what is it?
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Contemporary realistic fiction tells a story that never happened but could have happened. The characters and events from this genre come from the author's imagination just as they do in fantasy, however, everything in contemporary realistic fiction is possible on planet Earth. Of all the genres, contemporary realistic fiction is perhaps the most popular because it is the most familiar. It resembles real life, and fictional characters within these stories react similarly to real people.
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common categories of contemporary realistic fiction
A mainstay of this genre are books about animals. The bond between humans and animals are both satisfying and rewarding.
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No one person or library can have enough books with humor in it. Books that make people laugh appeal to a broad range of people, plus books with healthy doses of humor are often short.
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Mysteries have been at the top of children's preference list since the 1920s. Because almost everyone likes mysteries, choosing one to read-aloud at the beginning of the school year will almost guarantee a captive audience.
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Because all novels have a problem - without one, there is no story - all novels can technically be called problem novels. Most of the topics focus on coping with serious problems of the human condition.
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Problems in school and family stories tend to be less sever than those in problem novel, and the tone is generally lighter.
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Series books are important to literacy development because of two characteristics: comfort and story. They are familiar and readers know they are getting a real story with a clear problem and satisfying solution.
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Sports stories fall into two groups: game focused and problem focused. Game-focused books are interested in the score or who wins the game with the dramatic question centered on victory. Problem-focused books have a sports setting, but the dramatic question goes beyond the final score.
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Stories of survival and adventure are often set in the wilderness. Characters are often faced with urban survival. Often adventure stories combine survival with discovery.
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"The offerings of contemporary realistic fiction are as wide as life, helping explore today's people, problems, and places. In this popular genre, young readers can find their own lives, recognize friends, and meet strangers who can show them different ways of living and thinking."
Reference:
Tunnell, M.O., Jacobs, J.S., Young, T.A, & Bryan, G. (2012). Children's literature, briefly. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
This page was created by Lisa Maureen Meeks and Heather Ann Uncangco.