Contemporary Realistic Fiction Books
Contemporary Realistic Fiction Books
A Bad Case of Stripes
By: David Shannon
A Bad Case of Stripes was written by David Shannon. This book is a contemporary realistic fiction because it is based on a girl who goes to school, but she ends up getting the stripes. This makes the story realistic, yet still a fiction novel. The main character Camilla, is faced with a decision in the novel to choose what she loves, or choose something based on what others will think of her. In the beginning, Camilla is shown as a girl who is anxious about her first day back at school. She cares a lot about first impressions, and wants to make her first impression great. Soon after, she is cursed with a case of the stripes which no one can seem to cure. Her trait of determination is shown in the last scene when the older woman comes to help cure her. The woman offers Camilla lima beans and at first Camilla declines. After she declines, she changes her mind because after all the many cures she has tried and tested, she keeps trying new cures because of her determination in getting better. The lima beans end up curing her, and she does not care about what people think of her and her love for lima beans anymore. This determination in Camilla is one of her best traits shown throughout the books.
Shannon, D. (2011). A bad case of stripes. New York: Scholastic.
Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark
By: Ridley Pearson
Kingdom Keepers was written by Ridley Pearson. This novel takes place at the Disney World parks in Orlando Florida. This novel won the sunshine state young readers award for third grade to fifth grade students in the 2008-2009 school year. This is a realistic fiction because a real theme park is described in the book and the characters are depicted as realistic. In the book, the characters in the park come to life at night when the tourists are gone, but the kingdom keepers have to fight to keep the Disney villains in the park without destroying the park itself. This children's thriller is a great book for students in the age range from 9-12. The main character's name is Finn Whitman. Finn has characteristics of a leader. He is smart, determined, and honest. In the novel, when all the kingdom keepers find clues in the park to determine what the over-takers have in plan, Finn steps up to lead the others and help them solve the case. His leadership qualities are the best characteristics in him. He is a born leader, and is willing to fight to keep the Disney villains from winning.
Pearson, R. (2005). Kingdom keepers: Disney After Dark. New York: Disney Editions.