About Victoria Waddle
Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer and has been included in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. Her books include a collection of feminist short fiction, Acts of Contrition, and a chapbook on grief, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans. Her YA novel about a polygamist cult, Keep Sweet, launches in June 2025. Formerly the managing editor of the journal Inlandia: A Literary Journey and a teacher librarian, she contributes to the Southern California News Group column Literary Journeys. She discusses both writing and library book censorship on her Substack, “Be a Cactus.” Join her there for thoughts on defiant readers and writers as well as for weekly library censorship news.
Ball Don’t Lie by Matt de la Pena “Real life always comes whipping back around at you like a boomerang. But right now there’s one last game to play. And Stickey’s right here. In the zone. Flowing. Every shot … Continue reading →
Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged basketball, biography, book reviews, bullying, child abuse, child-parent relationships, drug addiction, education, family problems, high school students, poverty, reluctant readers, sports book, Teen Issues, YA fiction
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Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos What an entertaining mix of fact and fiction about growing up in a small town. Founded by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the Great Depression, by the early 1960’s, Norvelt is dying … Continue reading →
Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged Dead End in Norvelt, death, death and dying, Eleanor Roosevelt, fiction, hi-low reading, history, Jack Gantos, Norvelt PA, PTSD, reluctant readers, small towns in fiction, tweens, YA fiction, YA literature
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Marty’s Diary by Frances Cross Marty’s parents are divorced from one another and both are remarried. Although Marty’s mom has moved to Mexico City and had a new baby boy, Marty is not angry at her. She feels that her … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, Cutting Edge series, divorce, hi-low reading, Marty's Diary, parent-teen relationships, siblings, step-children, step-parents, YA fiction, YA literature
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Send by Patty Blount “A punch to the jaw wasn’t how I imagined starting my first day at another new school, but fate had a warped sense of humor.” So begins Send, with Daniel (and/or Ken) making the decision … Continue reading →
Posted in bullying, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, critical thinking, cyberbullying, death, death and dying, duty to respond, family problems, friendship, high school students, reluctant readers, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson Marcus Luttrell has trained his entire life to arrive at the moment when he and three fellow members of Navy SEAL Team 10 creep along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in search of a … Continue reading →
Posted in Adventure Stories, Biography/Memoir, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Movie Tie-In, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages
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Tagged Adult books for teens, Afghanistan, autobiography, biography, book reviews, boot camp, death, death and dying, family, friendship, Lokhay, Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, military service, movie tie-in, Navy SEAL, Navy SEAL Indoctrination, Navy SEALs, nonfiction, Special Forces, Texas, war
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School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins Related to the Hex Hall series Izzy Brannick hunts monsters of all types. However, she finds tracking and binding ghosts to be less than challenging. So when her mom (Aislinn) tells her that they are … Continue reading →
Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, ghost hunters, ghost stories, ghosts, Hex Hall series, hi-low reading, high school, high school students, monsters, paranormal, reluctant readers, School Spirits, YA fiction, YA literature
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Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy Nikki is absolutely crazy for her boyfriend Dee. Though he often seems distant, she rationalizes his behavior. After all, among his many tattoos is the one she is can’t help bringing her lips to–N–for … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, child-parent relationships, Criminal, criminals, drug addiction, family problems, friendship, gangs, hi-low reading, murder, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, Teen Issues, Terra Elan McVoy, YA fiction, YA literature
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It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini When he’s only fifteen years old, Craig Gilner is so depressed that he makes a plan to kill himself–he’s going to throw himself off the Brooklyn Bridge. Thankfully, Craig has … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Over 375 pages, Romance, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, family problems, friendship, high school students, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout Something that has always interested me about people who are charismatic is how often they turn out to be evil. In school, we all learn this about dictators–watch film of them mesmerizing … Continue reading →
Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Non-fiction
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Tagged Adult books for teens, antisocial personality disorder, book reviews, bullying, charisma, Common Core, critical thinking, Martha Stout, self-esteem, serial killers, sociopaths, The Sociopath Next Door
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