Literary Genres

The alien ship hovered above the landing pad. The ground crew waited expectantly, hoping the ship would touch down without incident. Sure, they had a lot of shuttle traffic at the spaceport every day, but this would be the first time a ship from another planet would touch down.

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

The city was still dark and deep in a fitful sleep when Anthony and Carl trudged down the steps of their tenement. They hoped the breadline would not be too long, but they assumed they’d be waiting for hours. They had no choice. After the stock market crashed and the nation plunged into an economic depression, the only way their families could eat was if the boys made it to the line early enough to get some of the food the city was distributing to the poorest residents. Carl joked darkly, “1930 is certainly a bad year to bring an appetite to.”

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

The transporter was out of order again. The travelers gathered in the boarding area were frustrated. While transporting was certainly much more convenient that old-fashioned jet planes, the technology was very sensitive, and many of the operators seemed inexperienced. Charlie touched the COM button on his shirt. “Alternatives?” His virtual assistant responded in an instant. “None.” Charlie was frustrated. “Alternatives!” The assistant repeated, “None!” It looked like he would have to wait for the repair crew.

• realistic fiction

• science fiction

• historical fiction

• fantasy

The children lined up outside the school house waiting for their teacher, Ms. Maple, to arrive. They ranged in age from seven to seventeen, and while there were only ten of them, they were the largest student-body ever to attend the Darlington School. Erick hoped he’d be able to stay for the entire term this year. Last year, he’d had to leave before the end to help his father on the farm. But, this year, his father had hired someone to help. Erick hoped he’d finish this year, and by 1900, be in Chicago attending medical school. 

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

Sonya hobbled down the school hallway to look out the window at the field hockey field. All of her friends were out there, and she was stuck inside. She tapped absently on her cast. The doctor said it would be at least six weeks before the cast came off, and another two or three after that before she could play sports again. She sighed. “I’m going to miss the whole season.”

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

The family filed into the theater and took their seats. Rebecca spoke up, “Why is that white sheet hanging there? Where will the actors stand?” Her father shushed her. “There won’t be any actors, at least not in front of us.” The theater grew dark, and suddenly, a loud clicking sound came from behind them. Rebecca turned to see a man operating a large machine that seemed to shoot out a beam of light. Her father tapped her shoulder and pointed. “Look!” Rebecca looked at the sheet where suddenly there appeared pictures of people. Moving pictures of people. She gasped. “What is this called?” she asked. Her dad chuckled. “It’s a movie, and someday you’ll be able to see one in any town in the country.” 

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

The supply ship was scheduled to arrive within the hour, and it would be just in time. The Mars colony was successful, but the farmers had still not mastered the art of teasing crops from the iron-rich, red soil. Most of the settlers relied on the dried food brought by the supply ship. It had been so long that most families had been subsisting on rice and the few skinny ears of corn they had managed to grow. 

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

In this novel, Brian struggles with living at his Aunt's house and sharing a room with his cousin while dealing with the grief of having lost both of his parents in a tragic car accident. Basketball is his only escape, but after getting benched for low progress report grades, Brian' world shatters. Does he have it in him to turn around his grades? Will Brian come to peace with his emotions? Can anyone help him?

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

World War II has been hard for Mama Conner. Her husband and three sons have been away at war and Mama Conner was left to keep the house together, raise money, and provide for Baby Maple. The mood in the town darkens suddenly when her neighbor Betsy loses one of her loved ones in battle. At Mama Conner's ladies club, several upstanding ladies of the town are on edge after hearing a garbled news report announcing that a man from their town was lost in battle, but as the man's name went unheard, the women are left to speculate as to whom will be the most affected. This novel ends in a surprising twist.  

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy

High school student Darren Banks is sick of being a viewed as a nerd. Darren enlists the help of his older cousin Tyrone to help him learn to dress, walk, and talk. With Tyrone's help, Darren soon climbs to the peak of high school popularity, but in his quest to become someone else, will Darren forget who he was? Find out in this exciting novel.

• realistic fiction
• science fiction
• historical fiction
• fantasy