Realistic Fiction

This seems to be one of the most popular genres amongst young adults, so it is invaluable to be up-to-date on current books for reader’s advisory purposes. Realistic fiction is sometimes called contemporary realistic fiction (CRF) or modern realistic fiction (MRF). This type of fiction is set in modern times and all of the contents of the story, from the characters to the settings to the events that happen in the plot, are consistent with the real world.

As a librarian, there are some questions that need to be asked to evaluate the merit of realistic fiction for young adults. The answer to the first question determines whether a book is realistic fiction at all, or some other subgenre. Are the contents of the book consistent with lives of contemporary students? An example of asking this question in regards to the characters is to see whether or not the way they dress, the way they talk, and the struggles they face reflect the real world. Other areas of evaluation include whether or not the theme is well developed yet not overly emphasized. Lastly, the subject matter ought to be evaluated for its relevancy to today’s youth.

It is important for librarians to be aware of theses areas of evaluation. The rising popularity of young adult literature has lead to a rise in realistic fiction aimed at young readers. However, just because a book is written for youth, doesn’t mean it is appropriate, relevant, or meaningful to youth. A wise librarian will take these evaluation criteria into mind when selection books for the library and also when deciding which books need to be weeded from the library. Books with preachy themes, unrealistic or dated setting, and topics that do not connect to young readers may need to be removed from the collection.