Category Archives: Family Problems

Adult Books for Teens: “The Ocean at the End of the Lane”

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman “‘Oh monsters are scared,’ said Letty. ‘That’s why they’re monsters. . . . As for grownups. . . . I’m going to tell you something important. Grownups don’t look … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense | Tagged Adult books for teens, England, horror, magic, Neil Gaiman, Sussex | 3 Comments

“The Book Thief”

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

I’ve got to see the movie–for those of you who haven’t read the book yet, here’s my original review comparing it to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The Book Thief is one you need to make time to read. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Book Thief, Holocaust, World War II, WW II, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

Adult Books for Teens: “The Round House”

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Round House by Louise Erdrich Joe and his dad Bazil are a bit worried about Joe’s mom. She isn’t home on time and there’s no indication of where she’s gone off to. Worried enough that they borrow a car—she … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Human Rights Issues, Literary Read Alike, Multicultural | Tagged Adult books for teens, American Indians, attempted murder, book reviews, coming of age, family problems, fiction, First Peoples, Indian reservations, Indian women, justice, mystery, National Book Award winner, Native Americans, Ojibwa Indians, race relations, rape, sexual assault | Leave a comment

“Picture This”

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Picture This by Norah McClintock Ethan is living in his second foster home when he is enrolled in Picture This is a program for troubled teens. He’s learning photography skills and he’s good at it—creative and serious. So when … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, foster children, gangs, hi-low reading, mystery, Orca Soundings Series, reluctant readers, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Veterans’ Day Reading: “The Yellow Birds”

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers “The war tried to kill us in the spring.” “Then, in summer, the war tried to kill us as the heat blanched all color from the plains.” ‘The war had killed thousands by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, death, death and dying, Iraq, Iraq War, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, U.S. army, veterans, Veterans' Day, war, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Tough Teen Topics: “Such a Pretty Girl”

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess Fifteen-year-old Meredith (“Chirp”) is coming undone because her father, who sexually molested and raped her when she was twelve, is coming home from prison. It’s clear from the outset of Such a Pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged child sexual abuse, fathers and daughters, friendship, mothers and daughters, neighbors, rape, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Movie Tie-In: Ender’s Game (Twentieth Anniversary Edition audiobook)

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Twentieth Anniversary Edition Audiobook) Ender Wiggins is a rare genius who may save the world from alien ‘buggers’ if he can prove himself in Battle School, and rise to the top command post. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged audiobooks, book reviews, Ender's Game, movie tie-in, science fiction, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “The Beckoners”

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Beckoners by Carrie Mac Everyone calls April “Dog.” She’s been bullied all through high school. From being forced to eat a whole box of dog biscuits and retching in the hallway to being beaten within an inch of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged bullying, gangs, girl gangs, high school students, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Horror! “Monstrumologist”

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey Another entry in the true horror category, The Monstrumologist starts with the gruesome discovery by a grave robber of a partially-eaten corpse around which is wrapped another corpse of a human-like creature. The grave robber, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, grave robbers, horror, monsters, Monstrumologist trilogy, scary stories, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Horror! “Scowler”

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Scowler is a great October read, one in a YA branch of the true horror family. So—this is NOT your love triangle with some supernatural creatures thrown in ala Twilight and its progeny. Scowler is Dark. Scowler is Disturbing. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, farms, horror, Iowa, meteorites, post traumatic stress disorder, psychopaths in fiction, PTSD, the family farm, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment