Category Archives: Fiction

“Paper Towns” (On Ms. W’s summer reading list)

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Paper Towns by John Green                                       Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs! –Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself” I admit it. I just love John Green’s books. I started with Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Literary Read Alike, Young Adult Literature | Leave a 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

“Where She Went” (on Ms. W’s summer reading list)

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Where She Went by Gayle Forman  I loved If I Stay, so I had to jump into Where She Went. This time, Adam, Mia’s guitar-playing boyfriend, is the narrator. And in the three plus years since Mia’s accident, Adam has … Continue reading →

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“The Historian”

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova  This one isn’t on my summer reading list, but I want to make a quick note of it because I have a couple of students each year who want to read something with vampires that … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural | Tagged | Leave a 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

“If I Stay” (One on Ms. W’s summer reading list)

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

If I Stay by Gayle Forman   Mia plays the cello and is an oddball in her family, which is made up of punk mom and tattooed, eccentric, bicycle-riding, punk band-member, record-store employee dad; and sweet little brother. While they are … Continue reading →

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“Wintergirls” (On Ms. Waddle’s summer reading list)

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

          Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson Lia is both anorexic and a cutter. In Wintergirls, she tells her story, flashing back on the defining moments of her life—her cardiac surgeon mother, a ball of perfection, needing her to do everything … Continue reading →

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“Ninth Grade Slays”

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Ninth Grade Slays (Vladimir Tod series) by Heather Brewer   (For the review of the first book in the series, Eighth Grade Bites, click here.) The series is still fun with a combination of goofy loser action—Is Vlad ever going to … Continue reading →

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“Dead is a State of Mind”

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

Dead is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez   Book 2 in the Nightshade High series I already reviewed the first book in this series, Dead is the New Black (find review here), so without repeating background, let me get right … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged | Leave a comment

“Fire”

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

     Fire by Kristin Cashore For the second time in a week, I’m in the weird position of recommending to you a book that I really didn’t like all that much. I hope that this doesn’t appear hypocritical. Let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment