Realistic Fiction

Two Degrees – Read It and Rate It

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Two Degrees by Alan Gratz Realistic Fiction Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “Two Degrees” follows three distinct storylines of young people facing the devastating immediate effects of climate change: Akira battling a massive wildfire in California, Owen and George escaping starving polar bears on the melting Canadian tundra, and Natalie struggling to survive a catastrophic hurricane in Miami. Though separated by vast distances, their harrowing survival experiences ultimately connect them and … Read more

Wrong Way Home – book review

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The Wrong Way Home By Kate O’Shaughnessy Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Frankie (Fern) and her mom (Jamie) live in an “off-the-grid, self-sustaining community” run by Dr. Ben. On the “Ranch” they eschew technology and practices that are harmful to the Earth, and chemicals that are bad for the environment. They grow their own food and make their own clothes – all under Dr. Ben’s guidance. Fern worships Dr. Ben and when … Read more

Partition Project – book review

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The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Maha is initially unenthusiastic when her Dadi (grandmother) comes from Pakistan to live with their family in the US. Not only does she have to give up her bedroom and move into the attic, but since Maha’s parents are both very busy (dad is a doctor and mom is a nutritionist) they make Maha responsible for Dadi – she is supposed … Read more

Miles Away from You – book review

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Miles Away from You by A. B. Rutledge LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Miles and Vivian were brilliant together. They created a website that attracted millions of creative, artistic people like themselves, and they were so very, very in love. But then Vivian tried to kill herself by taking too many pills and she wound up in a coma – neither dead nor alive. Her ultra-conservative parents swooped in and … Read more

How to Draw a Secret – book review

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How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Based on Cindy Chang’s experiences growing up, “How to Draw a Secret” follows the story of a single-parent Chinese/Taiwanese family living in California. Cindy is the youngest in her family and has two older, college-age sisters. Their mom has been their sole caretaker since their baba moved back to Taiwan “for work.” Actually, Cindy isn’t sure … Read more

Bliss Adair and the First Rule of Knitting – book review

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Bliss Adair and the First Rule of Knitting by Jean Mills Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Bliss Adair is an accomplished knitter as well as a math wiz. She spends a lot of time helping out at her folks’ yarn store, which puts her in the unfortunate position of hearing something she shouldn’t and now wishes she didn’t know. When she connects that piece of information with an acquaintance at school, … Read more

Meet Me on Mercer Street – book review

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Meet Me on Mercer Street by Booki Vivat Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Kacie goes away for the summer and when she comes home to Mercer Street she discovers her best friend Nisha has moved away and Nisha’s dad’s convenience store has been turned into a fancy modern Smart shop. Kacie is an artist and is constantly drawing what she sees, so she documents a lot of what’s going on … Read more

Focused – book review

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Focused by Alyson Gerber Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Clea is finding it hard to focus and she’s falling behind in school and having problems at home, too. Her folks take her to see a specialist who diagnoses her with ADHD. While Clea isn’t thrilled with the assessment, she also starts seeing the benefits of getting treatment/help. She starts taking medication to help her concentrate, learns strategies to help her cope, and … Read more

Sunny Makes Her Case – book review

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Sunny Makes Her Case by Jennifer & Matthew Holm Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sunny is now in high school and is discovering her interests. She and a friend try out for cheerleading (not really what Sunny wants to do, but she wants to be with/support her friend). She doesn’t make the squad. When another friend, Arun, starts complaining about how their school is too focused on sports and sports … Read more

Labors of Hercules Beal – book review

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The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt Realistic Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Hercules Beal has already been through a lot in his young life. He and his older brother Achilles recently lost their parents in an accident and Achilles has moved back home to run the family business (Beal Brothers Nursery) – leaving behind a career he loved writing stories for National Geographic. One of the changes Hercules experiences … Read more