Author Archives: Victoria Waddle

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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.

New Series–Quick Reads

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Two New Series  I’m always on the lookout for books that appeal to teens who are English learners. Unfortunately, they aren’t always easy to find. Most books written at a reading level that challenges you and pushes your reading skills … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Sports, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Trapped”

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet below the Chilean Desert by Marc Aronson You’ve heard about the Chilean (and one Bolivian) miners trapped 2,300 feet underground from August 5 until October 13, 2010–more than two months–after … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Unwind”

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Unwind by Neal Shusterman  “The Second Civil War, also known as “The Heartland War,” was a long and bloody conflict fought over a single issue. “To end the war, a set of constitutional amendments, known as “The Bill of Life” … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Literary Read Alike, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | 1 Comment

“Into the Beautiful North”

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea      Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico just isn’t what it used to be. Looking for work, nearly all of the men have disappeared “into the beautiful north”—the United States. Nayeli, the young woman who … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural | Leave a comment

Reading “Unwind” at Banned Books Event

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Today I got to read from the book of my choice at Claremont Library’s banned books event. I chose Neal Shusterman’s Unwind because it’s new for me, I enjoyed it, and I want you to have the change to enjoy … Continue reading →

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HORROR! “Bliss”

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Horror: The Top Ten for Teens With teachers bringing classes in for horror and mystery book talks near Halloween, I thought it was a good time to look at our collection of teen horror and update it. One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

Hunger Games Action Movie Poster

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Check out the Hunger Games movie poster. Click here to see and hear it in action. Give it a chance to upload–it may take a minute. What a cool riff on the theme of Katniss, the girl on fire. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Movie Tie-In, Romance, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“After the Moment”

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr  I want to give After the Moment its own space and its own quick review because when I discussed it in the review of Uglies, I only commented that it wasn’t a book I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Waves”

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

    Waves by Sharon Dogar I bought this book when I was looking for a novel with a surfing connection. (I get requests for those periodically, and they aren’t that easy to find.) Waves is a beautiful book on more … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Sports, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged | Leave a comment

“A Whole New Mind”

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink  I’ve reviewed a few books that ask us to look at the changing world and how we—how you, who are just deciding on your life’s path—will live and work in it. A … Continue reading →

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