Magical realism stories are set in the real world with a sprinkle of magic or fantasy added. They often include ghosts or spirits, a feeling of mystery, and impossible or strange events that are considered normal. This literary genre began in the 1940s and soon authors around the world used its conventions to tell their stories. Yann Martel's novel "Life of Pi" explores philosophical ideas through the story of a boy who survives disaster at sea with zoo animals. In Toni Morrison's "Beloved" a formerly enslaved woman is haunted by a ghost. In Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate", Tita magically infuses her cooking with emotion to woo a man. This genre gives us a little dose of magic to help us face life's challenges.