Category Archives: Fiction

One Important Secret: Balance. Character, Emotion, and Story in Far from the Tree

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Victoria Waddle

Since I am on a YA fiction jag, I want to have a quick look at why National Book Award winning Far from the Tree by Robin Benway is so good. Happily, all the things that make this novel work … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged adopted children, Far from the Tree, foster children, Robin Benway, teen pregnancy, teen sexuality, writing advice, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Victoria Waddle

Being a Teen=Lack of Control Over Life Smack in the middle of his junior year of high school, Norris Kaplan has to move from Montreal, Canada to Austin, Texas when his mom secures a professorship at the University of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Humor, Multicultural, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Austin, Black youth, book reviews, Canada, coming of age, friendship, Haitian immigrants, Montreal, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, Texas, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

The Teen Issue of Inlandia will be Out Soon!

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Victoria Waddle

So excited about the second annual teen issue of Inlandia: A Literary Journey! Submissions were open to all Inland Empire teens. Ten ten editors selected the pieces that will be in the journal–art, photos, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, microworks, and reviews. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Stories, Young Adult Literature | Tagged CA, Inlandia Institute, Inlandia Journal, Inlandia Literary Journey, literary event, Riverside | Leave a comment

Ontario Teen Book Fest // Submission Deadline

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Victoria Waddle

Inlandia Submissions Deadline for Teen Issue is Days Away! March 15! Submit Now! If you are a teen living in the Inland Empire, don’t miss your chance for publication in the online journal Inlandia: A Literary Journey. The deadline is … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged #OntarioTBF, Inlandia Literary Journey, submissions, YA literature | Leave a comment

Magical Realism: The Buried Giant

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Victoria Waddle

Axl and Beatrice, ill-treated inhabitants of a rustic warren in medieval England, awaken on a fine spring day and realize that they have forgotten to do something important: they must take a few days journey to visit their long lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction | Tagged Buried Giant, Fantasy fiction, Hero’s journey, Kazuo Ishiguro, Magical realism | 1 Comment

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 | 4 Comments