Selecting+Contemporary+Realistic+Fiction

How might one go about selecting contemporary realistic fiction?
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Added by Audrey Alenson: When selecting contemporary realistic fiction, one should first consider a book’s merit based on the standards of any work of fiction, for instance: Are the characters well drawn? Is the plot interesting and plausible? Is the language rich, interesting and authentic? Realistic fiction is written for children to provide them with ways of understanding the changing, complex world they live in, to broaden their understanding of the lives of others and to give them new ways of understanding themselves. Well-written books in this genre offer more than entertainment, but they also will not be didactic or condescending to children. The author should trust her/his readers to understand the complexity of the story and the possible insights therein, rather than give explicit instruction to the reader. Also, books in this genre may take up controversial topics, and while it’s important not to censure a book for this reason, selection should be made with an awareness of what might be perceived as controversial and an understanding of the book’s potential benefits. Will this book help a child understand that they’re not alone in their experience? Will it help children make choices in their lives? Will this book broaden a child’s understanding of the world and the lives of people beyond their own? Will it help children develop empathy for others or give them a humorous perspective for enjoying life? In developing a collection of realistic fiction, one should also consider the needs of the library’s population -- what stories might help them in their efforts to know more about themselves and about other people's experience in the larger world they inhabit.

Sources Morgan, Mia. //Contemporary Realistic Fiction: Books About Life on Earth as// // Some // // Child Might Know It. // PowerPoint for LBS 803 (Fall 2009).

Temple, Charles, et al. //Children’s Books in Children’s Hands//, 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2006.