by Noleen Wyatt-Jones

Created on: May 27, 2008

There are so many books available which can help children deal with, and understand, a multitude of real life situations - how to understand physical changes, what to do about bullying, where babies come from, what periods are and so on. Whilst these books are absolutely fantastic and provide parents with the words to answer a multitude of questions and help their children understand the many anomalies which exist in life they really do require parental input to make them work properly. Alongside these non-fictional self help books are the fictionalized books which really do tap into a child's soul and gives them a real insight into the imperfections of life and of people. Sometimes it is easier to get a handle on a situation through a well written story and here is a flavor of a few such books which really do an amazing job at giving a child's insight into different situations.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham - narrated by 16 year old Tessa Scott who has lived with leukemia for four years 'Before I Die' documents Tessa's acceptance of her death and documents her journey towards the inevitable. Her maturity in the face of death is awesome and inspirational 'Stop pretending I'm going to be all right,' Tessa tells her father as he desperately clings on (as we all would) to any small beacon of hope that might prolong his beloved daughter's life. By the end of the book Jenny has fallen in love and we, like her father, are desperate for a cure, a glimmer of hope that perhaps the end may not be near. Like real life Tessa dies and we grieve for her and the loss remains for sometime - that is the power of this fabulous book.

The Story of Tracy Beaker (and others) by Jacqueline Wilson - 'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.' Tracy is ten years old and lives in a Children's Home but like all left there dreams of a future in a real home, with a real family. Despite the difficult subject matter Jacqueline Wilson manages to create a beautifully observed, touching and often hilarious view of life in the 'Dumping Ground'. As an author Jacqueline Wilson has tackled many subjects that affect children and which many find difficult to talk about, ranging from the death of a pet (The Cat Mummy) to divorce (The Suitcase Kid), homelessness (The Bed and Breakfast Star), abuse (Secrets)and homosexuality (Kiss).Her ability to reach and help children has made her one of the most popular children's writers.

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers - Dear Claire, I had a stressful weekend. It would be nice to come home and not be made to feel guilty. I hope school was interesting. There's some of the chicken (which was very good, by the way) left over. See you for breakfast. I want to talk to you about something. Mom. Told solely through a series of notes posted onto the refrigerator door this story documents a crucial year in the relationship between a hardworking mother, Elisabeth, and her teenage daughter Claire which sees Elisabeth develop breast cancer. 'Mom, I went to the store. See inside the fridge. I watered the plants. I cleaned out Peter's cage. I tidied the sitting room. And the kitchen. And I did the washing up. I'm going to bed. Your live-in servant, Claire' - with minimal words and a lot of attitude the emotional war between mother and daughter is played out until the end with a growing sense of mortality and a wish that we could just say the things we really mean.

This is just a flavor of the fiction that is available that deals with real life situations in a compelling but wholly accessible way.

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