What’s the Difference?

The most obvious difference between facts and fiction is that facts are based on information that is known to be true. This may mean that scientific studies were conducted to arrive at the facts or that numerous eyewitness accounts can verify the truthfulness of a statement. Either way, facts are based on evidence. The details in a fictional story come from the writer’s imagination. Even if the writer bases a story’s events on a similar true story, the actual events in the novel never occurred in real life.

Vintage photo of a cowgirl with a black horse.

Of course, historical fiction is a little different—it includes both historical facts and made-up characters and situations. Certain kinds of facts typically appear in historical fiction. These include interactions between large groups of people, a country’s government, important historical events, and well-known customs and traditions of the time. However, in historical novels, the day-to-day accounts of one person’s life almost always come from the writer’s imagination.

Question

Historical fiction stories tend to include major events that are historically accurate while the characters’ day-to-day activities are fictional. Why does that make sense?

Factual texts tend to generalize—they make broad statements based on details from several different sources of information. However, when a fiction writer uses this same information in a story, he or she won’t include all those generalizations. Instead, the writer will choose several specific details and focus on those.

Reread the excerpt below from the informational text about birthday celebrations in Mexico. As you read, notice how the article makes broad statements about Mexican birthday celebrations.

For instance, Mexico has its own traditional birthday song called “Las Mañanitas," which means “birthday serenade.” A serenade is a song performed by a group of people, usually outside, and usually directed at one specific person. On her birthday, a young girl is likely to be awakened by family and friends singing outside her window.

Another unique Mexican birthday tradition is the piñata. A piñata is a colorful container made of paper or pottery that is filled with candy and small toys. Piñatas often take the form of animals, especially llamas or donkeys. The piñata is hung from a tree branch or rafter, and then blind-folded guests try to break it open with a stick, which causes the sweets inside to scatter on the ground.

Mexican families often play games together on birthdays. They also typically serve a meal, followed by a special birthday cake called tres leches, which means “three milks.” Other features of birthday parties in Mexico include both music and dancing. And no birthday celebration would be complete without gifts, which in Mexico, typically come from the birthday child’s parents rather than from friends. As you can see, Mexico, like other places around the world, enjoys both common and unique traditions, all of them meant to make birthdays a very special occasion.

Now, reread the section in Esperanza Rising that describes what will happen during Esperanza’s birthday celebration. Once you’ve reread this part of the novel, think of an answer to each question below. When you think you know the answer, click the question to see a sample response.

	It discusses the birthday song, how girls are serenaded, the piñata, the type of cake usually served, typical events at birthdays, and who generally gives gifts.
	Her birthday will begin with her father and other men serenading her with the traditional Mexican birthday song, the family is planning a big feast, and she is looking forward to receiving birthday presents.
	Because roses and grapes are so important to the family, they will use them as decorations. Besides her family giving her gifts, Esperanza anticipates that her friends will give her something, too. The novel also shows you how excited Esperanza is.

Texts that are written in an objective manner do not include the writer’s thoughts or feelings. Subjective texts, on the other hand, do show you what the writer thinks and feels about a topic.

Informational texts are generally written objectively, which means that the reader never knows what the writer truly believes about the subject matter. Fiction writings, however, are almost always subjective. They are meant to tell a story and to communicate the writer’s feelings about different parts of that story.

This doesn’t mean that writers of fiction will tell you directly what they think about a topic. Instead, they will express their thoughts and feelings about a topic through the characters and in how the setting is described. Their feelings also come through in the themes, or big ideas, that are suggested by the story’s events.

Reread this paragraph from the article about birthday celebrations in Mexico. As you read, ask yourself how the writer feels about the topic.

Mexican families often play games together on birthdays. They also typically serve a meal, followed by a special birthday cake called tres leches, which means “three milks.” Other features of birthday parties in Mexico include both music and dancing. And no birthday celebration would be complete without gifts, which in Mexico, typically come from the birthday child’s parents rather than from friends. As you can see, Mexico, like other places around the world, enjoys both common and unique traditions, all of them meant to make birthdays a very special occasion.

Question

Can you tell what this writer thinks and feels about Mexican birthday customs?

Next, think about the description of Esperanza’s birthday celebration that you just reread. Now, see if you can answer this question:

She thinks they’re silly and should not be continued.
She believes they are important traditions to uphold.
She sees them as unnecessary and a waste of time and money.

Although Esperanza’s birthday celebration never happens, the writer shows both respect and reverence toward the birthday traditions of Mexico.

Questions answered correctly:

Questions answered incorrectly:

How do factual texts differ from fictional texts?

Question

Question

Based on the description of Esperanza’s expectations for her birthday, how does Pam Muñoz Ryan, the author of the novel, feel about traditional Mexican birthday customs?

Summary