Category Archives: Fiction

“The Alchemist”

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho I recently read “The Alchemist” and thought you might enjoy it when a teacher asks you to read a fable, fantasy or fairy tale. This book, published in Brazil in 1988, is not a traditional … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction | Tagged Spain | 8 Comments

“Before We Were Free”

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“Before We Were Free” by Julia Alvarez Life under a repressive dictator is hard for some of us to imagine. “Before We Were Free” shows us such a life—in the 1960s Dominican Republic—from the point-of-view of a twelve-year-old girl. Anita … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Read 180 | Leave a comment

“The Body of Christopher Creed”

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“The Body of Christopher Creed” by Carol Plum Ucci “The Body of Christopher Creed” is the story of a guy who doesn’t fit in with any group. After a note is emailed to the school principal—it might be a run-away … Continue reading →

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

“The Wish List”

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

“The Wish List” by Eoin Colfer “The Wish List” is a quick, fun read for anyone looking for fast fantasy fiction. You might recognize the name of the author. He also wrote the “Artemis Fowl” series. Meg Finn is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

“Speak”

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson The summer before she starts high school, Melinda goes to a party where she calls the police. Because of her action, she is ostracized when school starts. Without a single friend, she pairs up with … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged parent-teen relationships, school problems | 1 Comment

“Whirligig”

Posted on October 27, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Whirligig by Paul Fleishman In trying to kill himself, Brent causes an accident that kills Lea Zamora, a high school senior whose life is very promising. Brent was drunk and had just been humiliated at a party by the girl … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Literary Read Alike, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Read 180, The Odyssey | 2 Comments

“Monster”

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Monster by Walter Dean Myers “Lie down with dogs; wake up with fleas.” I remembered reading this ‘aphorism’—a witty little statement by Benjamin Franklin—as I read the novel “Monster.” The main character of the novel, Steve Harmon, is in just … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged National Book Award Finalist, Read 180 | Leave a comment

“Cleopatra VII” (The Royal Diaries)

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

Cleopatra VII (The Royal Diaries) by Kristiana Gregory This is the first book I’ve read from “The Royal Diaries” series. If you’ve read books from the “American Girl” series or, better yet, the “Dear America” (“My Name is America”) series, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Multicultural, Read 180 | Tagged Read 180 | Leave a comment

“When Zachary Beaver Came to Town”

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt When I was studying literature in college, I remember being told a story about a Southern writer, Flannery O’Connor. Asked why Southern writers always have freaks in their novels, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged obesity, Read 180 | Leave a comment

“Make Lemonade”