Kids Realistic Stories

Looking for a real-life story? Something that is a bit more relatable, then have a look through our Realism List. We’ve selected some of the best in the genre just for you.

Updated June 6, 2023
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Tribal lores
Fusillo, Archimede
A moving and explosive tale about what happens when tradition and the need to belong collide. Frankie Rescio is struggling with the death of his sister. Next door, Lochie Marsh is about to have his world invaded by his estranged, pregnant half-sister and her layabout boyfriend...
Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face--who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that inspired the Choose Kind...
Tim & Tigon
Cope, Tim
Adventurer Tim Cope had a childhood dream: to travel the 10,000 kilometres from Mongolia to Hungary on horseback - a journey undertaken centuries ago by the legendary leader of the Mongols, Genghis Khan. On this journey, Tim met a dog called Tigon. For more than three years, Tim and Tigon endured...
Pirate boy of Sydney town
French, Jackie
The little wave
Harry, Pip
When a Manly school sets out to bring a country class to the city for a beach visit, three very different kids find each other and themselves. Noah is fearless in the surf. So where does his courage go when his best mate pushes him around? Lottie loves...
A different land
Jennings, Paul
A story of new beginnings in a new land, and a surprising, heartwarming companion to A Different Boy and A Different Dog.
A different boy
Jennings, Paul
A fantastic new Paul Jennings story, full of twists and turns, following the fortunes of a boy boarding a ship and leaving his past behind.
Eventown
Haydu, Corey Ann
Kirkus Best Books of 2019 * Kids' Indie Next Pick List * Bookpage Best Books of 2019: Middle Grade "Beautiful, mysterious and deeply satisfying." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me and Goodbye Stranger The world tilted for...
The January stars
Constable, Kate
This thoroughly enjoyable novel about two sisters determined to help their grandfather will delight middle fiction readers of all ages. From the author of the bestselling and much-loved novels Crow Country & Cicada Summer.
Little bird flies
McCombie, Karen
Can Bridie escape her quiet island home and allow her wild dreams to take flight?
Help around the house
Gleitzman, Morris
*SHORTLISTED - REAL Children's Choice Awards 2019 *NOTABLE BOOK - CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2019 Ludo helps other people. It's how he was brought up. When Dad is elected to Federal Parliament, Ludo grabs the chance to make Australia an even better...
Rooftoppers
Rundell, Katherine
Farmer boy
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.  ...
The Parker Inheritance
Johnson, Varian.
Blended
Draper, Sharon M.
Eleven-year-old Isabella's blended family is more divided than ever in this thoughtful story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper. Eleven-year-old Isabella's parents are...
Paper planes
Worland, Steve.
Sunflower
Laguna, Ingrid
Eleven-year-old Jamila is settling into her new life in Australia, along with Mama, Baba and baby Amir. Jamila and her new best friend, Eva, sing side by side in the choir at school, and have picnics together on the weekend. One day, Jamila gets some exciting news - her oldest friend from Iraq, Mina...
The battle of book week
Temple, Kate
Alice Toolie - seriously famous Youtootuber - and her best enemy Jimmy Cook are back to fight another day in a whole new chapter of adventures from the CBCA award-winning writers of the Captain Jimmy Cook Discovers series.
Kristy's big day
Martin, Ann M.
When her mother gets married, Kristy and the other members of the Baby-sitters Club have their hands full taking care of fourteen children at the wedding.
How to be the best
Barkla, Charlotte
I'm Edie and I'm obsessed with science. So I was sure that Annie B and I would win the Eco Fair competition. Then Dean Starlight arrived and started sabotaging our project. Now the competition has become an epic science battle of robotic spider attacks,...
What stars are made of
Allen, Sarah
A Mighty Girl Best Book of 2020! From debut author Sarah Allen comes a pitch-perfect, heartwarming middle grade novel about growing up, finding yourself, and loving people with everything you're made of. Twelve-year-old Libby Monroe is great at...
Respect : the Walter Tull story
Morgan, Michaela
The remarkable story of footballing star and war hero Walter Tull is brought to life in this brand-new edition of a Barrington Stoke bestseller. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+ Tully and his brother don't have much. But they do have each other...
What Zola did on Monday
Marchetta, Melina
Zola loves living on Boomerang Street with her mum and her nonna. Every day of the week is an adventure. But Zola has a problem. No matter how much she tries, she can't keep out of trouble! Seven stories in the series - one for every day of the week.
Everything I've never said
Wheeler, Samantha
Ava would like nothing more than to tell her family she loves them, particularly her big sister, Nic. But Ava has Rett syndrome - she can't talk, can't nod her head, can't even point at a communication card. She understands everything, but no one understands her. When tragedy strikes...
Just under the clouds
Sarno, Melissa
Can you still have a home if you don't have a house? In the spirit of The Truth About Jellyfish and Fish in a Tree comes a stunning debut about a family struggling to find something lasting when everything feels so fleeting. Always think in threes and you'll never...
Our race for reconciliation
Heiss, Anita
Mel Gordon loves running, and watching Seinfeld, but mostly she loves Cathy Freeman. It's 2000 and the Olympics are going to be held in Australia. In a year of surprises, Mel finds out that Cathy Freeman is coming to talk to her school. And her family is heading to Sydney! It becomes an...
How to write the soundtrack to your life
Hardy, Fiona
Maybe he just likes you
Dee, Barbara
2019 The Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year (Erin Entrada Kelly Pick) A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book "The novel's all-too-familiar scenario offers a springboard for discussion among middle schoolers...Easily grasped scenarios...
The undoing of Arlo Knott
Child, Heather
'Brilliantly twisty, thought-provoking stuff - such enjoyable reading' Jenny Colgan 'A moving time-slip romance . . . The Undoing of Arlo Knott is a triumph' Guardian WHAT IF YOUR LIFE HAD AN 'UNDO' BUTTON? Arlo Knott develops the...
Girls, guys and choc-cherry pies
Badger, Meredith
Girl vs. the World is a fun, true-to-life series about navigating high school, first crushes, and the ups and downs of adolescence. Leni has so many questions about growing up. And it seems the biggest ones are about herself ... ...
From the desk of Zoe Washington
Marks, Janae
#1 Kids Indie Next List * Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Junior Library Guild Selection * Edgar Award Nominee * Four Starred Reviews * Bank Street Best...

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