MG Realistic Fiction Gems
There’s something about certain realistic fiction novels that hit you right in the solar plexus. It’s not a fantasy that you can escape to, knowing that, as intense as it might be, it’s just pretend. It’s not a mystery where things will be neatly tied up by the detective at the end. It could be a story about your neighbor, your family, about you. Here are four gems I’ve read recently that I hope you will check out too.
Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane (2018)
A sweet story of a kid feeling lost and finding his place. Charlie’s parents are always traveling and leaving him with his inattentive grandparents. When a woman tries to communicate with him in sign language, he is compelled to figure out what she is saying and what she needs. He meets Frog, a Deaf kid who dreams of being a detective. She is delighted to have a mystery to solve. Together they get to the bottom of the puzzle and Charlie gets a found family.
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King (2022)
Mac’s sixth-grade English class is reading The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolan. But their copies have certain words blacked out. Mac and friends investigate what the school is keeping them from reading and start a campaign to replace the censored books with the complete text. A great book for budding activists, especially in this time of expansive book bans.
Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani (2024)
This book is a companion novel to The Night Diary. Amil and his family fled Pakistan during Partition and have settled in India. But the new place still feels unfamiliar to 12-year-old Amil. His sister encourages his drawing, which he loves. His relationship with his father is challenging but new friends give Amil fresh perspectives to see his family and his new country.
The Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy (2024)
Fern finds life on the Ranch comforting and predictable. When her mom forces them to run away in the middle of the night, she’s confused. Why would they leave this great place? Her mom insists that life outside is better. Fern remains skeptical and figures out ways to get back to the life she’s always known. A remarkable look at what life in a cult might feel like for a young person.