ABSTRACT
This chapter defines realistic fiction and explains why it remains a dominant force in literature for young adults. Works of realistic fiction are grouped both by themes and by subgenres. The chapter then focuses on works that explore gender and sexual diversity and cultural diversity in the United States and beyond. It also describes examples of realistic fiction with metafictive characteristics. Realistic fiction does not have to portray the everyday world that most young adults experience, but the elements of a realistic story may well be someone's reality. The two areas of diversity addressed are gender and sexual diversity and cultural diversity. Lastly, the chapter discusses authenticity and accuracy as criteria for selecting realistic fiction for young adults. The chapter discusses realistic fiction for young adults which has been dominant since the 1960s and 1970s.
