The calendar says it is really summer now and hopefully your to-be-read pile of books has grown rather large. Let’s see if I can help you to add to it with realistic fiction: one of the most popular genres out there.
Realistic Fiction
Note: We've linked each title to its Amazon page so you may read other's reviews. These books are also available at the public libraries and great local bookstores such as Blue Willow Bookshop and Katy Budget Books.
This is probably the easiest genre to explain and understand. Realistic fiction is made up of believable stories about people and animals. Everything about the story could be true but it is all made up.
This genre has lighthearted stories, but also has the stories that can be brutally honest. Many issues arise in these books. Bullying, divorce, death, mental illness and eating disorders are just a few of the issues that first come to mind. However, these are the books that many students can relate to and want to read the most. I always remind the patrons of my library to use their moral compass and self-censor when they explore this genre. Readers might want to check out a summary of the book on-line before they start to read it.
APPLE TART OF HOPE by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Meg tries to cope with the fact that her best friend, Oscar Dunleavy has died. Officials pronounce him dead since all they find at the pier is his abandoned bike and shoes. However Meg and Oscar’s brother have a hard time believing the best apple tart baker ever could really be gone. Told through alternating point of views this story tackles bullying, grief and loss. In the end it is also a story of love, friendship and hope.
RUNNING DREAM by Wendelin Van Draanen
Sixteen year old Jessica is star athlete on the track team. Unfortunately, a school bus the track team is riding on is hit by a car. Jessica wakes up in the hospital with only one leg. The reader follows Jessica as she struggles to cope with her new life and normal problems like mean girls, tough teachers and boys. The track team helps Jessica keep hold of her dream of running. Along the way, Jessica meets Rosa, a cerebral palsy teen who is confined to a wheelchair. A very inspirational story about never giving up.
BREAKOUT by Kevin Emerson
Anthony Castillo is an eighth grader who is feeling trapped in between ages and expectations. Is he a child or a teen? Anthony copes with his frustrations by playing his guitar in the after school Rock Band Club. He writes a song that describes his angst. Many of his classmates are having the same feelings and really relate to his song. The song goes viral and he is seen as a hero. His band is invited to play the song at the school’s Arts Night if Anthony will remove the profanity from the song. Anthony struggles with exercising what he thinks is his right to free speech or the consequences if they sing the song without removing any words.
THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT by Jason Reynolds
The boy in the black suit is 17 year old Matt, who lives in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. Wearing the black suit and working at the local funeral home helps Matt handle his mother’s recent death. He finds assisting with funerals helps him deal with his loss and grief. It’s also better than working at the local fast food restaurant. He becomes friends with a young girl he met at a funeral. Lovey is the one person who understands his loneliness. This story illustrates how friends help can each other through the grief process.
Jason Reynolds is one of my favorite new authors. He will be the keynote speaker at Tweens Read. I shared that event with you last week but I’ll remind you about it in case you don’t remember. Tweens Read is a free book fest where you can meet authors and find out about their books. Jason Reynolds will be there promoting his new book GHOST.
If realistic fiction doesn’t meet your reading needs check this series out. If you like reading books like the Hunger Games series and Divergent series, you will like this.
Realistic Fiction
Note: We've linked each title to its Amazon page so you may read other's reviews. These books are also available at the public libraries and great local bookstores such as Blue Willow Bookshop and Katy Budget Books.
This is probably the easiest genre to explain and understand. Realistic fiction is made up of believable stories about people and animals. Everything about the story could be true but it is all made up.
This genre has lighthearted stories, but also has the stories that can be brutally honest. Many issues arise in these books. Bullying, divorce, death, mental illness and eating disorders are just a few of the issues that first come to mind. However, these are the books that many students can relate to and want to read the most. I always remind the patrons of my library to use their moral compass and self-censor when they explore this genre. Readers might want to check out a summary of the book on-line before they start to read it.
APPLE TART OF HOPE by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Meg tries to cope with the fact that her best friend, Oscar Dunleavy has died. Officials pronounce him dead since all they find at the pier is his abandoned bike and shoes. However Meg and Oscar’s brother have a hard time believing the best apple tart baker ever could really be gone. Told through alternating point of views this story tackles bullying, grief and loss. In the end it is also a story of love, friendship and hope.
RUNNING DREAM by Wendelin Van Draanen
Sixteen year old Jessica is star athlete on the track team. Unfortunately, a school bus the track team is riding on is hit by a car. Jessica wakes up in the hospital with only one leg. The reader follows Jessica as she struggles to cope with her new life and normal problems like mean girls, tough teachers and boys. The track team helps Jessica keep hold of her dream of running. Along the way, Jessica meets Rosa, a cerebral palsy teen who is confined to a wheelchair. A very inspirational story about never giving up.
BREAKOUT by Kevin Emerson
Anthony Castillo is an eighth grader who is feeling trapped in between ages and expectations. Is he a child or a teen? Anthony copes with his frustrations by playing his guitar in the after school Rock Band Club. He writes a song that describes his angst. Many of his classmates are having the same feelings and really relate to his song. The song goes viral and he is seen as a hero. His band is invited to play the song at the school’s Arts Night if Anthony will remove the profanity from the song. Anthony struggles with exercising what he thinks is his right to free speech or the consequences if they sing the song without removing any words.
THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT by Jason Reynolds
The boy in the black suit is 17 year old Matt, who lives in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. Wearing the black suit and working at the local funeral home helps Matt handle his mother’s recent death. He finds assisting with funerals helps him deal with his loss and grief. It’s also better than working at the local fast food restaurant. He becomes friends with a young girl he met at a funeral. Lovey is the one person who understands his loneliness. This story illustrates how friends help can each other through the grief process.
Jason Reynolds is one of my favorite new authors. He will be the keynote speaker at Tweens Read. I shared that event with you last week but I’ll remind you about it in case you don’t remember. Tweens Read is a free book fest where you can meet authors and find out about their books. Jason Reynolds will be there promoting his new book GHOST.
If realistic fiction doesn’t meet your reading needs check this series out. If you like reading books like the Hunger Games series and Divergent series, you will like this.