LITERATURE FILE By Jordynn Anderson

An organizer that contains multiple pieces of literature defining,

summarizing, and including feedback from different genres of literature.
 Table of Contents

Literary Terms………………………………………………………………..
Terms……………………………………………………………………............
Fiction…………………………………………………………………………...
Realistic Fiction………………………………………………………………..
Historical Fiction…………………………………………………………......
Science Fiction………………………………………………………………….
Fantasy/Fairy Tale……………………………………………………………..
Mystery…………………………………………………………………............
Non-Fiction……………………………………………………………………
Biography………………………………………………………………………….
Autobiography………………………………………………………………....
Informational……………………………………………………………………
Poetry…………………………………………………………………............
Acrostic…………………………………………………………………............
Cinquain……………………………………………………………………………
Diamante………………………………………………………………………….
Haiku…………………………………………………………………................
Limerick…………………………………………………………………………….
Tanka………………………………………………………………………………...
Diversity………………………………………………………………………….
Young Adult Diversity Book………………………………………………..
Child Diversity Book……………………………………………………………
Choice………………………………………………………………….............
Reflection…………………………………………………………………………
 Literary Terms

Genre:
A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form,
style, or subject matter.

Basal Reading Series:

Basal readers are textbooks used to teach reading and associated skills to schoolchildren.
Commonly called "reading books" or "readers" they are usually published as anthologies that
combine previously published short stories, excerpts of longer narratives, and original works.

Trade Book:
A book designed for the general public and available through an ordinary book dealer, as
distinguished from a limited-edition book, textbook, mass market paperback

Chapter Book:
A chapter book or chapter book is a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age
7-10. Unlike picture books for beginning readers, a chapter book tells the story primarily through
prose, rather than pictures.

Young Adult Literature:

Young adult fiction or young adult literature (YA) is fiction published for readers in their youth. ...
Some sources claim it ranges from ages 12–18, while authors and readers of "young teen novels"
often define it as written for those aged 15 to the early 20s.

Children’s Literature:
Children's Literature” is defined as material written and produced for the information or
entertainment of children and young adults. It includes all non-fiction, literary and artistic genres
and physical formats.
Fiction:
Literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary
events and people.

Types of Fiction
1. Realistic Fiction:
Definition of Realistic Fiction. Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that could
have occurred to people or animals in a believable setting. These stories resemble real
life, and fictional characters within these stories react similarly to real people.

2. Historical Fiction:
Historical fiction is defined as movies and novels where a story is made up but is set in
the past. Sometimes it borrows true characteristics of the time period in which it is set.
An example would be a novel that makes up a story about a Civil War battle that really
happened.

3. Science Fiction:
fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or
environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other
planets.

4. Fantasy:
Fantasy is a genre of fiction set in a fictional universe, often (but not always) without any
locations, events, or people referencing the real world. Most fantasy’s use magic or other
supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic and magical
creatures are common in many of these worlds.

5. Utopia:
An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

6. Dystopia:
An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a
totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.

7. Poetry:
Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by
using a distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.
8. Mystery:
Mystery fiction is a genre of fiction involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved.
In a closed circle of suspects, each suspect must have a credible motive and a reasonable
opportunity for committing the crime.

9. Myth:
A traditional or legendary story, concerning some being, hero, or event, with or without a
determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation. Especially one that is concerned with
deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

10. Legend:
A non-historical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and
popularly accepted as historical.

11. Fable:
Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals,
legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are
anthropomorphized (given human qualities, such as the ability to speak human language)

11. Folktale:
A tale or legend originating and traditional among a people or folk, especially one
forming part of the oral tradition of the common people. any belief or story passed
on traditionally, especially one considered to be false or based on superstition.

12. Fairytale:
Fairy tale is an imaginative story or piece of literature told in a variety of media. Stories
which are based on magic and fantastical settings, plots, and characters and happy
endings.

13. Epic:
High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, defined either by its setting or by the epic stature
of its characters, themes, and plot.

14. Tall Tale:

A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual.
Some stories such as these are exaggerations of actual events.
 15. Comic/Graphic:
A graphic novel is a book made up of comics content. Although the word "novel"
normally refers to long fictional works, the term "graphic novel" is applied broadly and
includes fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work. It is distinguished from the term
"comic book", which is generally used for comics periodicals.

Non-Fiction:
Prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history.

Types of Non-Fiction:
1. Autobiography:
An autobiography is the story of a person's life as told by that person. The subject of the
story is also the author.

2. Biography:
An account of someone's life written by someone else.

3. Informational:
Informational text is nonfiction writing, written with the intention of informing the reader
about a specific topic. It is typically found in magazines, science or history books,
autobiographies and instruction manuals.

4. Narrative:
Narrative is being narrowly defined as fiction-writing mode in which the narrator is
communicating directly to the reader.

5. Essay:
A short piece of writing on a specific subject.
 Fiction

Fiction

Definition
Literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes
imaginary events and people.
 Realistic Fiction
Definition:
Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that could have occurred to people or animals in a
believable setting. These stories resemble real life, and fictional characters within these stories
react similarly to real people.
Children’s Book
Title: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Author: Ray Cruz, Judith Viorst
Age Group: 6-8 years
Summary: Alexander, a kid with crazy hair, who gets out of bed to
face a day that seems to grow increasingly worse with each minute.
Just seemed to not be able to catch a break and experiences bad
things happening on this day one after another.
Personal Reaction: This book was great. Despite all of the bad things
that happened throughout the day, I could for sure relate to when
everything seemed to be going wrong throughout my day. It’s not
the end of the world, but I think it’s a great book to help students
relate to things not always do go their way.
Questions:
1. What would you have done if you had these things happen?
2. What kind of things happened to you during your bad days?
Adolescent Book
Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Age Group: 15-18 years
Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has
bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal,
her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot
twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid
Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Personal Reaction:
This was such a tear-jerking book. It was a great read about a love
story. It made me realize that living in the moment and while you
can is so important. No matter what you are going through.
Questions:
1. What would you do if you found out you had cancer?
2. What would you wish if that wish could come true?
 Historical Fiction
Definition:
Historical fiction is defined as movies and novels where a story is made up but is set in the past.
Sometimes it borrows true characteristics of the time period in which it is set.
Children’s Book
Title: Chasing the Spirit of Service
Author: Kristen Zajak
Age Group: 3-12 years
Summary: Emma comes from three generations of Air Force
pilots and misses her father when he travels. Her best friend
Adam tries to cheer her up. Emma’s great grandfather, one of
the first African American pilots during World War 2, shares his
life story with Emma and Adam and helps them appreciate the
spirit of service.
Personal Reaction: This is a great story for kids to help them
appreciate history within the service of the people who fight for
our country.
Questions:
1. How would you feel if one of your parents were in the
service?
2. What things would you like learn about in the service?
Adolescent Book
Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Author: John Boyne
Age Group: 12+
Summary: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he
discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His
father has received a promotion and the family must move from
their home to a new house where there’s no one to play with
and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches a
long way and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in
the distance.
Personal Reaction: This book is fairly sad and touches your
heart. It describes a lot of what an experience would be like as a
child growing up not fully understanding Nazi Germany.
Questions:
1. What would you have done if you saw the fence and people?
2. How would you have reacted?
 Science Fiction
Definition:
fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or
environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets.
Children’s Book
Title: Sherm The Germ
Author: Dr. John Hutton
Age Group: 4-8 years
Summary: This fun, rhyming book describes the stages of
becoming sick and then getting better. A perfect read-aloud
for those wishing to get well soon or any budding physician,
this board book uses a loveable character to teach readers
on the basics of what it means to catch a cold or virus and
how the healing process works.
Personal Reaction: This book was quite cute. I thought it was
neat how it allows kids to understand what being sick is all
about and how they can know when they are feeling better.
It was a cute way of informing children.
Questions:
1. How do you feel when you get sick?
2. What are some things that make you feel better?
Adolescent Book
Title: The Giver
Author: Loise Lowry
Age Group: 16+
Summary: Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal
world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the
Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets
behind this fragile community. Is there more to what’s on
the inside of where he’s living?
Personal Reaction: At first, I didn’t think I’d like this book,
but I truly enjoyed it. The book kept me on the edge of my
seat. I think it helps you as a reader to try and think ahead to
see if you can imagine what happens next.
Questions:
1. What type of job do you think you’d have in this lifestyle?
2. Why do you think Jonas is the only one who questions
this lifestyle right away?
 Fantasy/Fairy tale
Definition:
Fantasy is a genre of fiction set in a fictional universe, often (but not always) without any
locations, events, or people referencing the real world. Most fantasy’s use magic or other
supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic and magical creatures
are common in many of these worlds.
Children’s Book
Title: Peter Pan
Author: RH Disney, Al Dempster
Age Group: 4+
Summary: Wendy discovers a whole new world when
Peter Pan and his friends the lost boys come and take her
to Neverland where they never grow up. Thus, the
adventures begin of believing in Tinkerbell and Pixie dust.
Personal Reaction: This was one of my personal favorite
books growing up. I love the book along with the movie
which are both very much the same. It’s a great way to
open up a child’s imagination.
Questions:
1. What would you do if Peter Pan took you to Neverland?
2. Would you believe? Why or why not?
Adolescent Book
Title: Once Upon A Time
Author: Wendy Toliver
Age Group: 16+
Summary: This story has a twist. It involves all of the
fairytales everyone loves and remembers from the original
stories like Snow White, Frozen, Cinderella, etc. This story
has the villains trying to have their own happy ending.
Maybe the villains aren’t that bad after all.
Personal Reaction: I truly enjoy this book. It has a lot of
unexpected relationships of characters and gives me Ah-
ha’s when some of the stories connect from the past.
Questions:
1. How do you think the villains can prove themselves?
2. How come we didn’t know so many people were
related before this book?
 Mystery
Definition:
Mystery fiction is a genre of fiction involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved. In a
closed circle of suspects, each suspect must have a credible motive and a reasonable
opportunity for committing the crime.
Children’s Book
Title: Miss Nelson is Missing!
Author: James Marshall, Harry Allard
Age Group: 4-10 years
Summary: The kids in room 207 were misbehaving again. Spitballs
stuck to the ceiling and paper planes were whizzing through the
air. They were the worst-behaved class in the whole school. So,
the nice teacher swaps places and the “mean” teacher appears to
whip them in shape.
Personal Reaction: I truly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh and
had me thinking back to what it was like when I was in elementary
school and what would happen when we misbehaved.
Questions:
1. How do you think the students feel when the new teacher
appears?
2. After their experience, do you think they missed their teacher?
Why or why not?
Adolescent Book
Title: Pretty Little Liars
Author: Sara Shepard
Age Group: 15-18
Summary: Gossip thrives in Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Everyone has
something to hide, especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria,
Emily, and Hanna. The girls start receiving threatening messages
signed by someone names “A.” Could it be Alison, their friend who
disappeared three years earlier?
Personal Reaction: I’ve read the whole series of Pretty Little Liars
and I could barley put the books down. These stories keep you on
the edge of your seat and keep you wondering what will happen.
Questions:
1. Who do you think is sending these letters to the girls?
2. What do you think will happen if someone finds out their secret?
 Non-Fiction

Definition
Prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography
or history.
 Biography
Definition:
An account of someone's life written by someone else.
Children’s Book
Title: Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King
Author: Doreen Rappaport
Age Group: 4-8 years
Summary: This picture-book biography is an excellent and accessible
introduction for young readers to learn about one of the world's
most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen
Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating
narrative to tell the story of his life.
Personal Reaction: I have not read this book, but the cover was
attention grabbing and from the summary read, I thought it would
be a great biography.
Questions:
1. How much do you think Martin Luther King impacted people?
2. What do you notice about the cover?

Adolescent Book
Title: Anne Frank the Biography
Author: Melissa Muller
Age Group: 16+
Summary: Anne Frank: The Biography is the first full biography
of Holocaust diarist Anne Frank. Written by Melissa Müller it
was initially published in 1998 in Germany. The book was the
basis for the mini-series Anne Frank
Personal Reaction: There are so many versions of this biography
and I truly am not certain if I believe it. I want to know the facts
and not question what is written.
Questions:
1. What do you know about Anne Frank?
2. What do you think is the most interesting information?
 Autobiography
Definition:
An autobiography is the story of a person's life as told by that person. The subject of the story is
also the author.
Children’s Book
Title: I am George Washington
Author: Brad Meltzer
Age Group: 4-8 years
Summary: George Washington was one of the greatest leaders
the world has ever known. He was never afraid to be the first
to try something, from exploring the woods around his
childhood home to founding a brand new nation, the United
States of America. With his faith in the American people and
tremendous bravery, he helped win the Revolutionary War and
became the country’s first president.
Personal Reaction: I have not read this book, but the cover was
attention grabbing and from the summary read, I thought it
would be a great biography.
Questions:
1. Is he wearing different clothes than we do today? What’s different?
2. What do you notice about the cover?
 Informational
Definition:
Informational text is nonfiction writing, written with the intention of informing the reader about
a specific topic. It is typically found in magazines, science or history books, autobiographies and
instruction manuals.
Children’s Book
Title: Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library
Author: Barb Rosenstock
Age Group: 6+
Summary: As soon as Thomas Jefferson learned to read, he
found his passion: books, books, and more books! Before,
during, and after the American Revolution, Jefferson collected
thousands of books on hundreds of subjects. In fact, his massive
collection eventually helped rebuild the Library of Congress—
now the largest library in the world.
Personal Reaction: This cover captured my attention and I
thought that a book about Thomas Jefferson creating the library
and having a passion for books is a great way to influence
children and their opinions on literature.
Questions:
1. How old do you think Thomas Jefferson was when he created the library?
2. How long do you think it took him to create a library?
Adolescent Book
Title: Resisting Happiness
Author: Matthew Kelly
Age Group: 16+
Summary: A True Story about Why We Sabotage Ourselves, Feel
Overwhelmed, Set Aside Our Dreams, and Lack the Courage to
Simply Be Ourselves and How to Start Choosing Happiness Again!
Personal Reaction: This book has opened up my mind and helped me
become more cautious in wheat I do when I question if I am happy
or not. It does talk a lot about faith, but I think a lot of people could
learn from this and it would benefit them greatly.
Questions:
1. Why do you think people resist happiness?
2. What kind of challenges do you think people face?
 Poetry

Definition
Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and
ideas by using a distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of
literature.
 Acrostic

Definition
A poem, word, puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line
form a word or words.
 Cinquain

Definition
A verse of five lines that don’t rhyme, but describe a specific person, place, thing,
or an idea.
 Diamante

Definition
A poem that makes the shape of a diamond. The poem can be used in two ways,
either comparing two different subjects, or naming synonyms at the beginning of
the poem and then antonyms for the second half for a subject.
 Haiku

Definition
An unrhymed Japanese verse consisting of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and
five syllables or 17 syllables in all.
 Limerick

Definition
A kind of humorous verse of five lines, in which the first, second, and fifth lines
rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines, which are shorter. They
form a rhymed couplet.
 Tanka

Definition
A Japanese poem consisting of five lines, the first and third of which have five
syllables and the other seven, making 31 syllables in all. Giving a complete picture
of an event or mood.
 Title: Poems To Live Your Life By
Author: Chris Riddell
Age Group: 11+
Summary:
Illustrator and author Chris Riddell has
created a rich anthology of poems from the
past to the present all of which have a special
meaning for him. Grouping them under
headings including ‘Musings’, ‘Youth’,
‘Imaginings’, ‘Nature’, and ‘Endings’ he has
added on illustration to each often giving an
insight into his own reading of it. Passages
from Shakespeare and classic poems such as
John Keats’s Ode to a Nightingale and Lewis
Carrol’s Jabberwocky sit comfortably
alongside contemporary poems such as
Rachel Rooney’s The Language of Cat and
Jackie Kay’s Something Rhymed while the
inclusion of the words of Leonard Cohen’s
Suzanne and Nick Cave’s Love Letter adds a
refreshing fresh touch.

Personal Reflection:
In Poems to Live Your Life By the author shows how poetry gives meaning to our lives, from
childhood to old age. His collection is aimed at young readers, but people of all ages will
appreciate the insightfulness of poems.

Questions:
1. Which Poem was your favorite?
2. Which Poem did you relate to the most?
 Diversity

Definition
The fact or state of being diverse; difference; variety. The inclusion of individuals
representing more than one national origin, color, religion, socioeconomic
stratum, sexual orientation, etc.
 Young Adult Diversity Book

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Age Group: 15-18 years

Summary: The story of what it's like to grow up in high

school. Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious
and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We
may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the
world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and
trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through
uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed
tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex,
drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one
requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel
infinite.

Personal Reflection: Honestly, I can relate to Charlie quite a bit because I too were an individual
in the school who wasn’t popular and was my own person. I think this story is an important read
because it lets people know that even though things might be hard and confusing, there are
always good things to come and it’s important to know who you are as a person.

Questions:
1. What makes you unique and different from others?
2. What did you like about this story? Were you surprised about anything?
 Child Diversity Book

Title: Pink Is for Boys

Author: Robb Pearlman
Age Group: 4-7 years
Summary:
This picture book empowers kids to express
themselves in every color. It includes characters of
different races, genders and abilities and helps kids
learn about all the incredible colors that fill their
world.

Personal Reflection:
This book Is a great read, especially when helping children understand that girls and boys can like
equal things no matter the race, gender, or ability. I think that most students should get
introduced to this book because now days, we are trying to steer away from stereotypes.

Questions:
1. If you were/are a boy, would you wear pink? Why or why not?
2. Do you think that everyone should be able to pick and choose the things they like? Why do
you think this is important?
 Book of Choice

Title: The Compound

Author: S.A Bodeen
Age Group: Grades 6-12
Summary:
Eli and his family have lived in the underground
Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone,
and they’ve become accustomed to their new life
Accustomed, but not happy. No amount of luxury can
stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with
only his two sisters, only his father and mother, doing
the same thing day after day after day. As problems with
their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy
their sanctuary and their sanity. Eli can’t help but
wonder if he’d rather take his chances outside. Eli’s
father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are
they safe?

Personal Reflection:
This is one of my personal favorite books. It’s attention grabbing, mysterious, intriguing, and
keeps you wanting to read more. I haven’t read the rest of the series, but I’d for sure like to
finish it. I am hoping that the rest of the series is just as good as the first.

Questions:
1. What do you think a Compound is?
2. What do you think caused them to live in the Compound?
 Reflection

This project has taught me a lot about what types of literature are
appropriate for each age group, different genre’s can be intriguing, and
different types of poetry can be fun and also engaging. I ended up
enjoying reading a lot of the stories (since I enjoy reading as it is) but I
also found it to be a challenge. I know I should have started reading in
the summer time when we began this assignment. I think it’s truly
important to know the different genre’s and types of literature
especially when it comes to different age groups and their interests. In
order to keep students engaged, you need to know what they like and
what reading levels each student is at in order for them to be successful
and grow with their own skills. With all of the choice of books I have
read, I now have different resources to use for my future as an educator.
I am excited to share these findings with others as well.

Sources
Scholastic.com