EDC-243 test #3 vocab

what is realistic fiction?

stories that could happen in real life, with characters, settings, and events that feel believable to readers

values of realistic fiction

helps children relate to characters like themselves, explore new experiences, and learn positive ways to handle real life conflicts

subjects of r.f. - family life 

focuses on family relationships, showing everyday challenges, responsibilities, and how family members support one another

subjects of r.f. - growing up, coming of age

peer relationships, emotional changes, physical changes

subjects of r.f. - survival

nature, inner city reality, dangerous world

subjects of r.f. - school

explores common challenges children face with friends, responsibilities, and growing independence 

subjects in r.f. - cognitive and developmental conditions

help readers understand experiences of people with ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, hearing/vision loss, developmental differences

subjects in r.f. - cultural immersion

highlights diverse cultures within our country, showing what makes each unique/connects everyone

people as individuals, not stereotypes

male/female, individuals who are physically different/disability, elderly

animal stories

shows animals acting like real animals, not people; match what we know about their real behavior, teaches kids to care about animals in a simple/honest way

mysteries

lets children follow clues, think creatively, see that they can solve problems using own ideas/observations

sports

fair play, teamwork, facing fears, handling challenges, often including family relationships and personal growth: matt christopher, chris crutcher

humor

real life situations can be funny/helps children see that life is not always serious 

challenging perspectives of realistic fiction

teachers can use r.f. if it fits students ages/needs choosing stories that are meaningful/handling sensitive topics with care/understanding

walter award

annual award, recognizes diverse books for teens (13–18) and young readers (9–13), eligible works must be by a diverse author, feature diverse characters or themes, and be originally published in english/available in the U.S.

censorship

specific content is removed from a book, but the book itself is still in use, minus the controversial content

banning

entire book is removed from circulation

challenging

when protestors complain about a book. Action may or may not be taken

who initiates challenges?

board/admin, librarians/teachers, political groups, students

self-censorship

librarians play it safe by not choosing library books that have been challenged elsewhere. The goal is to avoid controversy.

reasons for censorship 1960’s - 1970’s

religion (evolution), politics (communism vs. capitalism), profanity, race

reasons for censorship in the 1980’s - 1990’s

sex, profanity, race

reasons for censorship in the 2000’s 

aids, climate change, inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, profanity, race

banned books week 

started in 1982, annual event sponsored by the ALA office for intellectual freedom, the national council

of teachers of english, the national coalition against censorship, and the people for the american way

ronald dahl- censorship

2023 changes made to his books where publishers altered or removed words to make the language more modern and sensitive, sparking debate about editing classic literature

dr. suess censorship

decision in 2021 to stop publishing six books because they contained racist or insensitive imagery, leading to debates about censorship and how to handle outdated content in children’s literature

cultural representation debate

whether an author must belong to a culture to portray it—raised when ezra jack keats, a white author, depicted a black main character in the snowy day.

historical fiction

story is set in the past and includes accurate historical details, even though the characters and events may be partly or entirely fictional

authenticity

The degree to which a book accurately represents the time period, including setting, customs, culture, language, geography, and social conditions

historical accuracy

the inclusion of verifiable facts about the time period—such as real events, accurate cultural practices, and correct historical details

historical fiction characters

characters may be fictional, real historical figures, or both. their actions, speech, beliefs, and attitudes must fit the historical time period.

historical fiction POV

the perspective from which the story is told. Many historical fiction books use first-person POV to make the historical experience feel personal

themes in historical fiction

explore universal human experiences—struggle, justice, survival, identity—showing connections between past and present

social context in historical fiction

historical and cultural environment influencing the characters’ actions, including norms, values, conflicts, and societal expectations of the time

historical narrative

story that blends historical fact with creative storytelling to help readers experience life during a specific period

biographical fiction

subgenre of historical fiction based on a real person’s life, but with fictionalized dialogue, events, or scenes

multicultural/global perspectives

historical stories representing diverse cultures, places, and viewpoints, emphasizing historically marginalized or underrepresented voices

time slip fantasy

story in which a character from the present moves to the past or experiences another historical era. not fully historical fiction but uses historical settings.

primary sources in historical fiction

original materials (letters, photographs, diaries, newspaper articles) used by authors to research and accurately portray historical settings and events.

secondary sources in historical fiction

books, articles, and analyses written after historical events that help authors understand the broader context and details of the time period.

historical perspective

understanding the values, beliefs, and worldview of people from the past without judging them solely by today’s standards.

anachronism

detail—object, phrase, behavior, technology, attitude—that does not belong in the story’s historical period. Well-written historical fiction avoids these errors.

values of historical fiction

helps children understand the past, builds empathy, shows social change, connects past and present, encourages critical thinking, makes history engaging

how has realistic fiction changed since the 1960’s?

Before 1960: Focused on stable, traditional, white, middle-class families.

After 1960: Became more diverse, reflecting the changing and complex lives of people in the U.S. and beyond.

how do you evaluate realistic fiction?

1. Realism – Characters, events, and settings feel believable.

2. Relatable Characters – Kids can connect; individuals, not stereotypes.

3. Themes & Values – Family, school, growing up, survival, problem-solving, empathy.

4. Diversity – Reflects different families, cultures, abilities, and global perspectives.

5. Accuracy – Animals, sports, and mysteries are realistic; avoids exaggeration.

6. Engagement – Age-appropriate, interesting, and encourages thinking or humor.

eisner award

recognizes the best comic books distributed in the united states each year

youth media awards

ALA awarded for books, video, and other outstanding material for children and teens

coretta scott king award 

recognizes African American authors and illustrators of children's/young adult lit., celebrating works that reflect the African American experience/ universal human values. given annually

jane addams childrens book award

recognizes children's books of literary/aesthetic excellence that engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, equity for all people. given annually

schneider family award

depicts children with disabilities through illustrations, recognizes excellence in literature that portrays the disability experience for youth, honoring authors and illustrators across three categories: Younger Children, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. given annually

reading literature (RL) standards 

RL.1 — Cite textual evidence to support analysis

RL.2 — Determine theme and summarize the text

RL.3 — Analyze how characters respond to events or conflicts

RL.4 — Determine the meaning of words, figurative language

RL.5 — Analyze structure (chapters, scenes, stanzas)

RL.6 — Analyze point of view and perspective

RL.7 — Use illustrations or multimedia to understand a text

RL.9 — Compare themes, characters, and stories across texts

RL.10 — Read and comprehend complex texts independently

writing standards

W.1 — Write arguments with clear reasons and evidence

W.2 — Informational/explanatory writing (character/theme analysis)

W.3 — Narrative writing

W.4 — Produce clear and organized writing

W.9 — Draw evidence from literature for analysis

speaking and listening (SL) standards

SL.1 — Engage in collaborative discussions

SL.4 — Present information clearly

SL.6 — Adapt speech for various contexts

language standards

L.4 — Determine meaning of unknown words

L.5 — Interpret figurative language and word relationships

L.6 — Use academic vocabulary