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.

“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 →

Posted in Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Dracula”

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

Dracula by Bram Stoker As vampire tales are so popular lately, I decided this summer that I would read one of the original vampire novels—Dracula. The author, Bram Stoker, created the character of Dracula by pulling together lots of myths … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Fiction, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Supernatural | Tagged | 2 Comments

“1776”

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

1776 by David McCullough (Another title I read in keeping my promise to find good non-fiction.) This is a great story written by a great storyteller. David McCullough has won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. (If … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged | Leave a comment

“The Siege of Macindaw”

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

I’ve said before that I love this series–The Ranger’s Apprentice. This is the sixth book. Will, the ranger’s apprentice of the series’ title, now has his own fief to protect. It is a cold northern area with little activity–at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Lies My Teacher Told Me”

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

  Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen This book was originally published in 1994 and was revised in 2007. I’d been thinking about reading it for a long time, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Multicultural, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Leave a comment

“Endgame”

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

Endgame by Nancy Garden Here’s a new one,and I admit I haven’t read it yet, but it intrigues me. Here is the blurb from the book jacket. A new town, a new school, a new start. That’s what fourteen-year-old Gray … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Girlfriend Material,” “The Waters & the Wild,” “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landu-Banks”

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

I’ve mentioned before that we purchase books from the Junior Library Guild because they make great choices. Here are recent purchases that looks good: Excerpted from the Junior Library Guild Reviews: Girlfriend Material Kate had been looking forward to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“The Best American Short Stories 2008”

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

The Best American Short Stories 2008 edited by Salman Rushdie More great short stories! I had to buy this book for a class I was taking—then I lost the book and bought another one—then I found the first one—so, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Over 375 pages, Short Stories | Leave a comment

“The Worst Hard Time”

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan Here’s another book I enjoyed reading while I was looking for non-fiction I thought you’d like. The Worst Hard Time is about the Dust Bowl—the southern Great Plains, particularly the Texas and Oklahoma … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Queen Bees & Wannabes”

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman Although this book is directed to parents of girls, it’s a great book for the girls themselves to read (as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged | 2 Comments