Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction: The Pros and Cons

“Realistic fiction is realistic n the sense that the setting, characters, and events are plausible-they reflect contemporary places, peoples, and situations. Yet, these stories are fiction because the characters and events did not really happen even though many authors write stories based on their own childhood experiences”

–The Joy of Children’s Literature

Pros

·        Portrays the real world and realities of life to help children understand human problems and relationships.

·        Helps children see the world from an alternative perspective.

·        Children can feel more “normal” in the sense that they learn that other people have the same problems as them.

·        Allows children to experience the events and interactions that the characters encounter.

Cons

·       Authors do not write with a moral or lesson in mind for the book. They allow the readers to think for themselves.

·       In order to reveal a realistic problem, it sometimes portrays bias and stereotyping in the text.