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.

“Freakonomics”

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

  Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner  When your econ teacher assigns some outside reading, this is the book to grab. It’s entertaining as well as informative. Its authors are a well-respected economist (as you’ll learn from … Continue reading →

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“Beautiful Boy” and “Tweak”

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

“It hurts so bad that I cannot save him, protect him, keep him out of harm’s way, shield him from pain. What good are fathers if not for these things?” Thomas Lynch, “The Way We Are” David Sheff begins Beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Skulduggery Pleasant”

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy Stephanie Edgley is brokenhearted over the death of her Uncle Gordon, who, in a surprise move, has left Stephanie his estate. He was a bestselling author of fantasy and magic, and hung out with what … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“The Graveyard Book”

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

“There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” The first sentence of The Graveyard Book Though The Graveyard Book has been marketed to younger teens in the U.S., it is sold as an adult book in … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

“Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Art”

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Art has stories by many wonderful YA writers and drawings by Scott Hunt. When a teacher asks you to read short stories, check this book out. Each section has art work–a pencil drawing. … Continue reading →

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“Twisted”

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson I loved Speak and when someone told me that Twisted was Speak for guys, I had to read it. The New York Times Book Review (Oct. 27, 2009) tells us that Anderson’s “novel Speak (1999) … Continue reading →

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“City of Ashes”

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Book Two of The Mortal Instruments) Here’s another Top Ten Teen Read of 2009—but with smart cover art and an intriguing title. I read City of Ashes because it got on the top ten … Continue reading →

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“The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks”

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart A so-so cover that only has appeal after you’ve started reading the book and ‘get it.’ A so-so title. And one of the top ten teen books of 2009. How did … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Readicide”

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do about It by Kelly Gallagher The dedication of this book states: “For those educators who resist the political in favor of the authentic.” So this is a book for … Continue reading →

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“Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters”

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

Here’s a review written by COHS student Jade: “Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters” by Gail Giles gets five stars from me! If you’re in the mood for confusing but riveting mystery, this is a good book for you! Sunny Reynolds’ … Continue reading →

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