Book Wizard: Realistic Fiction Books 5-8

About

Realistic fiction uses made-up characters, but their actions and problems are realistic in that they are something that could occur to us. Some realistic fiction books deal with a death in the family or some other real traumatic event that the character must deal with. Also included in this genre is the classic "coming of age" story, which focuses on how a real event helps a character to grow up or mature.



“The Beloved Dearly,” by Doug Cooney

Twelve-year-old Ernie has always liked making money. But other people never seem to appreciate his business ventures.

But then Ernie comes up with the ultimate business: pet burial. It starts out great. But soon Ernie realizes that profits aren't the only thing to worry about. Friendship and real compassion for the grieving are also important.



“Trigger,” by Susan Vaught

This innovative book is written from the point of view of a boy who is brain damaged from a failed suicide attempt that erased much of his memory.

The therapy people have given him a notebook in which he can keep his memories, but it can't answer the nagging question of why he tried to kill himself. At the same time he has to deal with the reactions of other people to his suicide attempt and his disability.



“The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies,” by Lizabeth Zindel

When Maggie and her Mom move to a new school district Maggie is afraid that she won't be able to find any new friends.

But soon after going to her new school Maggie is accepted into a secret school clique called the Revelers. Maggie is thrilled to have friends, but she is slightly worried about the Revelers and their strange purpose, which seems to be to keep track of all the school secrets on a vast chart that they call The Wall.



“Sahara Special,” by Esme Raji Codell

Sahara Jones is a young girl who has two files. One is her school file that contains all the worried notes from teachers and assessments by counselors. The other is her secret writing file, which she keeps hidden behind the books at the local library.

When a new teacher arrives to teach Sahara's class she helps Sahara to develop personally and open her secret file to others.





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Inkweaver Review 2009-04-23T09:52:00-05:00

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