Which sentence states a fact?
Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins, which is about a girl named Karana, is a beautiful novel. Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the true story of a girl stranded on an island for eighteen years.
A fact is something that can be proved by research or observation.
Napoleon Bonaparte was shorter than King Louis XVI.
The statement above is a fact. The statement can be proved by researching the height of each man and comparing them.
An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a better leader than King Louis XVI.
The statement above is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" leader, so the statement cannot be proved.
The second sentence states a fact.
Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the true story of a girl stranded on an island for eighteen years.
It can be proved by reading the information on the book jacket.
The first sentence states an opinion.
Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins, which is about a girl named Karana, is a beautiful novel.
Beautiful shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about what makes a novel beautiful.