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.

“Wintergirls” (On Ms. Waddle’s summer reading list)

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

          Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson Lia is both anorexic and a cutter. In Wintergirls, she tells her story, flashing back on the defining moments of her life—her cardiac surgeon mother, a ball of perfection, needing her to do everything … Continue reading →

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

Summer Reading–Join me with some great books!

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Don’t lose those grade-level gains you worked so hard to make all year long! Reading over the summer prevents the traditional summer loss of reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. And it’s so easy—a virtually stress-free, fun way of learning. Just … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Fiction, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Romance, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Sports, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“Ninth Grade Slays”

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Ninth Grade Slays (Vladimir Tod series) by Heather Brewer   (For the review of the first book in the series, Eighth Grade Bites, click here.) The series is still fun with a combination of goofy loser action—Is Vlad ever going to … Continue reading →

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

“Dead is a State of Mind”

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Dead is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez   Book 2 in the Nightshade High series I already reviewed the first book in this series, Dead is the New Black (find review here), so without repeating background, let me get right … Continue reading →

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

“Fire”

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

     Fire by Kristin Cashore For the second time in a week, I’m in the weird position of recommending to you a book that I really didn’t like all that much. I hope that this doesn’t appear hypocritical. Let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Fubarnomics”

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Fubarnomics: A Lighthearted, Serious Look at America’s Economic Ills by Robert E. Wright  FUBAR is am acronym out of World War II that means ‘Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition.’ (Some folks use a different ‘f’ word, but we don’t allow … Continue reading →

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“Shiver”

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

  Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater Another book I read—loved this one—and didn’t have time to review. (The Chaffey library is closed for AP testing, so I’m sneaking in a few reviews in the hope that you’ll find some good summer … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

“The Forest of Hands and Teeth”

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan  Here’s a book I read quite awhile ago, never had time to review, but thought you’d like. In some post-apocalyptic future, Mary lives in a village that seems to be the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“The Last Summer of the Death Warriors”

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

      The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork Like a lot of great books, this one is hard to quickly describe, hard to ‘sell’ in a few paragraphs. And like a lot of great books, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites”

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

        The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod is a series recommended to me for summer reading. I figured I’d get started early and read the first book: Eighth Grade Bites. It was a … Continue reading →

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