Category Archives: Fiction

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini When he’s only fifteen years old, Craig Gilner is so depressed that he makes a plan to kill himself–he’s going to throw himself off the Brooklyn Bridge. Thankfully, Craig has … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Over 375 pages, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, family problems, friendship, high school students, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“I’ll Give You the Sun”

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson “How can love be such a wrecking ball?” Noah and Jude are twins who have distinct personalities but sense that they are two halves of a perfect whole. While both are artistic … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged artists, book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, coming of age, creativity, death, death and dying, family problems, friendship, grief, LGBTQ, painting, parent-teen relationships, Printz Award, risk, romance, school problems, sculptors, Stonewall Book Award, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“Dare Me”

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Dare Me by Eric Devine Ben Candido has known enough about trouble and his former best friend Ricky to stay away for more than three years. But when their senior year of high school finally arrives, Ben can’t help … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Dare Me, Eric Devine, family problems, friendship, high school students, LGBTQ, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

“Gabi: A Girl in Pieces”

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero “My mom says, ‘Ojos abiertos, piernas cerradas.’ Eyes open, legs closed.” This advice, the total sum of Gabi’s sex education at home, gets more ironic (and darkly funny) as the book … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, death and dying, drug addiction, family problems, friendship, grief, grieving, high school students, Isabel Quintero, JLG, Junior Library Guild, LGBTQ, Morris Award, parent-teen relationships, poverty, rape, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 4 Comments

Thoughtful Readers: “August”

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

August by Bernard Beckett I’ve been looking for books for our deeper thinkers. August is one. Unfortunately, the cover description says it’s a “philosophical thriller” and also gives the reader the impression that it will be a love story. … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Philosophy, Young Adult Literature | Tagged August, automobile accidents, Bernard Beckett, book reviews, car accidents, child abuse, critical thinking, death, dystopias, free will, philosophy, religion, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Wake”

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Wake by Lisa McMann Janie started being pulled into other people’s dreams when she was eight. At least, that’s when she noticed it. By the time she’s eleven, she’s sure that the dreams are wrecking the quality of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, death and dying, dreamers, dreams, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, high school students, Lisa McMann, nightmares, parent-teen relationships, supernatural, Wake, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The 5th Wave”

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey There are two reasons I needed to read The 5th Wave. One is that it’s going to be a movie, and that’s always exciting in teen books. But the greater reason was that … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged 5th Wave, alien invasion, book reviews, movie tie-in, Rick Yancey, sci-fi, science fiction, The 5th Wave, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

“A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone While the title may seem misleading once you start reading the book, you’ll understand it by the time you reach the final page. This quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl, dating, friendship, hi-low reading, high school students, novel in verse, Read 180, romance, Tanya Lee Stone, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

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

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