Going for the RecordJulie A. Swanson

Abby Catlin

Title: Going for the recordWhat is your book’s genre?Write it here: Realistic Fiction

What is it?In this novel The main character is a star soccer athlete living her dream when her father is diagnosed with cancer.

Example: Breathless bylurlene Mcdaniel

Example: The last song by Nicholas sparks

Example:Dear John by Nicholas sparks

Attribute: The setting makes this book a realistic fiction book because it takes place in modern time and the real world.

Attribute: Because the main characters are normal realistic people that are just living a hard life.

Attribute: This novel is realistic fiction because the plot of this story could actually happen in anyone's life.

“‘Pops? Can I show you some things I

bought at the mall?’ I hand him the

books first.‘One mans story of

bravery and victory,’ Dad reads

aloud.‘Cancer: A guide to

natural self-healing.’ He sets

them down on the coffee table.

‘thanks.’‘hat’s not all, Pops.

I got you some other things that I

read about.’ I handed him the bag I got from the GNC

store.” (40).

“I'm on the back porch with dad,

keeping an eye on him again, making sure he doesn’t fall asleep and topple over. After he fell

this morning, I'm not taking any chances. We’re catching the

last of the sun while mom gets dinner. I'm sitting on the porch steps beneath him, pretending to be

reading my soccer America. Dads

standing over a lawn chair again.” (98)

Attribute: The setting makes this book a realistic fiction book because it takes place in modern time and the

real world“mom says I have

to go back to school today. She shakes a finger at me as she pulls me into the kitchen for

breakfast. ‘You cant stay home all year long.’ I want to see clay, stop at

h is locker, eat lunch with him.

We've got calculus and AP chemistry

together. He's what kept me sane this past week.” (190)

Attribute: because the main characters are normal realistic

people that are just living a hard life.“Dads in his

classic pose: right hand at

twelve o’ clock on the

steering wheel, left elbow out

the window, hand

grabbing onto the roof of the car.”

(48)

“’ I didn’t just quit playing

because I wanted to be at home with my dad. I quit because I was disgusted

with myself. My dads getting sick, it really woke me

up.’ “ (191)

“ I lie on the daybed and close

my eyes. It feels so good. ‘Weez,’ says dad. ‘do you feel like playing some

cribbage?’ dad always plays

cribbage when he has something on his mind. ‘Sure pops, lets go.’”

Attribute: This novel is realistic fiction because the

plot of this story could actually happen in someone's life.

“’but, No. Everything goes my

way. I go to ODP camp and get chosen for the regional team.

Which means I get to compete for a spot on the U-18 National team. That’s one step

away from the full national team, the

world cup, the Olympics.

“Sp I come home, high as a kite, and find out my dad is

dying. And not only is her dying, but he has three months to

live.’” (45)

“’what's the matter , honey? You

seem all out of sorts. Is it dad?’

‘yeah.’ I can hardly say no; I know

that’s what should be bothering me the most. ‘that’s part of

it’‘what else?’ she

drops the garbage bag and slides

down next to me. Do I tell her all of

it? About Clay? The college stuff?

Colorado Springs? No, not all of it.”

(95)

“The Airport shuttle van enters the

Olympic training center and drops us

off in front of a dorm. I take a deep breath,

and I swear I can already feel the

altitude. A woman wearing US soccer clothes herds us into the

lobby. We wait in line for our room

assignments, linens, ID meal cards, keys,

I'm in room 309!” (120)

Evaluation: is Going for the Record a good example of a

realistic fiction story?

Going for the record by Julie A. Swanson is a perfect example of realistic fiction because the setting of the story takes place in a modern time and place with events that can happen to anyone, a teenage girl living her dream playing soccer is at the peak of her career when her father is diagnosed with cancer and has 3 months to live. Also the characters in this book are just regular people and are very realistic.