# Realistic Fiction books assigned in US schools

**135** books in the Realistic Fiction genre that US schools assign. Sourced from state ELA standards, AP/IB syllabi, and Common Core exemplar lists.

**Lexile range:** 360L–890L
**Grade span:** 2–10
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/genre/realistic-fiction
**Wikipedia (entity):** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(arts)
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Recurring themes

- family (29)
- friendship (24)
- identity (18)
- family life (11)
- schools (11)
- grief (8)
- courage (7)
- bullying (6)
- dogs (6)
- humor (6)

## Authors in this genre

- Betsy Cromer Byars (3)
- Gordon Korman (3)
- Jason Reynolds (3)
- Jerry Spinelli (3)
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (3)
- Alan Gratz (2)
- Beverly Cleary (2)
- Dan Gemeinhart (2)
- Jewell Parker Rhodes (2)
- Jordan Sonnenblick (2)

## Realistic Fiction titles

- [101 Ways to Bug Your Parents](https://readinglist.school/book/101-ways-to-bug-your-parents) by Lee Wardlaw _(Grades 4–6)_
- [A Boy Called Bat](https://readinglist.school/book/a-boy-called-bat) by Elana K. Arnold _(Grades 3–5)_
- [A Boy Named Queen](https://readinglist.school/book/a-boy-named-queen) by Sara Cassidy _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Albert](https://readinglist.school/book/albert) by Donna Jo Napoli _(Grades 3–5)_
- [All About Sam](https://readinglist.school/book/all-about-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6)_
- [All the Money in the World](https://readinglist.school/book/all-the-money-in-the-world) by Bill Brittain _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Alligator Sue](https://readinglist.school/book/alligator-sue) by Sharon Arms Doucet _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Amal Unbound](https://readinglist.school/book/amal-unbound) by Aisha Saeed _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret](https://readinglist.school/book/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret) by Judy Blume _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Attaboy, Sam!](https://readinglist.school/book/attaboy-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Ava and Pip](https://readinglist.school/book/ava-and-pip) by Carol Weston _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Avalon High](https://readinglist.school/book/avalon-high) by Meg Cabot _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job](https://readinglist.school/book/baby-sitting-is-a-dangerous-job) by Willo Davis Roberts _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Backlash](https://readinglist.school/book/backlash) by Sarah Darer Littman _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Ban This Book](https://readinglist.school/book/ban-this-book) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Big Ben](https://readinglist.school/book/big-ben) by David Harry Walker _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Black Brother, Black Brother](https://readinglist.school/book/black-brother-black-brother) by Jewell Parker Rhodes _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Blubber](https://readinglist.school/book/blubber) by Judy Blume _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Boy at War](https://readinglist.school/book/boy-at-war) by Harry Mazer _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Call Me Hope](https://readinglist.school/book/call-me-hope) by Gretchen Olson _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Class Clown](https://readinglist.school/book/class-clown) by Johanna Hurwitz _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Clayton Byrd Goes Underground](https://readinglist.school/book/clayton-byrd-goes-underground) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Counting by 7s](https://readinglist.school/book/counting-by-7s) by Holly Goldberg Sloan _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Crenshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/crenshaw) by Katherine Applegate _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Dear Mr. Henshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-mr-henshaw) by Beverly Cleary _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Do Bananas Chew Gum?](https://readinglist.school/book/do-bananas-chew-gum) by Jamie Gilson _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Dogtown](https://readinglist.school/book/dogtown) by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life](https://readinglist.school/book/dork-diaries-tales-from-a-not-so-fabulous-life) by Rachel Renée Russell _(890L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Dress Coded](https://readinglist.school/book/dress-coded) by Carrie Firestone _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Drive-By](https://readinglist.school/book/drive-by) by Lynne Ewing _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie](https://readinglist.school/book/drums-girls-and-dangerous-pie) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Duke](https://readinglist.school/book/duke) by Kirby Larson _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Eight Keys](https://readinglist.school/book/eight-keys) by Suzanne M. LaFleur _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Ellie's Story](https://readinglist.school/book/ellies-story) by W. Bruce Cameron _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Ferris](https://readinglist.school/book/ferris) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Flying Solo](https://readinglist.school/book/flying-solo) by Ralph J. Fletcher _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Forged by Fire](https://readinglist.school/book/forged-by-fire) by Sharon M. Draper _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Fourth Grade Rats](https://readinglist.school/book/fourth-grade-rats) by Jerry Spinelli _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Front Desk](https://readinglist.school/book/front-desk) by Kelly Yang _(640L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Fudge](https://readinglist.school/book/fudge) by Charlotte Towner Graeber _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Genesis Begins Again](https://readinglist.school/book/genesis-begins-again) by Alicia D. Williams _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Ghost](https://readinglist.school/book/ghost) by Jason Reynolds _(730L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Ghost Boys](https://readinglist.school/book/ghost-boys) by Jewell Parker Rhodes _(360L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Henry Reed's Babysitting Service](https://readinglist.school/book/henry-reeds-babysitting-service) by Keith Robertson _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Here Comes the Garbage Barge](https://readinglist.school/book/here-comes-the-garbage-barge) by Jonah Winter _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Hoot](https://readinglist.school/book/hoot) by Carl Hiaasen _(760L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Hope in the Valley](https://readinglist.school/book/hope-in-the-valley) by Mitali Perkins _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Hostage](https://readinglist.school/book/hostage) by Willo Davis Roberts _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World](https://readinglist.school/book/ida-b-and-her-plans-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster-and-save-the-world) by Katherine Hannigan _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Invisible Isabel](https://readinglist.school/book/invisible-isabel) by Sally J. Pla _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Jelly Belly](https://readinglist.school/book/jelly-belly) by Robert Kimmel Smith _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Jonathan Livingston Seagull](https://readinglist.school/book/jonathan-livingston-seagull) by Richard Bach _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Lawn Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/lawn-boy) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Loch](https://readinglist.school/book/loch) by Paul Zindel _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Look Both Ways](https://readinglist.school/book/look-both-ways) by Jason Reynolds _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Loser](https://readinglist.school/book/loser) by Jerry Spinelli _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Lulu's Mysterious Mission](https://readinglist.school/book/lulus-mysterious-mission) by Judith Viorst _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All](https://readinglist.school/book/magnolia-wu-unfolds-it-all) by Chanel Miller _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Math Curse](https://readinglist.school/book/math-curse) by Jon Scieszka _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Mick Harte Was Here](https://readinglist.school/book/mick-harte-was-here) by Barbara Park _(Grades 5–8)_
- [My Dog, My Hero](https://readinglist.school/book/my-dog-my-hero) by Betsy Cromer Byars _(Grades 3–5)_
- [My Explosive Diary](https://readinglist.school/book/my-explosive-diary) by Emily Gale _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Night of the Twisters](https://readinglist.school/book/night-of-the-twisters) by Ivy Ruckman _(Grades 3–6)_
- [No Talking](https://readinglist.school/book/no-talking) by Andrew Clements _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Orbiting Jupiter](https://readinglist.school/book/orbiting-jupiter) by Gary D. Schmidt _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Pie in the Sky](https://readinglist.school/book/pie-in-the-sky) by Remy Lai _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Posted](https://readinglist.school/book/posted) by John David Anderson _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Prisoner B-3087](https://readinglist.school/book/prisoner-b-3087) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Project Mulberry](https://readinglist.school/book/project-mulberry) by Linda Sue Park _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Ramona's World](https://readinglist.school/book/ramonas-world) by Beverly Cleary _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Romiette and Julio](https://readinglist.school/book/romiette-and-julio) by Sharon M. Draper _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Ruby Lost and Found](https://readinglist.school/book/ruby-lost-and-found) by Christina Li _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Rules](https://readinglist.school/book/rules) by Cynthia Lord _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Save Me a Seat](https://readinglist.school/book/save-me-a-seat) by Sarah Weeks _(780L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Saving Winslow](https://readinglist.school/book/saving-winslow) by Sharon Creech _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Saving Zasha](https://readinglist.school/book/saving-zasha) by Randi G. Barrow _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Say What?](https://readinglist.school/book/say-what) by Margaret Peterson Haddix _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Schooled](https://readinglist.school/book/schooled) by Gordon Korman _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Secrets of My Hollywood Life](https://readinglist.school/book/secrets-of-my-hollywood-life) by Jen Calonita _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Secrets of the Mummies](https://readinglist.school/book/secrets-of-the-mummies) by Shelley Tanaka _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Sharing Susan](https://readinglist.school/book/sharing-susan) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Shiloh](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(890L · Grades 3–6)_
- [Shiloh Season](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh-season) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Shoeshine Girl](https://readinglist.school/book/shoeshine-girl) by Clyde Robert Bulla _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You](https://readinglist.school/book/sixth-grade-can-really-kill-you) by Barthe DeClements _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe](https://readinglist.school/book/smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-maybe) by Jo Watson Hackl _(Grades 4–7)_
- [So B. It](https://readinglist.school/book/so-b-it) by Sarah Weeks _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Stand Up, Yumi Chung](https://readinglist.school/book/stand-up-yumi-chung) by Jessica Kim _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Star in the Storm](https://readinglist.school/book/star-in-the-storm) by Joan Hiatt Harlow _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Stargirl](https://readinglist.school/book/stargirl) by Jerry Spinelli _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Stepping Up](https://readinglist.school/book/stepping-up) by Mark Fink _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Striped Ice Cream](https://readinglist.school/book/striped-ice-cream) by Joan M. Lexau _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Stuck in Neutral](https://readinglist.school/book/stuck-in-neutral) by Terry Trueman _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Stuntboy, In-Between Time](https://readinglist.school/book/stuntboy-in-between-time) by Jason Reynolds _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Surviving the Applewhites](https://readinglist.school/book/surviving-the-applewhites) by Stephanie S. Tolan _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Tangerine](https://readinglist.school/book/tangerine) by Edward Bloor _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Boy at the Back of the Class](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boy-at-the-back-of-the-class) by Onjali Q. Raúf _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Boys Start the War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boys-start-the-war) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(Grades 3–8)_
- [The Cat Ate My Gymsuit](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cat-ate-my-gymsuit) by Paula Danziger _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Computer Nut](https://readinglist.school/book/the-computer-nut) by Betsy Cromer Byars _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Cybil War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cybil-war) by Betsy Byars _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Fourteenth Goldfish](https://readinglist.school/book/the-fourteenth-goldfish) by Jennifer L. Holm _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Ghost Inside the Monitor](https://readinglist.school/book/the-ghost-inside-the-monitor) by Margaret Jean Anderson _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Girl Who Could Fly](https://readinglist.school/book/the-girl-who-could-fly) by Victoria Forester _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Gollywhopper Games](https://readinglist.school/book/the-gollywhopper-games) by Jody Feldman _(Grades 3–8)_
- [The Honest Truth](https://readinglist.school/book/the-honest-truth) by Dan Gemeinhart _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The Lemonade War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lemonade-war) by Davies, Jacqueline _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Perfect Score](https://readinglist.school/book/the-perfect-score) by Rob Buyea _(Grades 3–8)_
- [The Pinballs](https://readinglist.school/book/the-pinballs) by Betsy Cromer Byars _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise](https://readinglist.school/book/the-remarkable-journey-of-coyote-sunrise) by Dan Gemeinhart _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The Secret Funeral of Slim Jim the Snake](https://readinglist.school/book/the-secret-funeral-of-slim-jim-the-snake) by Elvira Woodruff _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants) by Ann Brashares _(Grades 7–10)_
- [The Strange Case of Origami Yoda](https://readinglist.school/book/the-strange-case-of-origami-yoda) by Tom Angleberger _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Stranger Next Door](https://readinglist.school/book/the-stranger-next-door) by Peg Kehret _(Grades 3–8)_
- [The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman](https://readinglist.school/book/the-tenth-mistake-of-hank-hooperman) by Gennifer Choldenko _(Grades 6–9)_
- [The Thing About Leftovers](https://readinglist.school/book/the-thing-about-leftovers) by C.C. Payne _(Grades 4–7)_
- [The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street](https://readinglist.school/book/the-vanderbeekers-of-141st-street) by Karina Yan Glaser _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Togo](https://readinglist.school/book/togo) by Robert J. Blake _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Touching Spirit Bear](https://readinglist.school/book/touching-spirit-bear) by Ben Mikaelsen _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Trading Places with Tank Talbott](https://readinglist.school/book/trading-places-with-tank-talbott) by Dori Hillestad Butler _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Tucky Jo and Little Heart](https://readinglist.school/book/tucky-jo-and-little-heart) by Patricia Polacco _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Ungifted](https://readinglist.school/book/ungifted) by Gordon Korman _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Unplugged](https://readinglist.school/book/unplugged) by Gordon Korman _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Verdi](https://readinglist.school/book/verdi) by Janell Cannon _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Walk Two Moons](https://readinglist.school/book/walk-two-moons) by Sharon Creech _(770L · Grades 5–7)_
- [Weslandia](https://readinglist.school/book/weslandia) by Paul Fleischman _(Grades 3–8)_
- [When Zachary Beaver Came to Town](https://readinglist.school/book/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town) by Kimberly Willis Holt _(Grades 2–8)_
- [When the Wolves Returned](https://readinglist.school/book/when-the-wolves-returned) by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Who Needs a Bratty Brother?](https://readinglist.school/book/who-needs-a-bratty-brother) by Linda Gondosch _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Wild Wings](https://readinglist.school/book/wild-wings) by Gill Lewis _(Grades 4–6)_
- [You Are Here: Connecting Flights](https://readinglist.school/book/you-are-here-connecting-flights) by Ellen Oh _(Grades 3–6)_
- [You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye](https://readinglist.school/book/you-shouldnt-have-to-say-goodbye) by Patricia Hermes _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Zach's Lie](https://readinglist.school/book/zachs-lie) by Roland Smith _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Zen and the Art of Faking It](https://readinglist.school/book/zen-and-the-art-of-faking-it) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 2–8)_
- [¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat](https://readinglist.school/book/vamos-lets-go-eat) by Raúl the Third III _(Grades 2–8)_

---

_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. JSON API: https://readinglist.school/api/genre/realistic-fiction · HTML view: https://readinglist.school/genre/realistic-fiction._