One characteristic is that they often deal with real - life situations that students can relate to, like friendship issues. For example, in 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants', the girls face problems in their relationships with each other. Another is that they usually have believable characters. In 'The Hunger Games' - although it has some dystopian elements, the characters' emotions and reactions are very real, which can be relevant for school - age readers. Also, they may touch on important social issues, like bullying in 'Thirteen Reasons Why' (while this book has some controversy, it does address the issue of bullying in a school setting).
One great book from 1960 could be 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It's a powerful story that deals with themes like racial injustice and moral growth through the eyes of a young girl in a small southern town.
Some popular ones are 'Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White. It tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider, Charlotte. Another is 'Because of Winn - Dixie' by Kate DiCamillo. It's about a girl and her dog, and how the dog helps her make friends in a new town.
One great high school realistic fiction book is 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green. It tells the story of two teenagers with cancer who fall in love. Another is 'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson, which deals with a girl's struggle to find her voice after a traumatic event. 'Thirteen Reasons Why' by Jay Asher is also popular, exploring the reasons behind a teen's suicide.
Another is 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio. This book follows Auggie, a boy with a facial deformity, as he enters middle school. It deals with themes of kindness, acceptance, and friendship in a very relatable way for middle schoolers.
One great one is 'The Outsiders' by S. E. Hinton. It tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with class differences and gang rivalries. Another is 'Wonder' by R. J. Palacio, which is about a boy with facial differences entering middle school. 'Bridge to Terabithia' by Katherine Paterson is also excellent. It deals with friendship and loss in a very moving way.
They can help students understand real - life situations better. For instance, books about friendship in elementary school realistic fiction can teach kids how to interact with others.
For middle school, 'The Hunger Games' trilogy can be used. It shows a post - apocalyptic world where teenagers face difficult situations, and there are themes of survival, power, and sacrifice. 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio is also great. It focuses on a boy with a facial deformity and how he navigates through school and society, teaching about acceptance and kindness. And 'Hatchet' by Gary Paulsen, which is about a boy's survival in the wilderness, can also be used to teach about self - reliance in a realistic - fiction context.
Sure. 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry is a great choice. It presents a seemingly utopian but actually dystopian society in a very realistic way, making students think about freedom and individuality. 'Hatchet' by Gary Paulsen is also good. It shows a boy's struggle for survival in the wilderness, which is a very real - life situation that can engage middle - school students. Another one is 'Freak the Mighty' which deals with friendship between two boys with different abilities.