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.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson “How can love be such a wrecking ball?” Noah and Jude are twins who have distinct personalities but sense that they are two halves of a perfect whole. While both are artistic … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged artists, book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, coming of age, creativity, death, death and dying, family problems, friendship, grief, LGBTQ, painting, parent-teen relationships, Printz Award, risk, romance, school problems, sculptors, Stonewall Book Award, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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Dare Me by Eric Devine Ben Candido has known enough about trouble and his former best friend Ricky to stay away for more than three years. But when their senior year of high school finally arrives, Ben can’t help … Continue reading →
Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Sports, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, Dare Me, Eric Devine, family problems, friendship, high school students, LGBTQ, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero “My mom says, ‘Ojos abiertos, piernas cerradas.’ Eyes open, legs closed.” This advice, the total sum of Gabi’s sex education at home, gets more ironic (and darkly funny) as the book … Continue reading →
Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, death and dying, drug addiction, family problems, friendship, grief, grieving, high school students, Isabel Quintero, JLG, Junior Library Guild, LGBTQ, Morris Award, parent-teen relationships, poverty, rape, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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August by Bernard Beckett I’ve been looking for books for our deeper thinkers. August is one. Unfortunately, the cover description says it’s a “philosophical thriller” and also gives the reader the impression that it will be a love story. … Continue reading →
Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Philosophy, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged August, automobile accidents, Bernard Beckett, book reviews, car accidents, child abuse, critical thinking, death, dystopias, free will, philosophy, religion, YA fiction, YA literature
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I won these five books at the California School Library Association Centennial Conference! Just cataloged in time for Women’s History Month. Be a leader and a history make–come check one out!
Wake by Lisa McMann Janie started being pulled into other people’s dreams when she was eight. At least, that’s when she noticed it. By the time she’s eleven, she’s sure that the dreams are wrecking the quality of her … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, death and dying, dreamers, dreams, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, high school students, Lisa McMann, nightmares, parent-teen relationships, supernatural, Wake, YA fiction, YA literature
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The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey There are two reasons I needed to read The 5th Wave. One is that it’s going to be a movie, and that’s always exciting in teen books. But the greater reason was that … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged 5th Wave, alien invasion, book reviews, movie tie-in, Rick Yancey, sci-fi, science fiction, The 5th Wave, YA fiction, YA literature
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I love the Bookies Book Club. Friday after school we were making ‘shelf talkers.’ They’ll be up and advertising the library’s best books soon!
A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone While the title may seem misleading once you start reading the book, you’ll understand it by the time you reach the final page. This quick … Continue reading →
Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl, dating, friendship, hi-low reading, high school students, novel in verse, Read 180, romance, Tanya Lee Stone, YA fiction, YA literature
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I’m thinking about my book talks with Read 180 classes tomorrow. I read Give a Boy a Gun for the first time last night–it stands the time of time. Still compelling. Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser … Continue reading →
Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, bullying, Common Core standards, death, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, reluctant readers, school problems, school shooting, Teen Issues, Todd Strasser, YA fiction, YA literature
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School Library Lady 