Realistic Fiction: Stories That Could Happen

Realistic fiction tells made-up stories that could happen in real life.

Realistic fiction stories are invented, but everything in them could actually happen. The characters are ordinary people, often kids, who face everyday problems: moving to a new school, a fight with a best friend, a new sibling, trying out for a team, or dealing with a loss. There's no magic, no talking animals, and no time machines.

Readers often love realistic fiction because they recognize themselves or their friends in the characters. For example: 'Jonah has stuttered since he was little. When his teacher asks him to give a speech at the science fair, he must decide whether to hide or to speak up. ' Nothing in that summary is impossible, which makes it realistic fiction.

A good test: if you could imagine this story happening at your school or on your street, it's probably realistic fiction.

• 1Realistic fiction is made up but could really happen.
• 2Characters face everyday problems.
• 3No magic, talking animals, or impossible events.