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

58 Items found Print

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2nd grade (Ages 7-8),

Mass market paperback

	18 Penny Goose An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Sally M. Walker from HarperCollins Realistic fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99
	26 Fairmont Avenue by Tomie De Paola from Puffin Books for 2nd-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Afraid to Ride by C. W. Anderson from Scholastic Book Services for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $1.50 (2 in stock)
	All Alone by Claire Huchet Bishop from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John from Yearling Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Big Balloon Race An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Eleanor Coerr from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99 $3.00 (3 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)
	Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade 1941 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Canada Geese Quilt by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.99
	Canada Geese Quilt by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock from Cobblehill Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Cay by Theodore Taylor from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Children On Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade 1955 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.99
	Daniel's Duck An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Clyde Robert Bulla & Joan Sandin from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	Emily's Runaway Imagination (Dockray illustrations) by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Tracy Dockray 2008^th edition from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.39
	Emily's Runaway Imagination (Krush illustrations) by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Beth and Joe Krush from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.40 (2 in stock)
	George the Drummer Boy An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Nathaniel Benchley from HarperCollins Historical fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	Greg's Microscope An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Millicent Selsam & Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99
	Hannah Stepping Stones: A Chapter Book by Gloria Whelan from Random House Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.99
	Hattie and the Wild Waves by Barbara Cooney from Puffin Books for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Hill of Fire An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Thomas Lewis & Joan Sandin from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	House on Walenska Street by Charlotte Herman from Avyx, Inc. in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade Newbery Honor in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade 1976 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $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)
	Lentil by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction/Humor for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Lost Lake by Allen Say from Houghton Mifflin Word Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Lotta On Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds from PaperStar Books Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade 1942 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Minstrel in the Tower by Gloria Skurzynski from Random House Historical Fiction for 1st-4th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $5.99
	Molly's Pilgrim A Bantam First Skylark by Barbara Cohen, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy from HarperTrophy for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.00 (5 in stock)
	No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman from Little, Brown & Company for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Family Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1953 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Penny Pony A Young Puffin by Barbara Willard, illustrated by Juliette Palmer 1972 reprint from Puffin Books for 2nd-4th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Pioneer Cat by William H. Hooks from Random House Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.99
	Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren from Puffin Books for 2nd-5th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Ramona and Her Father Ramona Quimby Books by Beverly Cleary from Avon Books Humorous Stories for 2nd-4th grade 1978 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.39
	Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.39 $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Ramona the Pest Ramona Collection Book 2 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.39
	Sam the Minuteman An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Nathaniel Benchley & Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
	Samuel's Choice by Richard Berleth from Scholastic Inc. for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Snowshoe Thompson An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Nancy Smiler Levinson & Joan Sandin from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.99
	Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.99
	The Skirt by Gary Soto from Yearling for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade 1958 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	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
	True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Brian Floca from Atheneum for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	When I Was Young In the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant from Puffin Books Family Stories for 1st-3rd grade 1983 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace, illustrated by Vera Neville 2000 Printing from HarperTrophy for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)

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