5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and Services for Children discussion

Reading Responses 9 (Wk12): Realism 

Part 1: Add 1 contemporary realistic fiction books you selected to read to the Goodreads group bookshelf. You do not need to add Black Brother, Black Brother, which is already on the bookshelf.

Note: You may not be able to add a book, if the book has already been added to the group bookshelf by another student. In this case, add the title information to your post.

Part 2: Write on the realistic fiction books you selected to read BESIDES Black Brother, Black Brother. 

1. A citation for the book in APA format.

2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences.

3. Your response to these questions: Does the book honestly portray the realities of life for today’s children? In your opinion, how real should a children’s book be? In other words, are children harmed or helped by reading a realistic portrayal?

Your answer to #3 should be about 100 words in length. 

Yee, L. (2022). Maizy Chen’s last chance. Random House.


Maizy and her mom relocate from LA to Last Chance, Minnesota where Maizy becomes close with her grandparents and learns about the history of her family.

‌As Maizy navigates a temporary relocation from Los Angeles to a small town in Minnesota she faces some realities of today’s world. Her grandfather’s stories teach her about historical injustices suffered by her Chinese immigrant ancestors, but she also learns firsthand that racism and prejudice still exist, even in people who would seem to be upstanding citizens. The book masterfully treads a fine line between exploring difficult themes within social and emotional realism and being a somewhat gentle read. I don’t think children are harmed by realistic portrayals of difficult subjects in fiction, but I think it is appropriate to postpone particularly gritty realism until children are developmentally ready for it.

1.Rauf, O. (2018). The boy at the back of the class. Delacorte Press.

2. Why is the new kid Ahmed so quiet? Follow a group of friends as they learn more about their new classmate and their work to help him.

3. I think this book portrays the feelings of both refugee children and children who want to help them well. I imagine many refugee children still go through similar processes of adjusting to their new country. I also imagine many children want to help their new classmates in any way possible. I think it is okay for children’s books to be real to a certain point. It is okay to talk about difficult topics with kids but it is not okay to give all the gory horrific details. That can come later. I think books like these can help children going through similar situations feel less alone, and give other children a broader view of the world.

1.
Rivers, K. (2016). The girl in the well is me . Scholastic.
2.
Kammie is the new girl in town, and she longs to be one of the popular girls to fit in; however, there is a slight problem. During her "initiation" into the club, she falls down a well and is waiting to be saved. In her delirium, she imagines a coyote and a goat in a cold, dark well, going over the best and worst moments of her life.
3.
I think Kammie shows real feelings of panic and wanting to fit in with the popular girls in a very real way. Being a new girl is hard, but being labeled as weird at 11 can be rough. Kammie was prepared to be in a group with the meanest girls in school to fit in. Cutting her hair, going to a well, and other trials of the other girls wanting to be mean to Kammie. It's important for books to be real, when that is the point with children. This way they can relate to the characters with situations going on in their lives or feelings. I think it does depend on who is reading the book; for some, it's completely fine to read real books with hard themes, but for others, it may take a gentler touch to usher them into harder subjects that revolve around real issues. So I think it's ok for children to read real books when they are ready, and the caregivers are ready for the conversation. I don't think it harms them but helps them define what they are feeling or how others could be feeling based on different perspectives.

Fipps, L. (2021). Starfish. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Starfish by Lisa Fipps tells the story of Ellie, a young girl who faces bullying and struggles with self-acceptance due to her weight. Through poetry, she finds her voice and begins to stand up for herself.

Starfish offers an honest portrayal of the challenges children face, particularly around body image, bullying, and self-acceptance. Such realistic depictions in children’s literature can validate their experiences and foster empathy among peers. Children benefit from books that reflect real-life issues, as they can provide both understanding and coping strategies. While some might argue that shielding children from harsh realities is protective, I believe realistic portrayals are more helpful than harmful when approached thoughtfully. Stories like Starfish encourage resilience and empower young readers to embrace their individuality and seek support when needed.

Larson, K., & Wyatt, Q. (2024). Gut reaction. Scholastic Press.

Tess Medina is struggling with the loss of her dad and blames her stomach pains on that grief; however, her pain, emotional and physical, becomes something she has to face if she wants to compete in her dream baking competition.

Gut Reaction honestly portrays the realities of life for today’s children, specifically those with a chronic illness. Tess battles Crohn’s disease and describes details of her emotional and physical pain that make the story memorable and compelling. A children’s book must be able to connect with readers and although the term “children” encompasses a wide age range, all ages benefit from realistic childhood experiences within the safety of books, helping them face similar moments in life with confidence and not fear or loneliness. Even if they never experience what it was they read about, children will leave the text with empathy for others who do and schemata for optional responses.

Miller, J. (2023) Rare birds. Union Square Kids.

Eleven-year-old Graham has spent a lot of time in hospital waiting rooms due to his mom’s heart condition. But when they travel to Florida for a life-saving transplant, he meets fellow hospital kid Lou, and they set off on the birding adventure of a lifetime.

I think this book does accurately describe life for children and families dealing with severe health issues. Graham only has his mom as his father has already passed away, and he takes on both a lot of responsibility and worry for his mom. He doesn’t get a lot of time to make friends or be a kid. I think children can handle quite a lot of reality depending on the way it’s presented. Ultimately, I think it’s important for children to be able to find books that they can relate to and see themselves in. Every child may not have a parent waiting for a heart transplant, but many children may have a parent or family member with cancer or any other type of health issue. I think that children that are going through serious life experiences deserve literature that helps them process that.

1. Baskin, N.R. (2009). Anything but typical. Simon & Shuster.

2. Jason Blake is twelve years old, and he is autistic, learning how to navigate school, friends, and family.

3. This story is told from the first-person point of view, and it was eye-opening for me. I have no idea, and will never fully know, the challenges and frustrations that someone with autism faces. This book does a great job of portraying those things. I think it would be a great book for older children to read. It is my opinion that in the case of this book, it would greatly benefit the children who read it. If they are better able to understand the perspective of a child like Jason, they can be more compassionate and understanding and even foster friendships.

Rules

1. A citation for the book in APA format.


Lord, C. (2006). Rules. Scholastic Press.




2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences.


Catherine is a 12 year old with and autistic brother and she tries to teach him to be “normal”. She makes some great new friends and realizes that normal is not really a thing anyways.


3. Your response to these questions: Does the book honestly portray the realities of life for today’s children? In your opinion, how real should a children’s book be? In other words, are children harmed or helped by reading a realistic portrayal?


This novel accurately portrays how during the preteen stage of life many children think that there are simple answers to life’s more complicated problems. The thinking pattern of Catherine and her friends is realistic. Although the portrayal of her autistic brother is an abnormal presentation of a mix of independence and dependence, it still conveys the difficulties of having a life that depends heavily on how a family member is doing. It is realistic enough to be very relatable. I think that children are helped by having realistic portrayals, especially ones that have been slightly exaggerated to make them easier to understand like this one. It gives them modeling on how they can tackle problems of their own. I think that this is a helpful genre and I am sure that is part of why it is the most popular one in children’s literature.

The Season of Styx Malone

Magoon, K. (2018). The season of Styx Malone. Wendy Lamb Books.

Two brothers, Caleb and Bobby, embark on an unexpected summer adventure when they befriend an enigmatic teen named Styx Malone. The experiences challenges their views on friendship, family, and the risks of growing up.

"The Season of Styx Malone" offers a realistic picture of life for many children. This is seen especially in terms of the complexities of family dynamics, the challenges of adolescence, and the push and pull between childhood innocence and the desire for independence. The book explores themes of friendship, trust, and identity—elements that are familiar to many young readers, even if the specifics of the story (such as the particular setting or adventure) are more unique.
In my opinion, a children's book should strike a balance between realism and imagination. Children benefit from realistic portrayals because they can see their own experiences reflected, helping them understand their emotions and the world around them. However, this doesn't mean every aspect of the story must be a direct reflection of reality. Sometimes a book that introduces fantastical elements or exaggerates situations can provide valuable lessons in ways that are just as meaningful.
Ultimately, realistic books can help children navigate their own lives by providing examples of problem-solving, resilience, and empathy, but they also need to offer hope, joy, and escape. It’s about fostering understanding without overwhelming or burdening young readers. When done thoughtfully, realistic portrayals can be more empowering than harmful, offering kids tools to process their own feelings and experiences.

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. Amulet Books.

In his diary, Greg Heffley shares his awkward journey through middle school, navigating friendships and family drama. When he and his best friend Rowley have a falling out, Greg faces a tough choice to save their friendship.

This book brings humor to issues that real life middle schoolers often face. While some events are dramatized, middle schoolers themselves often see their world in a heightened way. In my opinion, there’s a delicate balance in how closely a children’s book should mirror reality. Realistic portrayals can help children relate to others' experiences or reflect on their own, while also showing them truths about the world. In books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the blend of reality and humor helps make these lessons enjoyable and easy to understand.

Ramona Forever
Cleary, B. (1984). Ramona forever. New York: Morrow.

A lot of big things are happening to Ramona Quimby, such as her older sister becoming a teenager, a brand-new uncle, possibly moving away, and a new baby sibling. Ramona must work through all these big things while finding her way through third grade.

While Ramona Forever was written and published in the 1980s, it can read like it takes place during the 2020s. I feel like this book can portray the realities of todays children. Most children could relate to any of the events that Ramona experiences in the book. Some children may experience seeing their older siblings growing and changing, a family member getting married, possibly (or actually) moving because of a parent’s job or there being a new a baby in the house. One experience that Ramona and her older sister, Beezus, face is coming home from school and find their elderly cat has died in his sleep. Both Ramona and Beezus are shocked and then decide to bury the cat in the backyard before their pregnant mother comes home, so that their mother is not stressed out about the cat. Ramona and Beezus’ parents take the time to talk to both girls and treat the girls their age. I believe that book should be able to help children with how the family is portrayed. Ramona Forever could show children what different life experiences they may experience growing up and what different families are like.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
1. Citation
Robinson, B. (1988). The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Harper.

2. Annotation
The annual church Christmas Pageant never changes, until it does, following the involvement of the town menaces, the Herdmans. The story of the Christ child is all new to them and with their fresh perspective comes a new appreciation for the meaning of Christmas.

3. Response
This book portrayed a reality that is all too real for a lot of children. Through the Herdmans we see the effects of benign neglect by the adults in their life and the emotional poverty that has spilled out in the form of bullying, destruction, and theft. I think that children’s books should be as real as children’s realities, short of details that would be age inappropriate. Unfortunately, some children experience horrible things, so a somewhat “tame” portrayal of these situations may inform them about how to handle said situations. For more sheltered children, realistic fiction can give them an avenue to explore unfamiliar situations and themes in a safe setting.  

1. O'Neill, D. (2019). Saturday at the food pantry. Albert Whitman & Company.

2. Molly and her mother face financial hardships and make their first trip to the food pantry. Although the overall mood is somber throughout the food pantry, Molly and her friend brighten their day by gifting drawings.

3. This book portrays the reality for many children who are a part of a family that experiences financial hardships. It highlights the unfortunate negative stigma of people that need to access food pantries or other services that are available for those with low income. Even though this was the reality for the family in the story, Molly remained positive despite the circumstances she faced. The book shares these concepts in a way that can be relatable to children who may experience similar events in their life, as well as teach those that do not to act with empathy. I believe children’s books can have realistic features and provide valuable lessons for young readers.

Camp Prodigy

Caroline, P. (2024). Camp prodigy. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Tate attends a summer camp for young musicians and meets Eli, the person who first inspired Tate to pick up the viola. Together they practice music, deal with feelings of anxiety and inadequacy, and bond over their nonbinary identities.

This book reflects feelings that many kids can relate to: feeling inadequate in comparison to their peers, wanting to improve at something they love to do, and coming to grips with their own identity both internally and externally. Gender nonconforming children can also feel more assured of their own feelings by seeing how Tate and Eli express themselves within the story. It is valuable for stories to be realistic so that readers can be exposed to perspectives of others and learn from them. This allows kids to gain understanding about other gender identities and potentially learn more about themselves as well as the people around them.

Starfish

Fipps, L. (2021). Starfish. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Ellie has always tried to live by her ‘Fat Girl Rules’, but no matter how strict she sticks to them, it doesn’t seem to matter if she’s still ‘fat’. When she’s finally had enough, she must learn how to be confident in herself, her body, and her ability to stick up for herself.

In a society that has a beauty standard of ‘thin’, I do believe this book portrays the realities of life for plus size children. As someone who grew up overweight and struggled with being confident in my body,, I would have loved to find myself represented in Ellie. Getting to read the internal thoughts of Ellie and how she develops into someone who is confident in their body and self and can stick up for herself, is something that I think could help a lot of children going through the same struggles she does. I think children’s books should be real enough to give children a realistic understanding of the world, but I definitely think that it should do so in a way that is age-appropriate. Each child will have different tolerances for things, so taking every child into consideration when recommending realistic fiction is essential.

Roller Girl

1. Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller girl. Dial Books for Young Readers.

2. Twelve-year-old Astrid’s dreams of attending a summer roller derby camp with her best friend Nicole come to a screeching halt when Nicole chooses to attend dance camp instead. Committed to roller derby, Astrid must learn to navigate a track fraught with tough teammates, evolving friendships, and complex emotions.

3. Astrid is in a tough, transitional period between elementary school and junior high. While she drifts away from her childhood best friend, Nicole, she finds a new friend in Zoey. She experiences complex, confusing emotions, while she learns how to become less self-centered and more of a true teammate. She is far from perfect, but she positively represents an honest portrayal of reality for many children today. Such a portrayal offers children an important opportunity to gain an outside perspective on how to navigate similar challenges while also encouraging empathy for others. In this way, works of realistic fiction such as Roller Girl serve as beneficial learning experiences for readers.

1.

Clements, A., & Selznick, B. (1998). Frindle. Aladdin Paperbacks.

2.Nicholas (or Nick) Alan begins the story transitioning from fourth grade to fifth grade. Nick quickly realizes that fifth grade will bring more work than previous years and learning more vocabulary from the dictionary than before. Nick has always been somewhat of a class clown. Frindle is about his about the adventure of his fifth-grade year.

3.While being sort of a silly story, Frindle does showcase some pretty accurate elements of a child's school life. It highlights the emotions kids may feel each year moving up a grade level and it is getting more challenging. It also highlights creativity that kids have. It also shows the impact of peer pressure. Just by making his own decision Nicholas is able to get a whole group to follow him with his new silly word. Personally, I think it is helpful for books to contain realistic elements because it makes it more interesting for the reader by giving them something that can relate to. It can also be helpful because it can help the reader possibly process different emotions by showing that they are not alone in how they are feeling.

Schmidt, G. D. (2023). The Labors of Hercules Beal. Clarion Books.

A year in the life of twelve-year-old Hercules Beal finds him struggling with, among other things, recovering from the recent loss of his parents, changing schools, his relationship with his brother, friends and much more. A beautiful story of perseverance and resilience and the power of love.

I would say this book very honestly portrays reality, and this shows in a few different ways. Early on, I was struck by the matter-of-fact style of the prose itself, but when I thought about it, I think that’s perfectly characteristic of the way a 12-year-old boy would tell a story. The events of the story and the way the characters respond are realistic as well. While I think there is definitely a place for fantasy and for books where everything goes “right”, I believe there is a great need for books where the characters face really tough times. One of the best things about books is that they give readers the chance to partially experience difficult situations without suffering the consequences, and lets them explore possible responses and outcomes. Children in particular have less life experience than adults, and books are a safe way for them to explore how they might feel and respond to adversity.

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie


1. Sonnenblick, J. (2005). Drums, girls, & dangerous pie . Scholastic Press.

2. Steven Alper is a 13-year-old boy confronted with all of the usual struggles of entering young adulthood. When his younger brother's cancer diagnosis gets thrown into the mix, he is forced to confront the reality that not everything is under his control.

3. This book accurately portrays the awkward discomfort of coming into your teenage years. Steven loves to play the drums and has a crush on a girl. His life, for all intents and purposes, is normal. Everything changes, however, when his younger brother is diagnosed with cancer. While not every family experiences this specific hardship, all young people have experiences at home that challenge their identity in the world. We see Steven frequently confronted with his goals of being young and normal and his need to show up for his family. I believe this story is realistic to the hardships that many students will face throughout their childhood without over-dramatizing or graphically depicting any of the realities of cancer that would be harder for a child to stomach.

1. Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

2. Stanley Yelnats is sent to a juvenile work camp after being convicted of a crime he didn't commit. He has to learn how to navigate his new normal as he digs holes and tries to stay out of trouble.

3. I think that Holes is an excellent story that has many elements of truth in it. While the story as a whole is quite unbelievable, many of the characters and their experiences are very real and lived in. Stanley's unlikely friendship with Zero and his parents' dedication to ensuring the safety of the boys at the camp are high points in the story. Children's literature should reflect the experiences of children, and while it may make us uncomfortable to think about, many children live unspeakably difficult lives, and reading literature that better represents their story might make them feel less alone.

Spinelli, J. (2002). Loser. HarperCollins.

Loser follows the enthusiastic life of Zinkoff, who clumsily is making his way through school. While many don't know how to understand or control him, Zinkoff finds that his differences are what lead him to becoming a hero without fitting in to others' mold.

3. I think the book does honestly portray many realities of life for today's children. Every child is extremely unique and their learning styles and characteristics don't always mirror those around them. Like the character in this book, some kids don't fit in and don't have that desire to fit into what others want from him. Working in an elementary library, I see kids like this everyday, who are unapologetically them. I think a children's book should be as real as necessary for that individual story. I think books for kids are a way to escape reality and use their imagination to experience crazy beautiful adventures while also learning lessons. However, books can also be a tool of relatability and give those lessons in a more direct way that create a sense of belonging with the material itself. I think realistic fiction is a great tool.

"So if our classroom is the place where we spend most of our days, why wouldn't we want to make it like a home in many ways".

The book does a really good job in portraying the reality of life for children. As a teacher myself, spending 8 hours a day with students, you do start to get the sense of a small community or family. This book shows that family is not only those who are related to you by blood, but family could be your close friends to. Understanding what the meaning of family is can show that teachers and admin are also family. I think that a story like this is good for children to see another side of things.