talents.

• Tells how a person talks, feels, and thinks about things.

• May be about the person’s whole life or part of his/her life.

• Events are usually told chronologically.

Autobiography

• An account by a person about his/her own life.

• Tells important information about his/her own life, including achievements or talents.

• Tells how the person talks, feels, and thinks about things.

• May be the about the person’s whole life or part of his/her life.

• Events are usually chronologically.

Narrative Non-Fiction (Memoir)

• Characters are real people.• Settings are real places.• The plot is comprised of real

events presented in the form of a story.

• Story may include thoughts and feelings the author imagines the other characters might have had.

Expository Text

• Gives factual and verifiable information about a specific subject. Information presented can be checked using other sources.

• Uses facts about real events and people.• Presents information in a clear way.• Gives events in chronological order.• Writing organized by topics.• May use diagrams, photographs, and other

illustrations.

Drama

• Meant to be performed.• Has a list that names and describes

the characters.• Includes descriptions of scenes or

settings.• Includes dialogue.• Includes stage directions giving more

details about what is happening on the stage or what actors are to do.

• Can be fiction or nonfiction.