YA and Middle Grade Genres
This section features definitions, common characteristics, and examples of some genres that are typically encountered on the middle grade and YA levels. Navigate through the tabs below to learn more about each! (Look in the TMC Easy section for Picture Book Examples).
Traditional Literature involves a variety of different tales that all tend to originate from oral storytelling. Many of them have been passed down for centuries! There are several sub-categories within traditional literature, such as folk talkes, fairy tales, fables, legends, myths, etc. Different cultures will tend to have their own authentic traditional stories.
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Realistic fiction involves events that could actually happen; usually it takes place in a modern setting. In these stories, young adults often face major real-world issues. Coming-of-age themes are also common. The main protagonists will be teens and young adults, an age that's relatable to the audience. Young adult novels will generally feature more mature topics than middle grade.
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Historical fiction takes place in a time period in the past, and that setting is important to the plot lines and themes being explored. They often involve a fictionalized account of a real historical event (or time period) and can even include real historical figures. These books are NOT meant as a fully accurate retelling of historical events, however they make for good literary pairings with nonfiction books in a history lesson, bringing past events alive to readers.
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Science fiction focuses on material such as fictional technology, space travel and extraterrestrials, or futuristic settings. It's taking real science and going a few steps ahead, speculating on what "could" be.
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Fantasy involves imaginary situations that aren't possible in the real world. It tends to include supernatural elements like magic or mythical settings and situations, and usual creatures and beasts like dragons and so on. It can also possibly take place in the real world, bringing fantastic situations in to a seemingly realistic setting.
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Historical fantasy blends fantasy and historical fiction, and is considered a fantasy subgenre. "It includes stories set in a specified historical period but with some element of fantasy added to the world, such as magic or a mythical creature hidden in the cracks." Alternative worlds which resemble historical time periods may also fall into this category.
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Example Books:
Mysteries often include puzzles and strange events, often centered around solving a crime. These stories contain a great deal of suspense and intrigue.
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Novels in verse are written in a poetic style, rather than prose. They may be divided into different titled poems that gradually tell the story, or may even be structured into chapters, similar to a traditional novel. The main idea is that there is still a recognizable sequence of events, but they are told in a poetic voice, rather than the traditional narrative of a novel. "A verse novel can only be written in conscious awareness of the novel as a form" (source).
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Nonfiction books discuss real events, people, places, and things... they can be narrative or informational in style.
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Biographies showcase the lives of real people, whether modern or historical. They can be about famous figures, or even regular people who have been through extraordinary events. Autobiographies are a firsthand account written by the subject of the book.
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