Genre: Realistic Fiction When you can really identify with the story—it seems so real!

Genre: Realistic Fiction Themes: Adventure Animals Change Danger Death and Dying Diaries/Journals Divorce Families Friendship Groups Growing up Homelessness Peer pressure Personal Conflict Physical challenge School Social Issues Sports Survival

Genre: Realistic Fiction Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie. Animals During a stay of several months in Hawaii with her family, Sara reports her experiences by tape back to her class in Boston, detailing her “adoption” of a wild cat, a friendship with a troubled Hawaiian boy, and the death of a beloved grandmother.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Adjusting to middle school becomes easier for twelve-year-old Maggie when she finds that her biology teacher, who is blind, can learn a few things from her about working with his guide dog. School In a small, Virginia town, sixth-grader Jessie Lou Ferguson has a crush on the hugely popular Conrad Parker Smith, and when he suddenly develops a medical problem and the teacher asks Jessie Lou to help him, they become friends, to her surprise.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Angry with his mother for having too little time for him, eleven-year-old Felix takes advantage of an opportunity to become bat boy for a minor league baseball team, hoping to someday be like his father, a famous Cuban outfielder. Sports When the Hornets lose their quarterback for the season and the replacement lacks the talent to take charge, the coach picks a solid receiver as emergency quarterback.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Since the death of his mother, Tobin’s family and school life have been in disarray, but after he starts raising chickens with his seventh-grade classmate, Henry, everything starts to fall into place. Death and Dying When his best friend drowns while they are both swimming in a treacherous river that they had promised never to go near, Joel is devastated and terrified at having to tell both sets of parents the terrible consequences of their disobedience.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Nine-year-old Mallory turns to her diary to sort through her emotions when she finds out she has a secret admirer and her two best friends' parents may be getting engaged. Diaries As if science class isn’t enough to deal with—now Amelia has the class bully to face. But Amelia isn’t going to let that get her down.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Twelve-year-old Mitch and his mother are spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents separate, and ten-year-old Spencer and his family have returned to the lake where Spencer’s older brother drowned long ago, and as the boys become friends and spend time together, each of them begins to heal. Growing Up Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her to return to France, ten-year-old aspiring scientist Lucky Trimble determines to run away while also continuing to seek the Higher Power that will bring stability to her life.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Other Realistic Fiction How a young girl learns to stop being a worry-wart How a young boy learns that other people’s problems just may be worse than his How even kids can help with local political issues How friendship helps people overcome problems

Genre: Realistic Fiction Life comes at you fast. It could happen at any time, and at any place. Be prepared to identify with the people who fill the pages of realistic fiction. Skip the movie—just read the book!