Realistic Fiction in a Modern Setting

Qualities of  Realistic Fiction in a Modern Setting

Characters:   presents fictional characters who behave in realistic ways

Setting:  takes place in modern times; a recognizable sort of place

A Problem to Solve:   The main characters are involved in a conflict (or conflicts) that could happen in the real world.

Plot:   has a plot that makes sense and that ends with the solution to the problem

Description:  Places, events, and characters are vividly described and could exist in reality.

Dialogue:  The characters' words show their personalities and also move the plot along.

___________________________________

It is also called Contemporary Realistic Fiction  or Life Problems Fiction 
"Contemporary" means it could happen in our time.
"Realistic" means it really could happen.
"Fiction" means it really didn't happen.  It is a made-up, fictional story.


Here are a few recommendations from the genre of Contemporary/Modern Realistic Fiction: 
(No, I haven't read them all, but have checked out recommendations from generally reliable sources for those I haven't.  I'll star* those I have read and recommend.)

The AFJH Media Center
To find realistic fiction books that are in our media center, 

• go to our school webpage, 
• click on the "Resources" tab, 
• click on "Alexandria," 
• at the right of the search bar, click on the drop-down menu labeled "Simple,"  
• and change it to "Advanced."  
• On the first drop-down labeled "All Words," click on it,
• Select Bibliographies.
• Type in "Realistic Fiction."  

For this time we are using only realistic fiction in a modern setting.  

______________________________
Important Points: 

If you are taking a Reading Literature class this year, do not use Stargirl or Walk Two Moons or Chasing Vermeer or Touching Spirit Bear or Freak the Mighty or Maniac Magee, unless you already know that your class is not reading it.  

In other words, if you are reading it with another class or small group in a class, don't use it. 

Do NOT read And Then There Were None since you will read it in 8th grade.

We do encourage you to read your book for this class during free individual reading time in other classes!  

And DO NOT choose historical fiction, only contemporary/modern.

Here is the list of  Books Not Allowed for the Outside Reading Assignment.

______________________________


Most of you should be reading at a seventh grade level: at least 735L to 1065L and above, although the books listed here that are below that level would be fine for you to use. 

*Absolutely Normal Chaos -- Sharon Creech  900L
Alice, I Think by Susan Juby 950L
Amazing Gracie -- Ann Cannon  680L
* Anything But Typical -- about autism   -- Baskin, Nora Raleigh   640L 
*Baby by Patricia MacLachlan  670L 
*Beardance by Will Hobbs  890L
*Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan  830L 
*Best Foot Forward by Joan Bauer  640L
Chicken Boy by Frances Dowell   860L 
*Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin   750L
Crazy Lady -- Jane Leslie Conly  570L
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs   670L
Dive (series) by Gordon Korman  (begins with The Discovery 760L)
Does My Head Look Big in This -- by Randa Abdel-fattah 850L
*Downriver by Will Hobbs    760L
Everest -- series by Gordon Korman  (begins with The Contest 690L)
Fifteen -- Beverly Cleary    870L  
Firegirl by   Tony Abbott  670L  (5th grade +) Pages: 145 
*Flipped -- Wendelin Van Draanen  720L 
*Freak the Mighty (Also titled The Mighty) by Rodman Philbrick  1000L 
The Fourth Stall and The Fourth Stall, Part II by Chris Rylander   760L-840L

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett    780L
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/hold-fast

** Hope was Here -- Joan Bauer  710L
*Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key -- Jack Gantos  
        (and other books in the Joey Pigza series)  (880-970L)
Kira-Kira by Cythia Kadohata   740L
Lost in the Sun -- Lisa Graff  7 00 L 
Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli   610L
*The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannon   770L

Lupita Manana by Patricia Beatty   760L
Lush by Natasha Friend    550L
*Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff   890L
The Misfits by James Howe    960L
Monster by Walter Dean Meyers   
*Mockingbird --by Kathryn Erskine
MOONGLASS by Jessi Kirby -- I haven't read this one yet, so though it's rated in some places as appropriate for 12 and up, I can't guarantee it.
Nobody Else Has to Know by Ingrid Tomey  
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Corman   610L
Okay for Now -- Schmidt, Gary D.   850L
Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes      680L
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer 750L
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones     820L
Out of Nowhere by Ouida Sebestyen    690L
 Perfect by Natasha Friend   590L
*Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff   -- 650L
Probably Still Nick Swansen by Virginia Euwer Wolff     780L
*P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More --  Paula Danziger and Martin   750L
*Ruby Holler -- Sharon Creech   660L
*Rules by Cynthia Lord     780L
Schooled by Gordon Korman      740L
*Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli   490L  (Read it only if your reading level is below 700.)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli   590L  (Do not read it if you will read it in the Reading Literature class.) 
Sticks by Joan Bauer    750L  
*Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (language warning)  820L
*Summer of the Swans  -- Betsy Byars  830L
*The Cat Ate My Gymsuit -- Paula Danziger     610L
The Thing About Jellyfish -- Ali Benjamin  740L
This Can't Be Happening at McDonald Hall by Gordon Korman (Funny!)    670L
Trouble -- Schmidt, Gary D.    930L
True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff     820L
*Walk Two Moons --  Sharon Creech   770L   
      (Do not read Walk Two Moons if you will read it in the Reading Literature class.) 
Wednesday Wars -- Schmidt, Gary D.   990L
*When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt  700L
Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend   HL520 
*Whirligig by Paul Fleischman   760L
Wonder by R.J. Palacio  790L
*Wringer by Jerry Spinelli    690L
Zucchini Warriors by Gordon Korman  (730L)