Category Archives: Controversial Issue/Debate

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot     Teachers who are thinking outside the box will let you read this for your biography/memoir assignment, and what a great opportunity! The story of Henrietta Lacks is more than a biography … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction | 2 Comments

“Matched” (on Ms. W’s summer reading list)

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Matched by Ally Condie   “It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.” —William Carlos Williams Yes, Matched is another future dystopia, but like Hunger Games, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Literary Read Alike, Romance, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“The Marbury Lens”

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

    The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith Wow—this is the creepiest YA book I’ve ever read! Before I get to the details, I do want to admit that it’s deeply flawed—because if you read it and then are disappointed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Mature Readers, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | 1 Comment

“Speak” (on Ms. W’s summer reading list)

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

    Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson I’ve ‘book talked’ Speak often and used Anderson’s 10th anniversary poem to celebrate Banned Books Week this school year. We ‘library ladies’ at Chaffey and Colony have had such a great response to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | 1 Comment

Stieg Larsson Books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

I enjoyed reading all three books in this series. What made me think of them today was something that may seem unconnected: I read an article stating that a new version of the classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages | Leave a comment

“Tattoos on the Heart”

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Fr. Gregory Boyle Another book for ‘Character Month’ Father Gregory Boyle is the LA priest who founded Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Their motto: Nothing stops a bullet like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Non-fiction | 3 Comments

“Looking for Alaska”

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Update—Had to add this sweet video and John Green’s thoughts on the novel. Looking for Alaska by John Green Since I loved Will Grayson so much, I had to read Looking for Alaska, also by John Green. Like Will Grayson, … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | 1 Comment

“The House of the Scorpion”

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer     I was looking for a ‘guy’ book to read and found a book for everyone. A future gone very wrong, suspense, greed, the corruption of absolute power, questions about science (genetics) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Thirteen Reasons Why”

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher I read this novel not long ago and have been thinking of it over the past several days—since it was reported in the news that a gay teen had killed himself after his roommate … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Movie Tie-In, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“The Satanic Verses” and “Midnight’s Children”

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Salman Rushdie—Midnight’s Children and The Satanic Verses The publication of The Satanic Verses brought on a fatwa (Islamic judicial decree) from the Iranian religious ruler Ayatollah Khomeini that Rushdie as well as anyone involved in the publication of the book … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Over 375 pages | Leave a comment