Literary genres

Song of the Hillfolk by V.D. Jance

While growing up in a poor Rust Belt town, V.D. Jance was told that he'd never amount to much. But as V.D. Jance's life story shows readers, you shouldn't believe everything that you hear. In these graphic memoirs, V.D. Jance tells the true story about how he climbed from poverty and graduated from Harvard at the top of his class.

• historical fiction

• biography

• realistic fiction

• autobiography

Gamebox 9000 Operations Manual by Gamedev Co.

Explains how to operate the Gamebox 9000 and includes a troubleshooting guide.

• informational writing

• persuasive writing

• science fiction

• realistic fiction

Izanagi and Izanami retold by Akihiko Hino

Izanagi and Izanami are two Japanese gods who have three kids. One of their sons is a troublemaker. Fearing that he would damage their land, Izanagi and Izanami banish him to the sea. The young deity's anger took the form of tidal waves, and he is the reason the waves and storms still threaten the islands of Japan.

• tall tale

• fairytale

• myth

• fable

Far, Fading Light by Brett Nicholas

Deep in a dark future, a small group of survivors walks the barren plains. After a catastrophic collision with a large meteor, the Earth was knocked off its axis and hurdled into deep space. Now there's barely enough sunlight to sustain the toughest plants and life seems to be fading off the planet. Join our survivors as they struggle to find hope in this dystopian novel.

• historical fiction

• realistic fiction

• science fiction

• tall tale

P.S.: I'm Impervious by Brent Thorpe

It's December 1941 and the US is entering World War II. Harold's mother wants him to stay home and help on the farm, but he wants to help his nation. Thorpe uses an interesting style in this imaginative narrative. Harold and his mother tell their stories through a series of angry letters.

• historical fiction

• autobiography

• persuasive writing

• legend

Authors of stories in this genre are often “retelling” the story. It may say “adapted by,” “retold by,” or the author may be “unknown”

• Fiction

• Nonfiction

• Folklore

• Drama

• Poetry

The two subgenres of this main genre include tragedies and comedies

• Fiction

• Nonfiction

• Folklore

• Drama

• Poetry

Writing that is “true,” factual, informative, or persuasive

• Fiction

• Nonfiction

• Folklore

• Drama

• Poetry

Fictional stories based on or around important people or events from the past

• science fiction

• historical fiction

• nonfiction

• realistic fiction

• fantasy

Stories that could actually happen but didn’t

• science fiction

• historical fiction

• nonfiction

• realistic fiction

• fantasy