Contemporary Realistic Fiction

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Contemporary Realistic Fiction

• Christina Broyles
• Lori Menzel
• Jen Roberts
• Theresa Spicer

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Contemporary Realistic Fiction uses plots,
themes, settings, and characters to mirror
todays world with all of the problems,
situations, and challenges that many young people
face daily.
Today CRF are young adult books which address a
wide range of themes

• Religion
• Sexuality
• sexual orientation
• Ethnicity
• Concern for the future

Buchner, K, Manning, M (2005). Young adult
literature Exploration, Evaluation, and
Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Prentice Hill.
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Dresand (1999) stated that these books are now
breaking boundaries and using topics, certain
types of characters, and styles of language that
were once prohibited.

• Themes- According to Jordan (1995), Dresand
  (1999), Aronson (2001)
• Contemporary Realistic Fiction
• take settings, characters, and plot from real
  world and change the
• randomness of the world into meaningful
  patterns
• mirror the real world and the moral and ethical
  dilemmas that young
• people face
• are believable
• exhibit the literary qualities (plot, setting,
  characters, point of view, theme,
• and style) of good fiction
• comment on the human condition
• are direct and often intense or extreme

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• Contemporary Realistic Fiction
• Definition  Titles dealing with the todays
  problems and joys of living.  Often there is an
  element of character growth or self-realization.
  The titles can promote tolerance and
  understanding of others and their experiences. It
  "extends children's horizons by broadening their
  interests, allowing them to experience new
  adventures and showing them different ways to
  view and deal with conflicts in their own lives"
  (Through the eyes of a child (2003), p. 363)

Glaister, Huston, Rodemond, Fowler, 2003,
http//www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genres.ht
ml
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Contemporary Realistic Fiction stories that
take place in the present time or recent past and
portrays attitudes of present culture.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction stories may
include funny, happy times, but also includes
some of the unpleasant times which are part of
childrens lives. CRF may focus on current
issues of alcoholism, racism, poverty, and
homelessness.
Lynch-Brown, C., Tomlinson, C. (2005).
Essential of childrens literature 5th edition.
Boston, MA Allyn and Bacon.
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References
Buchner, K, Manning, M (2005). Young adult
literature Exploration, Evaluation, and
Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice
Hill.
Glaister, B., Huston, B., Fowler, L.(August
2003). Our favorite childrens and young adult
authors. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
Curriculum Laboratory Web site
http//ww.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genres.htm
l
Lynch-Brown, C., Tomlinson, C. (2005).
Essential of childrens literature 5th edition.
Boston, MA Allyn and Bacon.