Realistic Fiction - Exodus Books

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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.

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Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Realistic Fiction

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Coming of Age Stories

Family Stories

Orphan Stories

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19th Century America,

3rd grade (Ages 8-9)

	Adventure to Home A Story About the Pennsylvania Dutch "Plain Folk" by Robert Wells, illustrated by Mary Stevens from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 3rd-5th grade in 19th Century America (Location: HISA-19C)
	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
	Blueberry Corners by Lois Lenski from J.B. Lippincott Co. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	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)
	By the Shores of Silver Lake (Pictorial Cover) Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder; illustrated by Garth Williams from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	By the Shores of Silver Lake - Audio Book (CD) Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
	Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink from Simon Pulse Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Caddie Woodlawn A Frontier Story by Carol Ryrie Brink, illustrated by Kate Seredy from Macmillan Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	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
	Caddie Woodlawn's Family Formerly titled Magical Melons by Carol Ryrie Brink from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Caleb's Choice from Lodestar Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	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
	Cowboy Sam and the Indians by Edna Walker Chandler from Benefic Press for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Cowboy Soldier by Donald Russell, illustrated by Max Ranft from Benefic Press for 3rd-4th grade in Vintage Readers & Textbooks (Location: VIN-READ) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Erie Canal by Peter Spier from Doubleday & Company for 2nd-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	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
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Farmer Boy (Pictorial Cover) Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Farmer Boy - Audio CD Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder Unabridged from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
	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)
	First Four Years (Pictorial Cover) by Laura Ingalls Wilder; illustrated by Garth Williams from Harper & Row for 3rd-8th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	First Four Years - Audio CD by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
	Going to Town by Laura Ingalls Wilder from Scholastic Press for Preschool-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Indian Summer by F. N. Monjo from HarperTrophy for 2nd-5th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	Journal of One Davey Wyatt by Donald Honig, illustrated by Sam Fink from Franklin Watts for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Kirsten's Cook Book A Peek at Dining in the Past with Meals You Can Cook Today American Girl by Jodi Evert from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-5th grade in Cooking for Kids (Location: COOK-KID) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Liberty Letters: The Personal Correspondence of Hannah Brown and Sarah Smith The Underground Railroad, 1858 by Nancy LeSourd 1^st edition from Zonderkidz for 3rd-6th grade in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Little Farm in the Ozarks Rocky Ridge Years Book 2 by Roger Lea MacBride from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Little House - Full Color Trade Paper Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $75.11
	Little House - Hardcover Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins for 3rd-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $139.11
	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 in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams Book Club Edition from Harper & Row for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Little House in the Big Woods (Pictorial Cover) by Laura Ingalls Wilder from Harper & Row for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.00 (5 in stock)
	Little House on Rocky Ridge Rocky Ridge Years Book 1 by Roger Lea MacBride from HarperCollins for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	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 House on the Prairie (pictorial hardcover) Little House Series #2 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	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 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)
	Little Town on the Prairie (Pictorial Cover) Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder; illustrated by Garth Williams from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	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 Treasury by Carolyn Strom Collins, Christina Wyss Eriksson from Penguin Putnam for 3rd-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	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
	Long Winter - Audio CD Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
	Meet Rebecca American Girl by Jacqueline Dembar Greene from American Girl for 2nd-5th grade in American Girl (Location: SER-AMGIRL)
	More Perfect Than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan Fir from Scholastic Reference for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	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
	Oh Susannah by Ruth and Richard Holberg from Doubleday & Company for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	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 Banks of Plum Creek - Audio CD Little House Series #4 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1938 Newbery Honor Book in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO) $16.00 (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
	Real Diary of a Real Boy by Henry A. Shute, Illustrated by Tasha Tudor for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	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
	Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade 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
	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 Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder Library edition from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	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
	Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Alexander Pertzoff from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Young Pioneers by Rose Wilder Lane from HarperTrophy for 3rd-5th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99

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