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.
Removing library books from the shelf for later review is essentially banning them, no matter what the censors say. My experience with book challenges and removal are here on my Substack “Be a Cactus.”. I’ve moved to Substack for most of my … Continue reading →
A teen girl’s journey through grief after her mother dies in a car accident. Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, death, family problems, grief, parent-teen relationships, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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Whiteout would be a good book to display or book talk before the winter holidays. One with the Waves would work before spring break. Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged Black authors, Black youth, book reviews, coming of age, friendship, romance, small press publications, surfing, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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Pest is a fun, short and offbeat YA novel. It’s pretty wacky and some fun for those who are looking for the not-so-typical novel. Continue reading →
Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Humor, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged book reviews, family problems, friendship, parent-teen relationships, pest control, romance, Santa Barbara, Teen Issues, working teens, YA fiction, YA literature
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Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out is free through this coming Wednesday, June 28. Continue reading →
Posted in "Banned Book", Biography/Memoir, bullying, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged Alice Oseman, AudioFile, Beyond Magenta, free audiobooks, Loveless, Sync Audiobooks for Teens, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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This week’s free audiobooks for teens include “The School that Escaped the Nazis” and Plato’s “Republic.” From AudioFile’s Sync program. Continue reading →
Posted in Non-fiction, Philosophy, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged Adult books for teens, audiobooks, AudioFile, free audiobooks, life lessons, Nazis, Plato, Sync Audiobooks for Teens, YA literature
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I’m so excited about this special issue from Inlandia! It’s a celebration of libraries and librarians. As a former high school teacher librarian, I will be guest editing. If you are a librarian and also a writer, we want your … Continue reading →
Musings on Leigh Bardugo’s Alex Stern series, trigger warnings, and books in the high school library. Continue reading →
In her chapbook memoir, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans, Victoria Waddle explores her (our) relationship with dogs, the joy and comfort of their companionship, and the lessons they can teach us about being better humans. Continue reading →
Book censorship is far more threatening than it was ten years ago because it erases anyone who doesn’t look or think like the censor. Continue reading →
Posted in "Banned Book", Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Young Adult Literature
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Tagged banned books, book challenges, book reviews, censorship, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature
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School Library Lady 