What are the characteristics of online middle school fantasy short stories?

One common theme is friendship. For example, in many stories, the main characters are friends who face challenges together in the fantasy world. Another theme is self - discovery. Middle - school - age is a time of growth, and in these stories, characters often learn about their own strengths and weaknesses.

The characters in these stories are often relatable. In 'The Lottery', the townspeople seem like ordinary people at first, which makes the shocking ending more impactful. And the settings are diverse. Some are set in small towns like in 'A Sound of Thunder', while others can be in a more fantastical place like Venus in 'All Summer in a Day'.

They often have a sense of mystery. For example, the settings are usually in some isolated or old - fashioned places like an abandoned house or a spooky forest. This creates an immediate atmosphere of unease. Also, they might involve some sort of supernatural element, such as ghosts or strange curses.

Most of them have a clear moral or lesson. Like in 'The Tortoise and the Hare', it teaches about the value of perseverance. Also, they usually have a relatively straightforward plot to keep the young readers engaged without getting them too confused.

One characteristic is the presence of mystery. There are often things that are not immediately clear, like a missing object or a strange event. For example, in a typical middle school inference short story, a student might find a strange note in the library and has to infer who left it and why. Another characteristic is the use of clues. The author will plant little hints throughout the story that the reader has to pick up on to solve the mystery. Also, the characters usually have to think critically. They can't just accept things at face value but have to analyze and infer what's really going on.

Characteristics of great middle school short stories include having a clear theme. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the theme of love and sacrifice is very clear. They are also usually short enough to hold a middle schooler's attention but long enough to tell a complete story. In terms of characters, they are often well - developed despite the short length. In 'The Lottery', each character's reaction to the lottery process reveals a lot about them. And these stories usually have some sort of conflict, whether it's internal like in 'A Sound of Thunder' with the character's guilt, or external like in 'The Most Dangerous Game' with the man - hunting situation.

One great online middle school fantasy short story is 'The Magic Key' which can be found on some kids' literature websites. It's about a key that unlocks different magical worlds.

One characteristic is that they usually have relatively simple language. Since they are aimed at middle school students, the vocabulary and sentence structures are not overly complex. For example, in 'The Outsiders', the language is straightforward, making it easy for students to understand the story. Another characteristic is that they often deal with themes relevant to middle school students, like friendship, family, and growing up. In 'Bridge to Terabithia', the friendship between the two main characters is a central theme.

They often have relatable characters. For example, the protagonists are usually around middle - school age or deal with issues that middle school students can understand, like friendship problems or family dynamics. They also tend to be concise yet impactful, getting their message across in a short amount of time.

One characteristic is that they are usually set in a specific historical period. For example, if it's about the Middle Ages, it will have details like the clothing, the social hierarchy, and the way of life back then. Another is that they often have a young protagonist. This helps middle school students to relate to the story more easily. And they tend to simplify the historical events to some extent so that they are understandable for the target age group.