Category Archives: Family Problems

Get a Grip by Alyson Shelton

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Victoria Waddle

This compact novel (186 pages) is narrated in free verse. It has wide appeal, but is an especially good purchase for librarians seeking work on sibling death and grief, competitive gymnastics, changes in friendships that take place as kids get older, and hi/lo literature for tweens and teens. Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sexism and Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Virtually every girl and woman I see in therapy feels as if they got away with something when they experience success. They bring up the term ‘imposter syndrome’ and say, ‘that’s me exactly.’” Continue reading →

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Sometimes We Tell the Truth

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Sometimes is, in fact, a modern telling of Chaucer’s tales with teens as the pilgrims. Except that these pilgrims are not making a commitment to the Almighty. They are going to Washington D.C . on a six-hour bus trip with their Civics class teacher. Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Literary Read Alike, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keep Sweet is here! My YA Novel 😊

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

My novel Keep Sweet officially launched yesterday. I also have an essay in an anthology on sibling loss and grief, The Loss of a Lifetime, which launched on Tuesday. We had a very emotional reading by the authors on Wednesday. It was recorded. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Uncategorized, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Uncultured: The Children of God Cult

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Mestyanek Young grew up in the Children of God cult (often referred to as ‘the Family’). Her experience there is horrifying. Her childhood traumas are so numerous, it’s hard to understand how the cult even exists. Why don’t its members run the other way? Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Have a Novel! Keep Sweet!

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Fourteen-year old Elizabeth Warren lives in the “Community” with her father, four mothers, and sixteen siblings. Their prophet heads the cult, controlling all aspects of the community members’ lives. When he announces that Elizabeth must marry her older cousin, she joins forces with her twin brother, her older sister, and two good friends to alter her fate. Continue reading →

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Banned books and Sold by Patricia McCormick

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

I’m discussing the top banned books of the 2023-24 school year over at Be A Cactus. These are the top three: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Looking for Alaska by John Green The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky You can … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rift by Cait West: Christian Patriarchy

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

“This is a story of chaos, of fragmentation, hidden beneath the facade of a happy family. This is a story of escape and risk and making it all worth it. This is a story of psychological, emotional, financial, and spiritual abuse. This is my story of survival.“ Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why is ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ banned?

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

I thought you’d be interested in my most recent Substack post concerning Utah’s statewide ban of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Below, I’m excerpting the part of that post discussing this topic. I also always … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, censorship, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

The following is part of my post for this week over at “Be a Cactus” on Substack. Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books is not a YA book. However, it does have some teen characters, one of whom incites the … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, censorship, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment