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’m looking forward to talking to our READ 180 classes this week about some of the series we’ve added for teens who are improving their skills. here are a few that I like, with a review of a book from … Continue reading →
Posted in Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Uncategorized, Young Adult Literature
|
Tagged book reviews, Cutting Edge series, If You Really Loved Me, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, reluctant readers, Teen Issues, The Only Brother, Urban Underground series, YA fiction
|
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain You know you’re going to enjoy this book when you read the ‘Manifesto for Introverts’ that follows the cover page. It includes ten points. My … Continue reading →
Posted in Non-fiction
|
Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, CCSS, Common Core, Common Core standards, creativity, empathy, famous introverts, introverts, nonfiction, Quiet, social skills, Susan Cain, thinkers
|
Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar Although you are very young, you may remember the collapse of the San Jose Mine in Chile back in August 2010. This was such a huge news story. Thirty-three men were trapped in … Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction
|
Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Chile, Common Core, Common Core standards, Deep Down Dark, Hector Tobar, miners, mining, mining accidents, nonfiction
|
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things that Happened by Allie Brosh This fun and sometimes poignant book of wacky comics and weird life lessons is taken from the author’s blog. I’d never seen the … Continue reading →
Posted in Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novel
|
Tagged Allie Brosch, autobiography, biography, blogs, childhood, dogs, graphic novel, humor, Hyperbole and a Half, illustrated books, memoir, mental depression
|
Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan Emma—Emily—Thomas is good at hiding despite the fact that she’s very involved in school. She’s a straight ‘A’ student and the editor of the school newspaper as well as a track and basketball star. … Continue reading →
Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature
|
Tagged affluent teenagers, alcoholism, book reviews, child abuse, children of alcoholics, death, friendship, high school students, mental abuse, orphans, physical abuse, Reason to Breathe, romance, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
|
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Alina is an unlikely heroine. A lonely orphan whose only friend is fellow orphan Mal, she is raised without love or concern for her welfare. Both are recruited into the Ravka army as … Continue reading →
Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature
|
Tagged adventure, book reviews, Fantasy fiction, good v. evil, Leigh Bardugo, magic, mythology, Russian mythology, Shadow and Bone, supernatural, Teen Issues, YA fiction
|
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin Awaking from a coma, Mara remembers nothing of the accident that landed her in the hospital and killed her best friend, her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s sister. They had all entered … Continue reading →
Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature
|
Tagged book reviews, Fantasy fiction, Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin, parent-teen relationships, supernatural, Teen Issues, YA fiction
|
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty How can a very small percentage of the population stockpile capital ? Why does the distribution of wealth in the twenty-first century seem to be so much less equable than in … Continue reading →
Posted in Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages
|
Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, capital, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, economic inequity, economics, equity, inequity, inheritance, Thomas Piketty
|
Yes Please! by Amy Poehler If you think that arriving at stardom just consists of lucky breaks—or tossing your screenplay onto the lap of a sleeping star during air travel—then you need the reality check of Amy Poehler’s Yes Please! … Continue reading →
Posted in Biography/Memoir, Non-fiction
|
Tagged Adult books for teens, Amy Poehler, autobiography, biography, book reviews, Chicago, comedians, comedy, Saturday Night Live, Seth Meyers, sit coms, television, televison show Parks and Recreation, Tina Fey, Upright Citizens Brigade
|
School Library Lady 