For instance, in Jacob Have I Loved, a twin comes of age in the 1940s, and finds that she indeed can make ordinary life more than extraordinary. Realistic fiction also tends to be more contemporary in tone, connecting with issues that are relevant to contemporary family situations. Issues such as divorce, dysfunctional families, adoptions, etc. are dealt with in a serious and relevant manner; in On My Honor, a young boy must deal with the guilt he has about the death of his best friend; while in The Tulip Touch, a girl finally realizes she must remove herself from a destructive relationship or face becoming a victim herself. Situational realism is also part of this genre -- books on the loss of a friend, pet, or relative; family crisis; disease; adoption; or natural disasters. In Bud, Not Buddy, the issues of homelessness, the depression, child-abuse, and a search for self-actualization are told through the eyes of a 10-year-old (in age only) African-American boy. Over the past few decades, realistic fiction has made great headway in dealing with issues of race, gender, special challenges, and friendship between members of different ethnic or socio-economic groups. REALISTIC FICTION

Level

Author

Publisher

Year

Awards, Miscellaneous

K

Never Spit on Your Shoes

Cazet,

Denys

Scholastic

1996

Dialog about first day of school and what happens...