Contemporary+Realistic+Fiction


 * __Websites__**

[] This is a website with a definition of realistic fiction, a chart, a poster, web links and examples of realistic fiction picture books. [] This site talks about choosing realistic fiction titles. [] This is a list of realistic fiction titles from the Lake Oswego public library. [] This is a list of realistic fiction titles from the Hennepin public library. [] This site lists realistic fiction titles for teens. [|http://home.mindspring.com/~stct42/edu/cont_his.html] This site has information about historical and realistic fiction with list of picture and chapter books from both categories. [] This is a list of realistic fiction titles for young adults. [] This is a list of realistic pictures books from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

__**Books**__

Charlotte Huck's text //Childrens Literature// lists many realistic fiction titles. Here are some examples from the text. On pages 392-393 in the text a list of realistic fiction titles is broken up into specific categories.

//Blusish// by Virginia Hamiltion //Dillion Dillon// by Kate Banks //Stand Tall// by Joan Bauer //On My Honor// by Marion Dane Bauer //The House of Wings// by Betsy Byars //Racing the Past// by Sis Deans //One Eyed Cat// by Paula Fox //Lenny's Space// by Kate Banks //Tiger's Fall// by Mollie Bang //A Face First// by Priscilla Cummings

__**WebQuests**__

[] This is a site with a webquest where students learn about realistic and historical fiction and label different stories with each genre. This is for fourth grade. [] This is a webquest designed for sixth graders to research different elements in realistic fiction. [] This site is a webquest about realistic fiction for grades 4-6.

[] This is a realistic fiction lesson plan for third or fourth grade using the book //T//he //Burning Questions of Bingo Brown// by Betsy Byars. [] This is a third grade lesson plan on realistic fiction using //Allie’s Basketball Dream// by Barbara E. Barber. [] This is a fifth grade lesson plan on realistic fiction using //Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes// by Louis Sachar. It focuses on comparing situations in the book to student’s personal experiences. [] This is a realistic fiction unit for eighth grade using the book //Dicey’s Song// by Cynthia Voigt. They will use this book to learn about the genre and make a character sketch. [|realistic fiction.doc] This is a link to a word document that is a Realistic Fiction Immersion lesson plan for third grade.
 * __Lesson Plans__**


 * __Articles__**


 * O'Connor, B. (2010). Keeping It Real: How Realistic Does Realistic Fiction for Children Need to Be?. //Language Arts//, //87//(6), 465-471. Retrieved from ERIC database.**

O'Connor is an author of realistic fiction for children. She discusses trying to balance writing realistically with writing age appropriate material. O'Connor states "there comes a time when authors must step back and examine their work with a discerning eye, asking, "Is this too real for my intended audience?" She examines five story elements to explore this topic: dialogue, character, family relationships, economic class, and endings.


 * Donoghue, M. (2002). //Literature Helps Young Children Face Problems in Today's World//. Retrieved from ERIC database.**

This article describes how realistic fiction is beneficial to children. They can experience things they may otherwise never encounter or learn about something they may experience in the future. Twenty fiction titles are discussed and suggestions for how a teacher can approach the titles and how students may react to them are listed.


 * Harmon, J., & Gonzales, M. (2003). Are These Parents for Real? Students' Views of Parents in Realistic and Historical Fiction. //ALAN Review//, //30//(2), 57-62. Retrieved from ERIC database.**

This article describe parental roles in realistic and historical fiction novels. It tells what students say about parental roles in real life and their expectations for them in the novels. Selected books work evaluated by the students for their impressions of the parental roles and a comparison was made between the two genres about the parental characters.


 * Wasta, S. (2010). "Be My Neighbor": Exploring Sense of Place through Children's Literature. //Social Studies//, //101//(5), 189-193. Retrieved from ERIC database.**

This article uses realistic fiction books and nonfiction books to teach about the five themes of geography and cultural awareness. A summary of each book is provided and activities are described that align with North Carolina state standards.