Author Archives: Victoria Waddle

Unknown's avatar

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.

Adult Books for Teens: Nonfiction from Malcolm Gladwell

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

Adult Books for Teens: “Blink” and “Outliers”  Malcolm Gladwell, the author of both Blink and Outliers, always has a fun way of looking at research and what it tells him about real life. His books are generally bestsellers, and teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Adult Books for Adults and Teens: The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr   –“Intensive multitakers are ‘suckers for irrelevancy,’ commented Clifford Nass, the Stanford professor who led the research. ‘Everything distracts them.’” The Shallows, p. 142 People have long felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Adult Books for Adults: “Switch”

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

    Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath This title was recommended to me by a colleague as a good book for thinking about changes in education. It may be very interesting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Banned Books: The Top Ten of the Last Year

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

I want to say goodbye to Banned Books Week with the most recent list of books that are challenged in schools and communities. Here are the top ten of 2011. I’ve read many and think they are pretty good books. … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Classic Fiction, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Multicultural, Romance, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Adult Books for Teens; “It Calls You Back”

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

   It Calls You Back by Luis J. Rodriguez Many students know about Luis J. Rodriguez’s memoir Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in LA. We have multiple copies in the library as it has remained popular. From my … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Mature Readers, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “Fahrenheit 451”

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury  Wall-sized televisions that simulate interaction and communication with the person existing within the confines of the ‘living’ room don’t seem much like science fiction anymore, but when Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in the late … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Classic Fiction, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Sci-Fi/Futuristic | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Picks–they’re easy to read and you can’t put them down

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

The book summaries are from the publishers–book flaps, etc. Just Another Hero by Sharon Draper (third in series–The battle of Jericho and November Blues) As Kofi, Arielle, Dana, November, and Jericho face personal challenges during their last year of high … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “Damage Control”

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

Damage Control by Denise Hamilton Addicted to Adderall in an effort to keep her edge over the competition, Maggie Silver works at the public relations firm The Blair Company. The Blair Company, based in Los Angeles, has all the A-list … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More new biography and memoir

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

So–I’m defining biography and memoir a little loosely here, but I think teachers would love to have you read any of these books. And you’ll find empathy, outrage, inspiration and courage through your reading. Enjoy! We All Fall Down by … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“The Haunting of Hill House”

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Some of you have said you’re tired of teen horror that focuses a bit too much on romance. You want something creepier, but you’re not sure if you have the time to … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Fiction, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Supernatural | Tagged , , | 1 Comment