Fiction or Nonfiction? By Catherine

You rush home. You plop down on your bed. You take out your favorite fiction book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Then suddenly you remember your parents telling you fiction is a true waste of your time. You shake off that thought like a dog shaking off water. Then suddenly your mom's voice is ringing in your ears. "I know you're reading fiction; how many times do I have to tell you, fiction is a true waste of time!" Or is it, Mom? I strongly believe reading fiction is not a waste of time. I think this because fiction is fun, it builds big minds and imaginations, and it also is the perfect place to find juicy vocabulary and great story plots.

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First of all, fiction is fun. Instead of nonfiction, which drones on and on, fiction is action packed. There is also a lot of surprises in fiction that are not in nonfiction. Easier fiction books can be enjoyable read alouds to young kids, performing a task nonfiction can't play because the kids won't understand more technical nonfiction texts.

Another reason why fiction is not a waste of time is because fiction builds big minds and imaginations. For example, kids will start thinking about the characters in their fiction books. They can think as "big" and as "far" as they want while imagining the characters, thus allowing readers to think learn to think freely. Kids can start thinking about the impossible, and then twist together a story in their minds, thinking big thoughts so wonderfully nursed from fiction.

Lastly, fiction always has great story plots and vocabulary. In a fiction book, I learned the words adequate and macabre. Fiction carries lots of juicy adjectives. The plots in fiction are also always a surprise; anything can happen. This wonderful aspect of plot makes the story more enjoyable. Nonfiction is often so predictable, that sometimes it gets so boring leaving a reader in a great need for a fiction twist. An example of this nonfiction/fiction twist is the science fiction genre. Fiction authors kick off with a captivating beginning, taking readers on a magical journey or words. Nonfiction glues the reader's feet down.

According to the contrary point of view, kids need to read information to fill their brains. This is really not true, though, because information can be filled in at school and through homework. (In fact, that's another reason why there should be homework.) In the meantime, kids can have FUN with fiction. A little bit of nonfiction is necessary, but readers enjoy fiction more and should be allowed to read plenty of it.

In my opinion, reading fiction is NOT a waste of time. Fiction is not a time waster because it is fun to read, it builds big minds and imaginations, and fiction authors use superb story plots and vocabulary. The next time your parents are telling you sternly that fiction is a real waste of time, why don't you read them this?

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