Category Archives: Family Problems

Throwback Thursday: Bullying: “Give a Boy a Gun”

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

I’m thinking about my book talks with Read 180 classes tomorrow. I read Give a Boy a Gun for the first time last night–it stands the time of time. Still compelling. Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, Common Core standards, death, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, reluctant readers, school problems, school shooting, Teen Issues, Todd Strasser, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

Common Core: Adult Nonfiction: “Deep Down Dark”

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar Although you are very young, you may remember the collapse of the San Jose Mine in Chile back in August 2010. This was such a huge news story. Thirty-three men were trapped in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Chile, Common Core, Common Core standards, Deep Down Dark, Hector Tobar, miners, mining, mining accidents, nonfiction | Leave a comment

Reason to Breathe

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan Emma—Emily—Thomas is good at hiding despite the fact that she’s very involved in school. She’s a straight ‘A’ student and the editor of the school newspaper as well as a track and basketball star. … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged affluent teenagers, alcoholism, book reviews, child abuse, children of alcoholics, death, friendship, high school students, mental abuse, orphans, physical abuse, Reason to Breathe, romance, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

The Ontario Teen Book Fest is in March!

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

March 21, 2015 9 AM-5 PM Colony High.

Posted in Adventure Stories, Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged autobiography, biography, book reviews, family problems, gay teens, Ontario Teen Book Fest, realistic romance, romance, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer”

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin Awaking from a coma, Mara remembers nothing of the accident that landed her in the hospital and killed her best friend, her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s sister. They had all entered … Continue reading →

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Fantasy fiction, Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin, parent-teen relationships, supernatural, Teen Issues, YA fiction | Leave a comment

“Kendra”

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Kendra by Coe Booth Kendra is tired of her Nana’s constrictive rules about the way she dresses and whether she can talk to boys. Her Nana is tired of having to take care of Kendra and hopes to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Multicultural, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged African Americans, book reviews, child-parent relationships, Coe Booth, family problems, hi-low reading, Kendra, New York City, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, romance, teen fathers, teen mothers, teen pregnancy, the Bronx, urban teens | Leave a comment

“Freaks Like Us”

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught Sunshine is the one person who understands Jason, who helps him when the voices in his head make it hard to know what is real and what is an illusion. The two of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged ADHD, book reviews, Freaks Like Us, friendship, missing persons in fiction, mystery, romance, schizophrenia, selectively mute, Special Education, Susan Vaught, suspense, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Adult books for teens: “The Burn Palace”

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

The Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns A nurse in the obstetrics ward of the Morgan Memorial Hospital comes back to her post after a quick tryst with Dr. Balfour. In sleepy Brewster, Rhode Island there hasn’t been much … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Supernatural | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, dark comedy, horror, mystery, Rhode Island, Rosemary’s baby, snakes, Stephen Dobyns, suspense, The Burn Palace, thriller | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: “Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Company”

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Company by Maria Amparo Escandon Libertad Gonzalez has spent her life on the road with her trucker dad, crisscrossing the United States. Somehow, she ends up in the Mexicali Penal Institute for Women. While life … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural | Tagged book reviews, Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Company, Maria Amparo Escandon, Mexicali Penal Institute for Women, Mexican American youth, Mexican Americans, Mexican prisons, prisons, storytellers, storytelling | Leave a comment

“Daughter of Smoke and Bone”

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Karou has been filling her sketch book with strange creatures for so long that her few friends have treated those creatures as a part of her life. The strange wishmonger … Continue reading →

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged angels, artists, book reviews, chimaera, chimera, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, devils, Greek mythology readalike, mythology, paranormal romance, Prague (Czech Republic), romance, strange creatures, supernatural, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment