Category Archives: Controversial Issue/Debate

Censoring Empathy: Let’s Challenge Erasure

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Victoria Waddle

Book censorship is far more threatening than it was ten years ago because it erases anyone who doesn’t look or think like the censor. Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Young Adult Literature | Tagged banned books, book challenges, book reviews, censorship, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 4 Comments

Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender: How I Became a Punk Rock Lawyer

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Victoria Waddle

This little book is full of hope for teens who are not succeeding in high school. It’s a reminder that their futures are not set yet. Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Human Rights Issues | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Inland Empire, law, lawyers, memoir, quick read, Teen Issues | 1 Comment

Nonfiction: “Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife”

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Spook by Mary Roach I’m gathering some scary stories for a fall display, and thought I’d add Spook–which is not a scary book at all, but rather an entertaining work of nonfiction that takes a look at life after death. … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Humor, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Common Core standards, death, death and dying, ghosts, human soul, humor, Mary Roach, mediums, nonfiction, science, soul, spirits, Spook, supernatural | 2 Comments

“Go Set a Watchman”

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee With the flap over Harper Lee’s new book still simmering among readers I know, I have to admit that I’m surprised at how virulently both professional reviewers and ordinary lovers of To … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues | Tagged Adult books for teens, Atticus Finch, book reviews, child-parent relationships, coming of age, critical thinking, family problems, friendship, Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee, Jean Louise | Leave a comment

Sci-Fi/Future Dystopias: “Oryx and Crake”

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Snowman (as in Abominable), who was once known as Jimmy, appears to be the last human being on earth. His existence doesn’t seem much worth living–the environment is in ruins and he cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic | Tagged Adult books for teens, biotechology, book reviews, death and dying, divorce, environmental destruction, family problems, fiction, future dystopia, genetic engineering, global climate change, global warming, grief, human rights, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, science fiction, technology | 1 Comment

Adult Books for Teens: Common Core: Nonfiction: “Missoula”

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer Missoula, Montana is a college town and just about everyone there loves the University of Montana Grizzlies football team. Yet in the early 2010’s, the team was … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, college, college football players, college towns, Common Core, human rights, justice, justice system, Missoula Montana, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, rape, rapists, victims | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “The Harder They Come”

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Harder They Come by T. C. Boyle A cruise to Central America and a stop in Costa Rica sound like a vacation dream for a middle class retired couple. After all, Costa Rica is supposed to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, child-parent relationships, Common Core, Costa Rica, death, drug addiction, drug cartels, drug dealers, family problems, grief, Mendocino, mental depression, mental illness, murder, parent-teen relationships, schizophrenia, school problems, small towns in fiction, T. C. Boyle, The Harder They Come | Leave a comment

Common Core: Nonfiction: “The Age of Acquiescence”

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Age of Acquiescence: The Life and Death of American Resistance to Organized Wealth and Power by Steve Fraser I picked up Age of Acquiescence because it was recommended as a companion work to Capital in the 21st Century. Age of Acquiescence … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, Age of Acquiescence, book reviews, capitalism, Common Core, Common Core standards, critical thinking, economics, nonfiction, poverty, Steve Fraser | Leave a comment

“Send”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Send by Patty Blount “A punch to the jaw wasn’t how I imagined starting my first day at another new school, but fate had a warped sense of humor.” So begins Send, with Daniel (and/or Ken) making the decision … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, critical thinking, cyberbullying, death, death and dying, duty to respond, family problems, friendship, high school students, reluctant readers, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

“Dare Me”

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Dare Me by Eric Devine Ben Candido has known enough about trouble and his former best friend Ricky to stay away for more than three years. But when their senior year of high school finally arrives, Ben can’t help … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Dare Me, Eric Devine, family problems, friendship, high school students, LGBTQ, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment