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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Name That Genre #29

TITLE: MG
GENRE: Secret

“Jane, please come up to my desk.” It was silent reading time, so everybody in the entire sixth grade heard me get called up. I knew what Mrs. Watson was going to say even before I got there, but I didn’t care.

“Jane, your name is spelled incorrectly on every paper in your Bicentennial packet. These are official documents more or less, and therefore require correct spelling.”

In my head I yelled that I ought to be able to spell my name any way I chose and there wasn’t anybody who could stop me, but I was only brave in my head. Out loud I said, “yes, ma’am,” and went back to my seat.

I heard Pamela snicker when I walked by. Pamela Latimer hated me and I hated her back, but I had a good reason. She didn’t.

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34 comments:

  1. S.D.KingApril 9, 2015 at 11:14 AM

    Contemporary realism

    I don't think this has a "mean girl" MC, but perhaps she is being bullied? Perhaps there will be a coming of age element here.

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  2. RickApril 9, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Contemporary

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  3. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 11:42 AM

    Historical
    The 'bicentennial packet' made me think this might be set in 1976, but it could just as easily be a reference to a state's bicentennial -- bringing a lot of other years into play. My other thought was that this might be set in some other futuristic culture, but nothing else in the excerpt felt sci-fi, so I took a gamble with historical.

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  4. 1000th.monkeyApril 9, 2015 at 11:47 AM

    Contemporary.

    Didn't seem to have any specific markers of other genres.

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  5. AnonymousApril 9, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    Contemporary.

    Didn't seem to have any hint of other genres, although I guess it would depend which "bicentennial" was being referred to.

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  6. SStokesApril 9, 2015 at 12:40 PM

    Contemporary.

    Seems grounded in reality, no hints otherwise yet.

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  7. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    Contemporary
    It seems like it's in the real world but the bicentennial packet through me a bit. Is it 1976 or is it something made up?

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  8. Michele HelselApril 9, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    Realistic Fiction.

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  9. Michele HelselApril 9, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    Realistic Fiction.

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  10. Rocket Ma'amApril 9, 2015 at 2:56 PM

    Realistic, guessing the MC has dyslexia.

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    Replies
    1. Rocket Ma'amApril 9, 2015 at 5:34 PM

      modern school setting, girl can't spell her own name.

      Delete
  11. Rocket Ma'amApril 9, 2015 at 2:56 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. AnonymousApril 9, 2015 at 2:59 PM

    Contemporary

    be interested to see how it goes with Pamela

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  13. LanetteApril 9, 2015 at 3:19 PM

    Contemporary

    This was a tough one. Bicentennial suggests 1976, which isn't far enough back to be historical if this were adult, but I'm not sure what the historical genre rules are for MG. Another thing that tripped me up is the Bicentennial packet being an official document. I'm old enough to remember 1976, and I can't think of what these official documents are, which makes me wonder if this is actually sci-fi, and we're looking at a future bicentennial.

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  14. GinaApril 9, 2015 at 4:17 PM

    I would guess Contemporary. Obviously set in reality, but Lanette has some good points about the "official document," though grist of story seems to be something other than strict sci-fi/fantasy elements.

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  15. BEApril 9, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    Contemporary. I figure it's the bicentennial of the school or town.

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  16. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 5:03 PM

    Not sure. But for the bicentennial packet official documents, it sounds straightforwardly contemporary.

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  17. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 5:03 PM

    Not sure. But for the bicentennial packet official documents, it sounds straightforwardly contemporary.

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  18. Eisenman SoftwareApril 9, 2015 at 5:33 PM

    Contemporary?

    It feels a bit early in the narrative to call. I'm wondering how many ways you can possibly spell 'Jane' wrong...

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  19. Bonnie StaringApril 9, 2015 at 5:55 PM

    Contemporary
    The bicentennial packet throws me off, though, but everything else feels contemporary. I want to know what the deal is with Pamela.

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  20. CamApril 9, 2015 at 5:56 PM

    Contemporary. Perhaps the protagonist has dyslexia?

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  21. cindy norrisApril 9, 2015 at 6:03 PM

    Contemporary. But the possibilities are there to go in many directions further into the story.

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  22. cindy norrisApril 9, 2015 at 6:03 PM

    Contemporary. But the possibilities are there to go in many directions further into the story.

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  23. SussuApril 9, 2015 at 8:07 PM

    SCIENCE-FICTION

    First, I thought contemporary, but then you mentioned "Bicentennial packet". That made me think Bicentennial man. Since these are her official papers... Could she be a robot?


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  24. shelleyApril 9, 2015 at 8:21 PM

    Contemporary realism.

    Nothing clearly suggests any other genre to me.

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  25. KathleeaApril 9, 2015 at 10:57 PM

    Contemporary

    The packet could just be schoolwork, it feels like a realistic story to me.

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  26. JAZApril 9, 2015 at 11:00 PM

    Contemporary Realistic
    Jaine? Jayne?

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  27. AnonymousApril 10, 2015 at 4:28 AM

    Contemporary Realistic.

    Because it's set in fairly modern times (bicentennial puts it in 1976 which is not yet considered historical since its not set 50 or more years in the past). And because it seems to deal with the MC's social problems with a classmate as well as her feelings toward being told what she can and can't do. To me the opening hints of a possible "fed-up with bullying" scenario (Realistic).

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  28. SusanApril 10, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Contemporary. It seems like a typical classroom setting. But, the part about Bicentennial packet makes me think it could be some sort of science fiction or dystopian book. Maybe Bicentennial has significant meaning in this 'other world'.

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  29. HepsebaALHHApril 10, 2015 at 3:17 PM

    Contemporary

    kid in school, no hint of historical details (bicentennial could refer to any number of things), no hint of fantasy or sci-fi details.

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  30. sbjamesApril 10, 2015 at 5:42 PM

    Bicentennial? Names like Jane and Pamela. And a kid who says "yes, maam," so I'm going with Contemporary or Historical Fiction if the 70s are considered that.(that makes me feel so old!)

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  31. C. R. BaileyApril 10, 2015 at 5:55 PM

    Contemporary. Or possibly historical, if it's the U.S. Bicentennial. (I think I read somewhere that for MG, historical can be less than 50 years. Also, given the pace of publishing....)

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  32. AnonymousApril 10, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    MG
    School.....young

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  33. MarilynApril 11, 2015 at 7:29 PM

    Thanks everyone for guessing on my genre. As many of you supposed, it does take place in 1976, so I would call it contemporary. I was intrigued by the comments wondering if Jane is dyslexic (she's not-she just wants to spell her name Jayne-it's more elegant) and wondering if it was a story about bullying (it's not). But this shows me that I have some work to do!

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