Realistic Fiction - Exodus Books

Store Location

Realistic fiction is kind of a newcomer to the long list of literary genres. Primarily aimed at children and adolescents (the corresponding genre in adult literature is usually just called "literary fiction"), realistic fiction is recognizable by its relatable characters and situations. What sets it apart from historical fiction is that the stories do not center around an actual historical event or person, though they may be set in a very real time period.

Characters deal with the things everyone else deals with—death, friendship, loneliness, embarrassment, first love—and they don't get transported to a make-believe island as a solution to their problems. They have to work it out, which is one of the main appeals of this genre; kids like to read about other kids (real or imaginary) going through the typical young person's trials and how they deal with it.

Not that all realistic fiction is sad and gloomy. It's just what it sounds like—stories about real-life from a fresh perspective. Also, we aren't suggesting there are no realistic elements to a fantasy like The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: there are, which is precisely what makes reading that book so rewarding. It's just that real kids don't fight literal dragons, they fight bullies, or their own insecurities, or ferocious acne.

A lot of the best and most-loved stories fall squarely within the limits of realistic fiction. Huckleberry Finn wasn't a real pirate, but he really rafted the Mississippi; Anne Shirley wasn't a Medieval princess, but she really became Matthew and Marilla's daughter; Anna and Caleb Witting aren't big on imagination, but they are big on really accepting Sarah into their family (at least, eventually).

The full range of human experience is explored in these stories, its darkness, its light, its sorrow, its joy. This is the purpose of literature, after all: to show us true life, and in showing us, to better prepare us for it. These books are some of the best at doing just that.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

Did you find this review helpful?

Parent Categories

Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Realistic Fiction

Subcategories

Coming of Age Stories

Family Stories

Orphan Stories

82 Items found Print

Active Filters:

19th Century America,

New Books & Materials

	Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt from Berkley Books Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1965 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt from Berkley Books Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1965 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Puffin Books for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Sterling Classics by Mark Twain, illustrated by Scott McKowen from Sterling Publishing Co. for 6th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $14.95
	Adventures of Tom Sawyer Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Penguin Classics Realistic Fiction for 6th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $10.00
	Angel Knew Papa and the Dog by Douglas Kaine McKelvey from Rabbit Room Press for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $12.99
	By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman from Little, Brown & Company Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	By the Shores of Silver Lake Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	By the Shores of Silver Lake Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $18.99 $8.00 (2 in stock)
	Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz from Puffin Books Historical fiction for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink from Simon and Schuster Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $19.99
	Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Captive Treasure by Milly Howard from Bob Jones University Press Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Copper-Toed Boots by Marguerite de Angeli from Wayne State University Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $18.95
	Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Reprint from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-8th grade 2010 Newbery Honor in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Reprint from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-8th grade 2010 Newbery Honor in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $19.99
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	First Four Years Little House Series #9 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $18.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Flight into Spring by Bianca Bradbury from Bethlehem Books Realistic Romantic Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.50
	Freewater by Amina Luqman Dawson from Little, Brown & Company for 5th-8th grade 2023 Newbery Medal Winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.99
	Gathering of Days A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32 by Joan Blos from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1980 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward from Moody Press for 7th-Adult in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.99
	Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr from Sunburst Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99
	Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson from Yearling for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field from Aladdin Paperbacks Personification story for 4th-8th grade 1930 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.99
	Laddie A True Blue Story by Gene Stratton-Porter from Indiana University Press Romance for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.95
	Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich from Puffin Books Realistic fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Little House - Softcover Boxed Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $79.91
	Little House in the Big Woods Little House Series #1 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Little House in the Big Woods Little House Series #1 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $18.99
	Little House on the Prairie Little House Series #2 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Little House on the Prairie Little House Series #2 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99
	Little Town on the Prairie Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Little Town on the Prairie Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $19.99
	Little Town on the Prairie Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Little Town on the Prairie - Audio CD Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO) $25.99
	Little Women Puffin Classics by Louisa May Alcott from Puffin Books Realistic Romantic Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $10.99
	Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, illustrated by M.E. Gray Unabridged from Everyman's Library Realistic Romantic Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $16.95
	Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt from Clarion Books for 7th-9th grade 2005 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Long Winter Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Long Winter Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $19.99 $9.50 (1 in stock)
	Long Winter Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	More Perfect Than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	My Book of Little House Paper Dolls The Big Woods Collection by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperFestival for 2nd-6th grade in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM) $12.99
	Old Town in the Green Groves by Cynthia Rylant from HarperCollins for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	On the Banks of Plum Creek Little House Series #4 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1938 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	On the Banks of Plum Creek Little House Series #4 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1938 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $18.99
	On the Way Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm from HarperCollins in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Phebe Fairchild Her Book by Lois Lenski 1st Edition Thus from Purple House Press for 3rd-8th grade 1937 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $17.99
	Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park from Clarion Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.99
	Red Badge of Courage and An Occurrence at Owl Bridge by Stephen Crane & Ambrose Bierce from SeaWolf Press Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $7.45
	Sailing on the Ice: And Other Stories from the Old Squire's Farm from Rutledge Hill Press for 4th-12th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $18.98
	Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates from Bob Jones University Press Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 30th Anniversary from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade 1986 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Seabird by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $12.99
	Secret School by Avi from Sandpiper Books for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Seeds of America - Boxed Set Chains/ Forge/ Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson from Atheneum for 4th-8th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $26.99 $17.00 (1 in stock)
	Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox from Laurel-Leaf Books Historical Fiction for 6th-8th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Soft Rain A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears by Cornelia Cornelissen from Yearling Historical fiction for 3rd-5th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Staircase by Ann Rinaldi from Harcourt Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski from HarperCollins Realistic fiction for 4th-6th grade 1946 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Thee, Hannah! by Marguerite de Angeli from Herald Press Realistic Fiction for in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.99
	These Happy Golden Years Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	These Happy Golden Years Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $19.99
	These Happy Golden Years - Audio CD Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO) $25.95
	They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth from Bethlehem Books Realistic Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Trail of Tears Step into Reading Level 5 by Joseph Bruchac from Random House Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-4th grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP) $4.99
	Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $12.99
	Wagon Wheels An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Barbara Brenner from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99 $2.50 (1 in stock)
	What You Know First by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99
	Where the Broken Heart Still Beats The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker by Carolyn Meyer from Graphia for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Wide Horizon Texas Panhandle Book 2 by Loula Grace Erdman from Bethlehem Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $15.95
	World of Little House by Carolyn Strom Collins & Christina Wyss Eriksson from HarperCollins Literature Resource for 4th-8th grade in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM) $29.99
	Young Pioneers by Rose Wilder Lane from HarperTrophy for 3rd-5th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect