This presentation can be used to help students see the difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction, while delving deeper into 9 separate genres.

1. What Type of
Book Am I
Reading?!
By: Sandy Liptak

2. Fiction or Non-Fiction?
FICTION
• A made up story from
the author’s
imagination
• May be based on
some facts or
something that
happened to the
author
• Beginning, Middle,
End
• Read for fun or
NON-FICTION
• Retelling of actual
people, places, or
events
• Based on provable
facts
• Table of Contents
• Read for information
or to learn

3. GENRE
According to the Dictionary:
noun
1. A class or category of artistic, endeavor having a particular form,
content, technique, or the like
2. kind; sort; style
3. Of or pertaining to a distinctive literary type
That’s just a fancy way of
explaining the “theme” of a story

4. WHAT ARE THE 9
TYPES OF FICTION
GENRES?•Adventure
•Fantasy
•Historical Fiction
•Humor
•Mystery
•Scary
•Science Fiction
•Sports
•Realistic Fiction

5. ADVENTURE
*An exciting story in which
the characters either travel
on a journey or experience
dangerous events
•Main character is smart and
curious
•Characters travel through many
action-packed scenes

6. FANTASY
*A story including elements
that are impossible, such as
talking animals or magical
powers
•Magic
•Superhuman abilities
•Animals with human
characteristics
•Mythical creatures

7. HISTORICAL
*A fictional story with real and
invented characters that takes
place during an historical time
•Some fact, some fiction
•Events and features are true to the time
period

8. HUMOR
*A story that involves
either funny characters or
silly situations
•Characters like to joke around
and/or play tricks
•Solutions to problems usually
provoke laughter and amusement

9. MYSTERY
*A suspenseful story about
a puzzling event that is not
solved until the end of the
story
•Main character is smart and
capable
•Unrelated elements are called
“red herrings”

10. SCARY
*A frightening story that
intends to scare the reader
•Unusual and spooky characters
and/or settings
•Alarming events that often involve
ghosts or other supernatural
events.

11. SCIENCE FICTION
*A story that blends futuristic
technology with scientific fact
and fiction
•Strange society & rules, or unknown
planets.
•Features technology that hasn’t yet
been developed.
•Usually suspenseful

12. SPORTS
*A story with a plot
centering around a sport
•Main characters are athletic
•Problem focuses on a particular
sport

13. REALISTIC FICTION
*A story using made-up
characters that includes only
real-life possibilities
•Characters seem real
•Humans act like humans
•Animals act like animals
•All events could really happen

15. 1. Historical Fiction is
set in the future.
FALSE. Historical
Fiction is set in the
past.

16. 2. Fantasy often
contains unrealistic or
impossible elements.
TRUE. Unrealistic
elements are what
make it Fantasy!

17. 3. Sports gives clues to
solving a crime or
puzzle.
False. A Mystery gives
clues ,but be careful of
“red herrings”! 

18. 4. Science Fiction can
feature technology not
yet available.
TRUE. “Sci-Fi” employs
futuristic concepts and
technology.

19. 5. Realistic Fiction could
have happened, but
didn’t.
TRUE. Everything in it is
based on real-life
possibilities.

20. 6. Fantasy cannot include
anything from real-life.
FALSE. Some things can be
realistic, but ANY unrealistic
elements (like magic) make it
Fantasy.

21. 7. Adventure can include a
sense of danger.
TRUE, the characters travel
through many action-packed
events, and some may be
dangerous.

22. 8. If an animal talks, the
story’s genre is Fantasy.
TRUE. But wouldn’t that
be great if it were real?