Genre Mash: RTW x Realistic

Looking for a grounded, contemporary story to read for Read the World? This list has you covered.

Updated April 14, 2026
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Dana Hall School Librarians
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The girl with the louding voice
Daré, Abi
Paper Book
***Out now: Abi Daré's new novel AND SO I ROAR*** 'Unforgettable' New York Times 'Impressive' Observer 'Remarkable' Independent 'Important' Guardian 'Captivating' Mirror 'Luminous' Daily Mail '...

RTW Africa (Nigeria)

We need new names
Bulawayo, NoViolet
Paper Book
'There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry for my country and nothing is going to fix that' This is the story of Darling, uprooted from her family home by paramilitary police, and living in a...

RTW Africa (Zimbabwe)

One half from the east
Hashimi, Nadia
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia, Thanhha Lai, and Rebecca Stead, internationally bestselling author Nadia Hashimi's first novel for young readers is a coming-of-age journey set in modern-day Afghanistan that explores life as a bacha posh--a preteen girl dressed as a boy. Obayda's...

RTW Asia (Afghanistan)

The bridge home
Venkatraman, Padma
Paper Book
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will...

RTW Asia (India)

The space between us
Umrigar, Thrity N.
Paper Book
"This is a story intimately and compassionately told against the sensuous background of everyday life in Bombay." --Washington Post Book World "Bracingly honest." --New York Times Book Review A beautifully designed Harper Perennial Deluxe Edition of Thrity Umrigar's critically...

RTW Asia (India)

Idol, burning : a novel
Usami, Rin
Paper Book
"Akari's obsession is fatalistic and intense, and Usami's prose (translated by Asa Yoneda) renders it and the hold it has on her tenuous life ably and affectingly. . . . it will especially resonate with readers familiar with real-life superfandoms such as One Direction's at the height of its fame...

RTW Asia (Japan)

My brother's husband
Tagame, Gengoroh
Paper Book
"When a cuddly Canadian comes to call, Yaichi-a single Japanese dad-is forced to confront his painful past. With his young daughter Kana leading the way, he gradually rethinks his assumptions about what makes a family. Renowned manga artist Gengoroh Tagame turns his stunning draftsmanship to a...

RTW Asia (Japan)

Sweet bean paste
Sukegawa, Dorian
Paper Book
  'I'm in story heaven with this book.' Cecelia Ahern, author of P.S. I Love You A charming tale of friendship, love and loneliness in contemporary Japan If you enjoyed We'll Prescribe You a Cat or Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, you'll love Sweet Bean Paste ...

RTW Asia (Japan)

If I had your face : a novel
Cha, Frances
Paper Book
A riveting debut novel set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossible standards of beauty, after-hours room salons catering to wealthy men, ruthless social hierarchies, and K-pop mania   "Powerful and...

RTW Asia (South Korea)

Layers : a memoir
Bagieu, Pe?ne?lope; Kane, Montana
Paper Book
Following the Eisner-award winning Brazen, Pénélope Bagieu pens her first autobiographical work in this hilarious and bitter sweet graphic memoir. Pénélope Bagieu never thought she'd publish a graphic memoir. But when she dusted off her old diaries (no, really--this...

RTW Europe (France)

The love report. 1
Béka
Paper Book
BFFs Grace and Lola try to unravel the mystery of romance with a plan to observe, study, and analyze the ways of love at their middle school in the first book in this addictive graphic novel series. BFFs Grace and Lola talk about everything related to romance--and have lots of...

RTW Europe (France)

No and me
Vigan, Delphine de
Ebook
Lou Bertignac has an IQ of 160 and a good friend called Lucas, who gets her through the school day. At home her father cries in secret in the bathroom and her mother hasn't been out of the house properly for years. But Lou is about to change her life - and that of her parents - for good, all because...

RTW Europe (France)

Conversations with friends
Rooney, Sally.
Paper Book
'A nuanced, page-turning portrait.' Zadie Smith 'Brilliant.' Marian Keyes'A sharp, darkly funny comment on modern relationships.' Sunday Telegraph The critically-acclaimed debut novel from the globally bestselling author of Normal...

RTW Europe (Ireland)

Cross my heart and never lie
Dåsnes, Nora
Paper Book
A gorgeous full-colour coming-of-age novel, perfect for fans of Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Katie Kirby's The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks and The Babysitters Club graphic novels 'READING THIS WAS LIKE A WARM HUG' - ALICE OSEMAN SELECTED BY THE...

RTW Europe (Norway)

Beartown
Backman, Fredrik
Paper Book
Now an HBO Original Series "You'll love this engrossing novel." --People Named a Best Book of the Year by LibraryReads, BookBrowse, and Goodreads From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of...

RTW Europe (Sweden)

My friends a novel
Backman, Fredrik
Paper Book

RTW Europe (Sweden)

Stolen
Laestadius, Ann-Hele?n
Paper Book
* NOW A NETFLIX FILM * AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A spellbinding Swedish novel that follows a young indigenous woman as she struggles to defend her family's reindeer herd and culture amidst xenophobia, climate change, and a devious hunter whose targeted kills are considered mere...

RTW Europe (Sweden)

Tegan and Sara. [1], Junior high
Quin, Tegan
Paper Book
From indie-pop twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara comes their bestselling contemporary middle grade graphic novel about growing up, coming out, and finding yourself through music and sisterhood--perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Sisters and Sweet Valley Twins. ...

RTW North America (Canada)

Laurinda
Pung, Alice
Paper Book
When my dad dropped us off at the front gate, the first things I saw were the rose garden spreading out on either side of the main driveway and the enormous sign in iron cursive letters spelling out LAURINDA. No 'Ladies College' after it, of course; the name was meant to speak for itself.

RTW Oceania (Australia)

Ten things I hate about me
Abdel-Fattah, Randa
Audiobook

RTW Oceania (Australia)

Tiger daughter
Lim, Rebecca
Paper Book
Wen Zhou is determined to create a future for herself that is more satisfying than the life her parents expect her to lead. Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, the CBCA winner Tiger Daughter is a wonderfully compelling and authentic Own Voices novel about growing up Asian in Australia.

RTW Oceania (Australia)


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