High School Library

Genres in Literature

ADVENTURE
Includes stories about journeys, pirates, spies, nature, etc. - historical or modern, fantastical or realistic.

ANGST
Realistic YA (Young Adult) fiction

DEATH/LOSS/GRIEF
Stories about coping after the death of a family member of friend.

DISABILITIES
Coping with disabilities (physical or mental), injuries, disfigurement or diseases & illnesses.

FAIRYTALES/LEGENDS/MYTHOLOGY
Some of these fairy tales have been retold and updated as modern fiction; others are more of a historical type; others are the traditional fantasy tales.

HISTORICAL
These stories occur at different periods in American and World History, from Ancient Times through early 1980s.

HUMAN STORIES (Non-fiction)
Biographies and memoirs about ordinary people who have had to cope with difficult circumstances, which may include physical or mental disabilities, addictions, disorders (such as anorexia), foster care, etc., and how they overcame or survived their adversities. There are also many stories about Holocaust survivors, rescuers, resisters, etc.

LGBT
Stories concerning characters who are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual or Transgender.

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/TERROR
Who Dun It?

NIGHT CREATURES
Vampires, werewolves, demons, and other night-roving creatures.

OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES
Includes Witches, Faeries, Wizards, Dragons, Animal-like creatures, etc.

ROMANCE/FRIENDSHIP/TEEN LIFE
stories may be serious, melodramatic, light-hearted or humorous (or any combination of those types) - may be realistic or fantasy.

SCIENCE FICTION
Futuristic scenarios that may include outer space, aliens, time-travel, advanced technologies, etc.

SPORTS
Each of these stories contain a sports theme (basketball, baseball, football, hockey, soccer, skiing, swimming, track, skateboarding, golf, tennis, boating, etc.) - but also contain other issues; some serious, some humorous.

SUPERNATURAL
Stories contain one or more of these elements: magic, ghosts, evil spirits, super or unusual powers, paranormal activity, etc.