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Unit 2: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Click here or to the right to read about contemporary realistic fiction for adolescents. Especially note the criteria for selecting contemporary realistic fiction (p. 137).

Note, too, these themes that are often used in contemporary realistic novels for young adults:
  1. overcoming fear and accepting responsibilities (p. 125)
  2. understanding families, divorce, and adoption (p. 126)
  3. finding friends: relationships, alienation, and a sense of belonging (p. 127)
  4. accomplishing goals in sports (p. 128)
  5. developing and maturing (p. 128)
  6. finding romance (p. 129)
  7. coping with violence, crime, alcohol, and drug abuse (p. 129)
  8. living with physical and mental disabilities (p. 130)
  9. coping with death, disease, accidents, and suicide (p. 131)
  10. developing sexual relationships (p. 132)
  11. understanding sexual orientation (p. 132)
  12. understanding the difficulties associated with growing old (p. 133)
  13. living in a global society: prejudice, politics, conflicts, and war (p. 133)
  14. understanding religion and its role in society (p. 134)

Bang (2017) by Barry Lyga

Click here or below for the reading schedule for this book.
Check out this Twitter exchange between author Barry Lyga and me!
See also these additional resources for Bang:

The Hate U Give (2017) by Angie Thomas

Click here or below for the reading schedule for this book.
See also these additional resources for The Hate U Give:

The Truth of Right Now (2017) by Kara Lee Corthron

Click here or below for the reading schedule for this book.
See also these additional resources for The Truth of Right Now:
Check out this Twitter exchange between author Kara Lee Corthron and me!