Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Values and Use of Contemporary Realistic Fiction for Children

• Contemporary realistic fiction is based on reality and helps children understand human problems and relationships, giving them a fuller understanding of themselves and their potential.
• It reassures children that their problems are not unique and prepares them for life by illuminating experiences they haven't had yet.
• It exposes children to different cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, allowing them to filter meaning for their own lives.
• Contemporary realistic fiction provides models, both good and bad, for coping with problems and events that children may not understand due to adult issues.
• Three sensitive issues in contemporary realistic fiction are sexuality, violence, and sexism, which are culturally related and affect both male and female accusers.
• Themes in contemporary realistic fiction include maturing, relationships with family and friends, understanding oneself, and dealing with problems.
• Realistic books help readers understand themselves, see the world through another person's perspective, experience role models, and prepare for living in the real world.
• Popular realistic fiction often includes humor, animals, sports, and mysteries.
• Realistic fiction stories take place in the present or recent past and involve events that could happen to characters that seem like real people living in real places.
• The events portrayed in realistic fiction are relatable and conjure questions that readers could face in everyday life.
• Using contemporary realistic fiction in the classroom allows children to gain a more in-depth understanding of human problems and relationships, expand their frames of reference, and experience interactions with characters in books.
• It also helps children understand that their problems are not unique and provides a literary framework for the development of personal and civic competency, allowing them to make improvements in their own lives and the lives of others.