 |
Realistic stories candidly treat the problems that belong specifically
to young adult's in today's world. Realism introduces young readers
to sibling rivalry, moving, running away, adjusting to a single-parent
family, death, divorce, adoption, drugs, alcohol, puberty, pregnancy,
sexuality, religion, illness, handicaps and suicide.
Examples of Realism by theme include:
Death
- Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia
- Paul Zindel, Pigman
- A Taste for Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith
- Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver
- Of Love and Death and Other Journeys by Isabelle Holland
Sexuality
- Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
- My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel
- Sycamore Year by Mildred Lee
- Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones by Ann Head
Drugs, Alcohol, Teenage Pregnancy, Abortion
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
- My Name is Davy, I'm an Alcoholic - Ann Sneyder
- Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack - M.E. Kerr
- Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones - Ann Head
Handicapped
- Deenie - Judy Blume
- The Swing - Emily Hanson
- I Have a Sister My Sister is Deaf - Jeanne Whitehouse
Peterson
Family Life and Sibling Relationships/Rivalry
- The Pistacchio Prescription - Paula Danzinger
- Nobody's Family Is Going to Change - Louise Fitzhugh
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Judy Blume
- The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo - Judy Blume
- Teacup Full of Roses - Sharon Bell Mathis
- A Baby Sister for Frances - Russell Hoban
- The Trouble With Jack - Shirley Hughes
- The Very Worst Monster - Pat Hutchins
- One of Three - Angela Johnson
- Peter's Chair - Ezra Jack Keats
- The Toy Brother - William Steig
Divorce
- Mom, the Wolfman and Me - Norma Klein
- A Girl Called Al - Constance C. Greene
- It's Not the End of the World - Judy Blume
- My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel - Peggy Mann
1. What real life issues were raised in this novel?
2. There are various ways in which young people can seek help to deal with real life issues. What services exist in your community for a young person facing the problems presented in the story? Research places to get information on a specific issue and phone numbers to call in a crisis situation.
3. What steps did the main character in the story take to come to terms with the issues in your book? Write up a chronology from the discovery of the issue to the end result. In your opinion was there a suitable resolution in the end?
4. Do you know anyone who has dealt with a similar issue in his or her lives? What made the story realistic in dealing with issue? What parts of the story seemed unrealistic and why?
5. Write a series of diary entries from the main character’s point of view. Choose a time when the issue(s) they are facing begins to escalate.
|
