Category Archives: Fiction

Gender Fluidity: Symptoms of Being Human

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Victoria Waddle

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin Gender fluid teenager Riley Cavanaugh starts an anonymous blog at the suggestion of their therapist. Even this anonymous version of coming out takes Riley some time—as well as a major crisis and a … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Young Adult Literature | Tagged gender fluidity, Jeff Garvin, Orange County, Symptoms of Being Human, Teen Issues, teen sexuality, YA fiction, YA literature | 5 Comments

The Ballad of Huck and Miguel

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Victoria Waddle

A friend who has a daughter working with Friends of the LA River took a few of us on an LA River tour for our birthdays. It was odd to see the sections of the river that have a soil, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Classic Fiction, Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural | Tagged Adventures of Huckleberry Fiin, books, humor, The Ballad of Huck and Miguel, Tim DeRoche | 2 Comments

Navigating the Darkness

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Victoria Waddle

I know I’ve been slacking on my book reviews, but only because I’ve been working on some other teen-centric literary stuff, including getting the word out about the teen issue of Inlandia Literary Journeys. I’m so excited about all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged #OntarioTBF | Leave a comment

Orca Limelights: “The Frail Days”

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Victoria Waddle

Stella Wing (because it sounds more ‘new-punk’ than Wang) with her nose piercing and fire-engine-red hair is no Disney princess. She’s a drummer in a nameless band that needs a singer. Jacob is her guitarist and Miles plays the bass. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Humor, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, books, Gabrielle Prendergast, humor, music, Orca Limelights Series, Orca Soundings Series, quick read, reluctant readers, teen reads, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“Challenger Deep”

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman “‘But dreams give you insight,’ I point out. “The captain leans closer, the acrid smoke of his pipe stinging my eyes. ‘Not these dreams.’” Fifteen-year-old Caden Bosch is sure that someone at school is trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged adventures, art, artists, medication, mental hospitals, mental illness, parent-teen relationships, sailing, schizophrenia, ships, teenage boys | 3 Comments

LQBTQ+: “Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda”

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli Although Simon believes that coming out as gay isn’t going to be a big problem in his life, he is hesitant to do it. His family will still love and support … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book review, book reviews, coming out, cyberbullying, Georgia, humor, LGBTQ, romance, theater arts students | 4 Comments

“My Kind of Crazy”

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul Hank Kirby comes up with a great idea for asking popular Amanda Carlisle to the prom. How then does he manage, with just a box of sparklers, to light up Amanda Carlisle’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Humor, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, family problems, friendship, high school students, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“All the Bright Places”

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven We meet Violet Markey and Theodore Finch out on the ledge of their school’s clock tower. They haven’t gone there together, but rather accidentally run into one another as they as both … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, death and dying, family problems, friendship, grief, high school students, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

Sports Books: “The Final Four”

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

The Final Four by Paul Volponi The hoop action between the Michigan State Spartans and the (underdog) Trojans of Troy University is nonstop, heart-pounding excitement. While the semifinal NCAA championship game is played, the novel focuses on four players: … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged basketball, book reviews, death, family problems, Final Four, friendship, grief, hi-low reading, NCAA semifinals, Read 180, reluctant readers, sports, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Bone Gap”

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby Finn, the teen oddball in the tiny country town of Bone Gap, is both loved for his quirky personality by most of the town and bullied by the family of Rudes–a common scenario in … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, family problems, Fantasy fiction, friendship, romance, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 3 Comments