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

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Realistic Fiction

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Coming of Age Stories

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20th Century America,

6th grade (Ages 11-12)

	Behave Yourself, Bethany Brant by Patricia Beatty from William Morrow & Company for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Best Bad Thing by Yoshiko Uchida from Aladdin Paperbacks for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Betsy and Joe by Maud Hart Lovelace, illustrated by Vera Neville 15th Printing from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for 6th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $45.00 (1 in stock)
	Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace from HarperTrophy for 3rd-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Blue Willow Puffin Newbery Library by Doris Gates from Puffin Books for 4th-7th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 2000 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $5.00 (3 in stock)
	Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis from Delacorte Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 2000 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis from Laurel-Leaf Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 2000 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.50 (2 in stock)
	Carrie's War by Nina Bawden from J.B. Lippincott Co. for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy from Purple House Press for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $15.99
	Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk from Dutton Children's Books for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo from Feiwel & Friends for 5th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo from Feiwel & Friends for 5th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Endless Steppe Growing Up in Siberia by Esther Hautzig from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Escape From Warsaw Originally titled The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, illustrated by Irwin Hoffman from Scholastic Inc. Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Factory Girl by Barbara Greenwood from Kids Can Press for 5th-7th grade in Industrialization & Organized Labor (Location: HISA-19IND)
	Faraway Island by Annika Thor from Delacorte Press for 5th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson Reprint from Puffin Books for 4th-7th grade 2008 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	First Farm in the Valley Anna's Story by Anne Pellowski from Bethlehem Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.50
	Fortunate Grandchild by Miss Read 1st US Edition for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood Reprint from Scholastic Press for 4th-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Gold Cadillac by Mildred D. Taylor Reprint from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia Reprint from Amistad Press for 4th-7th grade Coretta Scott King Award in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Goodbye, Vietnam by Gloria Whelan Bullseye Books ed from Yearling for 5th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Great Wheel by Robert Lawson from Walker and Company Realistic fiction for 4th-8th grade 1958 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes from Candlewick Press for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Hitler's Daughter by Jackie French from HarperCollins for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	How I Became an American by Karin Gundisch from Cricket Books for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	I Am David Previously published as North to Freedom by Anne Holm from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord from HarperCollins Immigration for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (7 in stock)
	Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida 2^nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Journey to America Journey to America Saga #1 by Sonia Levitin from Aladdin Paperbacks for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.00
	Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park from Sandpiper Books for 5th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred R. Taylor Reissue from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse from Square Fish Publishing Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff from Yearling for 4th-6th grade 1997 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine Reprint from Puffin Books for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Little Fishes from Houghton Mifflin for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Macaroni Boy by Katherine Ayres Reprint from Yearling for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool from Yearling for 6th-10th grade 2011 Newbery Medal Winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk from Dutton Children's Books for 6th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt from Berkley Books Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Reissue from Sandpiper Books for 5th-8th grade 1990 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	On the Edge of the Fjord by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.99
	On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck from Puffin Books for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia Reprint from Amistad Press for 4th-7th grade 2011 Newbery Honor Book, National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	One Crazy Summer Trilogy by Rita Williams-Garcia from Amistad Press for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $23.77
	Orphan for Nebraska A Guild Book by Charlene Joy Talbot from Atheneum Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga First Ed from Balzer & Bray for 4th-8th grade 2020 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.99
	Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction for 6th-8th grade 1998 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction for 6th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse 1^st edition from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction for 6th-8th grade 1998 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia Reprint from Amistad Press for 4th-7th grade Coretta Scott King Award in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm from Yearling for 4th-6th grade 2007 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Petros' War by Alki Zei, translated by Edward Fenton First Ediition from E.P. Dutton & Co. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus from Margaret Ferguson Books for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99
	R My Name is Rachel by Patricia Reilly Giff from Random House for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Ride the Crooked Wind by Dale Fife, illustrated by Richard Cuffari from Coward McCann for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Road to Memphis by Mildred Taylor from Bantam Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Road to Memphis by Mildred Taylor from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1991 Coretta Scott King Award in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1977 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Puffin Modern Classics by Mildred Taylor from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1977 Newbery Medal winner in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Sergeant Finney's Family by Carol Farley, illustrated by Leonard Shortall for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Singing Tree Puffin Newbery Library by Kate Seredy from Puffin Books Realistic fiction for 4th-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi from HarperCollins for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan from Dutton Children's Books Historical Fiction for 3rd-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Sod-House Winter They Came From Sweden by Clara Ingram Judson from Follett for 4th-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Song of the Pines A Story of Norwegian Lumbering in Wisconsin Land of the Free Series by Walter & Marion Havighurst, illustrated by Richard Floethe 1^st edition from John C. Winston Historical fiction for 6th-10th grade 1950 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	South Town by Lorenz Graham from Follett Publishing Co. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Star Fisher by Laurence Yep from Scholastic Inc. for 5th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Stink Alley by Jamie Gilson from HarperCollins in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Swallows' Flight by Hilary McKay from Margaret K. McElderry Books for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $17.99
	Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright from Square Fish Publishing Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1939 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1939 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Three Knocks on the Wall by Evelyn Sibley Lampman from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $14.99
	Turtle in Paradise Can sunshine bring you out of your shell? by Jennifer L. Holm from Yearling for 3rd-6th grade 2011 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye from Greenwillow Books for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop from Puffin Books Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Upon the Head of the Goat A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 by Aranka Siegal First Square Fish: Aug.2012 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 5th-9th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss from HarperCollins for 3rd-6th grade 1973 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis from Laurel-Leaf Books for 5th-8th grade 1996 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis from Yearling for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt from Sandpiper Books for 4th-6th grade 2008 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Well Done, Denehurst! by Gwendoline Courtney from Girls Gone By Publishers for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $24.00 (1 in stock)
	Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk from Puffin Books for 6th-10th grade 2017 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	World of the Trapp Family Life Story of the Legendary Family Who Inspired The Sound of Music by William Anderson 1^st edition for 6th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.00 (1 in stock)

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