Contemporary+Realistic+Fiction

Collins, Y., & Rideout, S. (2005). //Introducing vivien leigh reid daughter of the diva.// New York: St. Martin's Griffin.


 * Genre:** Realistic Fiction


 * Intended Audience:** Ages 12 - 15


 * Personal reaction to the book: Vivien Reid, naturally academically gifted, is forced to visit with her actress mother in Ireland for the summer. While Leigh sees the time as her mother making up for abandoning her and her father when she was three, unexpected opportunities arise. Vivien, more commonly known as Leigh, is given a chance to play a small role in a movie in which her mother is the star. Getting a chance to star with an attractive Hollywood star, Sean, sweetens the deal, and life in rainy Ireland is starting to brighten.

Having also looked down on her mother for her seemingly flighty career, the time spent together shows Leigh there is more to acting, and her mother, that meets the eye. While their relationship is not perfect, Leigh catches insights into her mother that gives her a deeper connection.

Despite the slow start to the novel, young girls will enjoy reading about Leigh and her chance at fame. Leigh's humor shines through the plot, and readers laugh out loud at the antics and sarcastic combacks to her mother that Leigh concocts. In the beginning, the characters seem shallow and difficult to relate to, however, as Collins continues the story, the characters grow on the reader and they look forward to what new mess Leigh can manage to find herself in. **


 * Author Facts: As teenagers, Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout met while working in the public library in Toronto. Yvonne and Sandy attended college together at the University of Toronto. Yvonne majored in Criminology and Sandy majored in English Literature. Together they have written eight different books.

Related Websites: http://www.collinsrideout.com/index.html

**** Hiaasen, C. (2002). //Hoot.// New York: Random House.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Intended Audience: Ages 12 - 15

Personal Reaction to the book: Roy Eberhardt has moved all over the country. Since his dad keeps getting promoted, Roy is always the new kid at school. So, he is not surprised when bully Dana Matherson, chooses him to be the new target. What he is not expecting, as his face is pressed up against the bus window by Dana's hand, is to see a young boy who is running without shoes as fast as he can. Roy decides he needs to find out what the boy's story is. The boy is up to no good, or so Roy thinks. The boy, also known by Roy as Mullet Fingers, is trying to stop Mother Paula from building another pancake house on top of some endangered owls. Roy questions the idea of when is doing something wrong the right thing to do. Roy believes in his heart the owls need to be saved, but will he be strong enough to do the wrong thing at the right time?

I expected a fast paced novel based on the movie premiers that have aired recently. However, I was sorely mistaken. The novel, while well written, is slow in the beginning. Once the reader is informed of all the perspectives, the story starts to come together. The theme of doing what is right, even when it is not popular is evident throughout the book. Readers will enjoy the antics that Roy and Mullet Fingers are involved in while trying stop the groundbreaking of Mother Paula's pancake house.

Author Facts: Carl Hiassen writes for //The Miami Herald// where he is proud of the fact that he has angered most people in South Florida at one point in his career. // Carl Hiassen's first individual novel, ////Tourist Season//, was written in 1986. Hiassen's novels have been published in 34 different languages.

Related Websites:** @http://www.carlhiaasen.com/index.shtml @http://www.miamiherald.com/424

Zindel, P. (1968). //The Pigman.// New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Intended Audience: Ages 15 and up
 * Genre: Realistic Fiction

Personal Reaction to the book: Lorraine and John are both high school students at Franklin High. They are unlikely friends. John being attractive and able to use his looks to his advantage, while Lorraine is a heavier girl who lacks confidence. However, the situation with Mr. Pignati, also known as Pigman, bonds them together. It all begins when Lorraine called Mr. Pignati as a prank call to see how long she could keep him talking. The prank takes a different turn when John gets Mr. Pignati to donate money to a fake charity. Both Lorraine and John visit Mr. Pignati, and soon realize he wants the company. He invites them over to his house, buys them food, and visits the zoo with them. Throughout the story, Lorraine and John realize they have become closers friends with each other, as well as with Mr. Pignati. So when they are upset when they take his hospitality to the limit and hurt his heart, in more ways than one.

My favorite part of Zindel's book was the fact he switches back and forth from John's to Lorraine's perspective of the story. I think the switching of perspectives kept the book at a fast pace and the reader interested.

Author Facts: Paul Zindel was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was fifteen. Paul majored in Chemistry at Wagner College. Paul Zindel based his character John in //Pigman// after a boy who was found trespassing on a castle where he was living.

Related Websites:** @http://www.paulzindel.com/ @http://www.notablebiographies.com/We-Z/Zindel-Paul.html


 * [[image:outsiders.jpg width="162" height="162" align="left" caption="Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-S-E-Hinton/dp/073933901X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264285626&sr=8-6"]]Hinton, S. E. (1967). //The Outsiders.// New York: Penguin Group.

Genre: Drama and Realistic Fiction

Intended Audience: Ages 14 -18

Personal Reaction to the book: //The Outsiders// takes a close look at two different social classes, the "Greasers" and the "Socials," better known as "Socs." The Greasers were from the wrong side of town, and were looked down upon for causing trouble and being poor. The Socs were from the West Side, or the richer side of town. These were the kids who had everything at their fingertips that money could buy. It was not uncommon for Greasers and Socs to have fights to show their worth. However, one of the rumbles go too far, and a Soc named Bob is killed by Johnny, a Greaser, who is trying to keep them from drowning Ponyboy. This incident forces Ponyboy to look at the Socials in a new light. First with hatred, and then with understanding, when he realizes regardless of what side of town you are from, everyone has problems and needs to learn how to deal with them.

I enjoyed this book because it shows a connection between to very different social classes. It was easy for the reader to see that both classes had problems that they needed to deal with. While the beginning of //The Outsiders// showed the unfair treatment they received from the Socs, by the end, the reader has a little more compassion for the Soc because, just like the Greasers, they want to be loved.

Author Facts: //The Outsiders// was S. E. Hinton's first book and was published in 1967. Hinton writes her stories first, and then types them on a computer. Besides young adult literature, Hinton has also written children's books, such as //Big David, Little David,// and //The Puppy Sister.//

Related Websites:** @http://www.sehinton.com/ [| http://www.theoutsidersbookandmovie.com/]

Kerr, M. E. (1972). //Dinky hocker shoots smack.// New York: HarperTempest.

Intended Audience: Ages 15 and above
 * Genre: Realistic Fiction

Personal Reaction to the book: This is one story where the title does not make sense until the very end of the story. In the beginning, Tucker meets Dinky, also known as Susan, when he is forced to give his cat away. This unfortunate event leads Tucker to Natalie, a girl who has some mental illness and is living with Dinky's family. These three young adults form an interesting friendship. Tucker is attracted to Natalie, while Dinky continues to eat more and more, to try to get her mother's attention. Natalie rhymes when she is nervous, but Tucker has the ability to make her feel comfortable with herself as well as him.

The parents in the story do not understand Tucker and Natalie's relationship, while Dinky loses her heart to P. John, a boy in Tucker's class who speaks his mind. P. John is the first person to see the real Dinky, and not as her parents see her. Throughout the story, Natalie, Tucker, and Dinky, learn about themselves and the need to have someone understand who they really are.

Overall, I found this story interesting because as I was reading the chapters, I kept waiting to find out that Dinky was doing drugs. I was interested to see how the topic of drugs was covered. I enjoyed the ending because it shows Dinky using smack in an unique way to get her mother's attention. The ending of the book was a fairly happy one, which also made this emotional book, a little easier to bear.

Author Facts: M. E. Kerr books have been published in twelve different languages. M.E. Kerr has written under several different names, such as Ann Aldrich, Mary James, and Vin Packer. She wrote //Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack// after she read //The Pigman// by Paul Zindel.

Related Websites:** @http://www.mekerr.com/

Rylant, C. (1992). //Missing May.// New York: Orchard Books.


 * Genre:** Realistic Fiction


 * Audience:** Ages 14 and above

However, one day May dies and Summer and Ob are left to survive without her. Ob doesn’t want to go on without May, which leaves Summer very scared because if Ob decides to give up, where does that leave her? Ob is all Summer has left. Through the help of a very eccentric boy, Cletus, Summer and Ob go on to see if they can find May’s spirit. While they are unsuccessful in locating May, Summer realizes Ob and May will always live in her heart. They both start to take steps to living life without May. Young adults are exposed to many different types of tragedy. It could be the death of a friend or loved one. Rylant skillfully describes the pain of losing a loved on, but also shows the reader there is hope and they will walk through the trial a stronger person.
 * Personal Reaction:** Summer’s parents die when she was young, and as a result was passed around to different family members until May and Ob decide she needs some one to love her. Summer spends the next years being surrounded by love. Though they did not have money, Summer, Ob, and May did have an abundance of love.


 * Author Facts:** Rylant’s first book was published in 1982 and was called //When I Was Young in the Mountains.// Cynthia’s favorite thing to do is to go to the movies in the afternoon. Cynthia worked in a library where she loved reading children’s books.

http://www.wvwc.edu/lib/wv_authors/authors/a_rylant.htm
 * Websites:** http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-rylant-cynthia.asp


 * [[image:die.jpg width="98" height="153" align="left" caption="Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=before+I+die&x=0&y=0"]]Downham, J. (2007). //Before i die.// New York: Random House.

Genre: Realistic Fiction Intended Audience: Ages 16 and above

Personal Reaction to the book: This book is about 16 year old Tessa who has cancer. The disease has progressed so far there is only a short time before she dies. Tessa has decided she will not live the short time she has left lying in bed. She decides to create a list of ten things to do before she dies. This list includes having sex for the first time, doing drugs, becoming famous, and falling in love. Tessa's crazy best friend Zoey wants to be with her when she completes her list. However, Zoey's priorities change when she becomes pregnant.

Downham describes Tessa's realistic feelings of anger, fear, and disappointment that she experiences. Tessa tries to accomplish her list, while her father just wants to keep her safe. The feelings of loss of control are evident throughout all of the characters. Zoey feels them when she becomes pregnant, Tessa's family feels them when the treatments dont' work anymore, and Tessa's boyfriend feels them as he has to watch her die. While Tessa completes almost everything on her list, the reader is heartbroken when they read about a young woman who wasn't read to leave this world.

The only part of this book that was hard to get used to was the language. This book is set in England, and a lot of English vocabulary and slang was used. Once the reader become used to the wording, the book becomes an enjoyable one. Author Facts: It took Jenny Downham two and a half years to write //Before I die.// One item on her Before I Die list is to get her children a pet rabbit that she has promised them. One of her favorite memories is when she was allowed to check out //To Kill A Mockingbird// at a young age, even though it was for older readers. The librarian had told her she had picked good books.

Related Websites:** http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-downham-jenny.asp

Anderson, L. H. (2009). //Wintergirls.// New York: Viking.
 * [[image:wintergirls.jpg width="168" height="168" align="left" caption="Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wintergirls&x=0&y=0"]]

Genre: Realistic Fiction Intended Audience: Ages 16 and above

Personal Reaction to the book: //Wintergirls// is about Lia, a teenage girl who fights a daily battle with anorexia. She and her best friend Cassie pride themselves on being "Wintergirls" or the skinniest girls in the school. They will do anything to achieve the status of skinniest. They will starve themselves or even spend hours exercising in the middle of the night. After Cassie's death, Lia's anorexia worsens because now she sees Cassie's ghost. Cassie is trying to get her to die even quicker. Lia continues to starve herself and exercise obsessively. Lia's family tries to help, but it isn't until Lia almost kills herself that she realizes she doesn't want to be a wintergirl, she just wants to live.

This novel is a very emotional novel. It was hard to read and realize the pain Lia and Cassie went through, as well as millions of teenage girls today, just to reach society's version of perfection. The ending shows that a disease like Anorexia requires a lot of help.

Author Facts: Anderson also writes children's books. She has a series called //Vet Volunteers.// She was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2009. Anderson also wrote the book //Chains// in 2008, which received the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Related Websites:** @http://www.writerlady.com/


 * [[image:funny.jpg width="137" height="137" align="left" caption="Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=its+kind+of+a+funny+story&x=0&y=0&sprefix=its+kind+of"]]Vizzini, N. (2006). //It's kind of a funny story.// New York: Hyperion Paperbacks.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Intended Audience: Ages 16 and above

Personal Reaction to the book: Craig is a fifteen year old boy who was accepted into Executive Pre-Professional High School, one of the top high schools in Manhattan. He had studied constantly for the past year, just to get in. But once he gets in, he realizes that this is more than he can handle. He stops eating, stops sleeping, and starts smoking pot. He starts to see everything as Tentacles, or pressures of life. He tells his parents he is depressed. They are a supportive family, so they put him on medicine, send him to the doctor, and try to help him through this difficult time.

Finally, Craig realizes he wants to kill himself. He calls a suicide hotline and they tell him to walk to the hospital. Craig voluntarily checks himself into the Adult Psychiatric Ward of the hospital. There Craig spends five days realizing that he needs an Anchor, or a constant in his life. He had forgotten about his love for drawing maps, or as he sees them brain maps. Craig realizes that the pressures at the school are too much and decides to transfer to a school where he can focus on his art.

While this story ends happily, in my opinion, I found that parts of this book seemed unrealistic. For example, a young fifteen year old boy making friends in a Psychiatric Ward seems a little unrealistic. While Craig's problems are real, the pressures of a highly academic high school can cause a lot of pressure, but I wonder if a teenager as depressed as Craig would have the sense to check themselves into a hospital.

Author Facts: Vizzini's work has been translated into seven different languages. He started writing in 1996 for //The New York Press.// Vizzini wrote his first novel, //Be More Chill// while he was in college.

Related Websites:** http://www.nedvizzini.com

Baskin, N. R. (2008). //All we know of love//. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.


 * Genre:** Contemporary Realistic Fiction


 * Ages:** Ages 15 - 18


 * Personal Reaction:** //All We Know of Love// is about Natalie Gordon, a fifteen year old girl. Her mother walked out of the house and never came back. Her most vivid memory of her mother is when she was starting to tell Natty about love. Not knowing what her mother was going to say has haunted her thoughts for the last four years. When a package comes for her with her mother’s return address, she knows she has no other choice. She must go visit her.

Natalie takes a twenty-four hour bus ride down to Florida to find her mom. On the way, her seatmates tell her stories of ways they have been loved and lost love. When Natalie finally reaches her mom, she realizes that her mom loved her in her own way. Natalie learns to love herself and not rely on anyone else’s love.

Teen girls would find this book relative because they are at the age where love becomes a big deal. Some girls might even relate to a member of their family leaving them. Not only does Natalie learn a lesson about herself, she teaches the lessons to the readers as well. Overall, this story is a fun read which teen girls will enjoy.


 * Author Facts:** Nora started writing poetry in 5th grade. She grew up in New York. Nora won “most theatrical” in high school.


 * Websites:** http://www.norabaskin.com/