Realistic fiction is writing that portrays real life. It comes from the writer’s imagination, but any event that happens in the story could happen to someone in real life in modern times. Historical fiction is similar but portrays what life may have been like in the past. Therefore, what is considered contemporary realistic fiction to one individual might not be “contemporary” to another. Realistic fiction helps expose children to human problems and relationships. It can show life from a different perspective while helping students understand themselves. Realistic fiction gives the opportunity for students to grow and mature by seeing situations through another’s eyes.
The Talented Clementine by Sara PennyPacker
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 4.0
Being difficult and in trouble is nothing new for Clementine - she visits the principal often and her parents argue over who is going to take her places. However, Clementine realizes that she really is in trouble when the 4th graders at her school decide to put on a talent show as a fundraiser and she doesn’t have any talents to share. Clementine goes off in search of a talent and tries to stay in everyone’s good graces along the way. This kind-hearted, empathetic, and spunky girl might just find that she is more talented than she thinks.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with Clementine. While
reading I realized that she reminded me of a mix between Amelia Bedelia
and Dennis the Menace. The voice in the writing of this story
is stellar and Clementine’s character is perfectly portrayed. This was a great
self-discovery story for upper-elementary students.
Reviewed by: Tiffany L. Braunel
The Wedding Planner’s Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore Willafred is a delightfully entertaining young lady. She has moved to Bramble, Cape Cod with her single glamorous mother who is a famous wedding planner. Willa is trying to find a husband for her mother, Stella. Will the handsome poet who lives next door help to heal Stella’s broken heart? Willa’s wishes all appear to be coming true when tragedy strikes. Will Willa have to give up on making wishes? Willa is quite an enchanting character. I think the story is quaint and charming as it twines around the literature that Willa reads. Reviewed by: Polly J. LaMontagne
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 4.9
Clara Lee and the
Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 3.9
After a bad dream, Clara Lee’s grandpa tells her that it was a sign of good luck on the way. He sure was right about that. The day after her dream she got the back seat on the bus, she climbed the rope to the top in gym class, and she found a surprise in her desk. Could her luck continue? She really wants to be Little Miss Apple Pie for the Apple Blossom Festival. However, in order to run for the contest she has to give a speech in front of the whole school. Will luck be on her side in this situation?
This book was not as good as I thought it would be. It was somewhat generic and a little corny, but I'm sure some elementary students (mostly girls) would enjoy it.
Reviewed by: Julie Weideman
My Fake Boyfriend is
Better than Yours by Kristina Springer
Interest Level: YA
Reading Level: 4.2
It’s the beginning of seventh grade and Tori Barnes’s best friend, Sienna Baker (a.k.a. Sea), is acting really strange. Sienna went away for the entire summer on a family vacation and came back a totally different person with a tan, hair extensions, and tons of stories about Antonio, the new boyfriend she met while in Florida. However, Tori knows that Sienna is lying about Antonio. Tired of hearing all about the perfect “boyfriend” of Sienna’s, Tori decides to come up with a fake boyfriend of her own to constantly talk about. This works well for Tori until the truth might come out and she faces being ostracized by everyone.
This book was a fun read. The author was very clever and humorous throughout the storyline with a good moral at the end. It’s always better to be yourself than to pretend to be what you are not.
Nothing by Teller
Interest Level: YA
Reading Level: 8.7
“Nothing matters. I have known that for a long time. So nothing is worth doing. I just realized that.” That is what Pierre Anthon announces the day that he walks out of his classroom and doesn’t come back. After enduring his harassment from a tree every day as they walk to the school, the rest of his classmates reach their breaking point and are determined to prove Pierre Anthon wrong and forever shut him up. They start meeting at the abandoned sawmill and agree that they must find meaning in life and show it to Pierre. From this, the “Heap of Meaning” is born. As they take turns demanding each other’s most prized possessions to be added to the pile, their demands become more and more personal and unspeakable. How far will their requests go? And will Pierre Anthon ever acknowledge the meaning they have created?
This Danish (translated into English) adolescent novel was disturbing and fascinating at the same time. It really made me dig deep and question what really is “meaningful” in life and attempt to determine what was really “meaningful” to these kids. A fresh and eye-opening read that kept me turning the page.
Reviewed by: Tiffany L. Braunel
Peak by Roland Smith
Interest Level: YA
Reading Level: 5.4
Peak is an action packed book about Peak Marcello's climb to the top of Mount Everest. After Peak gets into deep trouble climbing skyscrapers in New York City, his biological father arrives on the scene to whisk Peak out of the country. Peak and his mountain-climbing father head to Mount Everest. If Peak can make it to the top of the mountain, he'll be the youngest person to accomplish this difficult feat. Peak describes the hair raising events in journals written for his teacher.
My first thought was that this book would be a good one to recommend to boys, although many girls would find it interesting, too. The author describes mountain climbing in such vivid detail that I would be surprised if he hadn't actually climbed the mountain himself.
Reviewed by: Polly J. LaMontagne