Author Archives: Victoria Waddle

Unknown's avatar

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.

“Cleopatra VII” (The Royal Diaries)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Cleopatra VII (The Royal Diaries) by Kristiana Gregory This is the first book I’ve read from “The Royal Diaries” series. If you’ve read books from the “American Girl” series or, better yet, the “Dear America” (“My Name is America”) series, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180 | Tagged | Leave a comment

“When Zachary Beaver Came to Town”

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by  Kimberly Willis Holt When I was studying literature in college, I remember being told a story about a Southern writer, Flannery O’Connor. Asked why Southern writers always have freaks in their novels, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Make Lemonade”

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff The blank verse form of this novel brings lyrical beauty to the story of two inner-city teen girls—fourteen-year-old LaVaughn and seventeen-year-old Jolly. Though LaVaughn lives in ‘the projects,’ she has a strong widowed mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged | Leave a comment

“The Distant Land of My Father”

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell The story of Anna Schoene’s childhood in Shanghai, China in the 1930s and her late childhood and teen years in Pasadena is so thick with period detail, that both locales should … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Junior Project, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Conception”

Posted on October 13, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon I picked this new YA novel off our shelf because it won the Terry McMillan Young Author Award. I think of Terry McMillan as light reading. Although she does deal with the issues of Black women, … Continue reading →

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

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”

Posted on October 13, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie “The Absolutely True Diary” is a fictional account of the life of a fourteen-year-old Spokane Indian, Arnold Spirit (Junior). He has a lot working against him—he was born with … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Fiction, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged | Leave a comment

“The City of Ember”

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau With the movie version coming soon, I decided to read “The City of Ember.” It’s a quick, easy read, but very engaging. Science fiction and fantasy fans will like it, but I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

Bless Me, Ultima

Posted on September 19, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya This review has been created by the Academic Decathlon class at COHS. It’s a team effort. “Bless Me, Ultima” is a novel set in Guadalupe, New Mexico. The narrator, Antonio Marez, is an adult looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | 2 Comments

“Best American Short Stories 2007” and “Every Man for Himself”

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Best American Short Stories 2007 edited by Stephen King Every Man for Himself edited by Nancy E. Mercado (but all the stories are written by men) When teachers assign short story reading to their students, many of the students just … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Short Stories, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Night” and “Dawn”

Posted on September 17, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“Night” and “Dawn” by Elie Wiesel Knowing that all freshmen here at COHS read “Night” by Elie Wiesel, and that sophomores have “Dawn” as a possible outside reading choice for history projects, I decided I’d have a go at it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Multicultural, Non-fiction, Read 180 | Tagged | Leave a comment