Realistic Fiction

This genre was what I read the most when I was growing up.  The idea of realistic fiction is that what is written in the book is not necessarily true but could be capable of happening in real life.  When authors are writing realistic fiction, they portray everything in the laws of real life.  Realistic fiction can offer children the opportunity to closely observe the decision making process when it comes to moral issues.  Many times in realistic fiction, it can provide a bridge for children to connect with the characters who use their knowledge in science, social studies, and math to make decisions in their lives. A science book that students can relate to science is Hatchet.  A realistic math book where students can use is Math Curse.  These books would be good to have in the classroom so students can learn and compare the books in the subject areas. 

Some Realistic Fiction Books

PICTURE BOOK 

Munsch, Robert. Love You Forever. Firefly Books. 1986.

 A young mother holds her son for the first time and sings him a nice song.  As the boy goes through stages of being a toddler to becoming an adult, the mother always finds time to pick him up and sing him the same song.  As the mother becomes older, the son returns the favor to her for one last time, and comes home to his newborn daughter where he sings to her that same

SHORT CHAPTER BOOK

Sachar, Louis. Holes. Yearling. 1998.

Stanley Yelnats always seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Nothing in their family can ever go right and they blame this on their pig stealing great-great grandfather.  Stanley is wrongfully accused of a crime and is sent to a camp where he has to dig holes every day.  During his stay at the camp, he learns about himself, his family, and breaks the family curse.  

YOUNG ADOLESCENT CHAPER BOOK

Asher, Jay. 13 Reasons Why. The Penguin Book. 2007.

Clay Jensen receives a set of 13 audio tapes.  Once he starts listening to the tapes, he realizes it is from a student who had recently killed herself.  In the tapes are the reasons why and they all involve a fellow classmate of Hannah Baker.  The tapes are to be passed around from person to person that was mentioned in the tapes.  Clay Jensen desperately listens to all of them, and in turn, it changes his life completely.