EVALUATING CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION

• How does the book honestly portray the realities of life for today's children?




• Does the book illuminate problems and issues of growing up in today's world? What issues does it illuminate?




• Does the story transcend the contemporary setting and have universal implications? What are the universal implications of the story?




• Are the characters convincing and credible to today's child? In what ways?




• Are controversial topics such as sexuality dealt with in an open and forthright way? Offer examples to support your response.




• If violence or other negative behavior is part of the story, does the author provide motivations and show aftereffects? Describe a scene in which the author does or does not do so.




• How does the author avoid stereotyping?




• Does the book truly represent the experience of the culture depicted? Provide support for your answer.




• Does the book help children enlarge their personal points of view and develop appreciation for our ever-changing pluralistic society? How?