| Term | Definition |
| science fiction | a story that blends futuristic technology with scientific fact or fiction |
| historical fiction | Books that combine real events and people from the past with made up characters and situations |
| mystery | a suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the story |
| realistic fiction | a story using made-up characters that takes place in modern times |
| biography | the story of a real person's life that is written by another person |
| autobiography | the story of a real person's life that is written by the person |
| fantasy | a story including elements that are impossible such as a talking animal or magical powers |
| non-fiction | a written piece that presents facts and deals with reality |
| poetry | a verse written to inspire thought by the reader |