Category Archives: Hi-Low/Quick Read

Bullying Books: “Shooter”

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Shooter by Walter Dean Myers Myers does his usual good job with a tough topic. The book opens as an investigation of a school shooting ‘last April.’ Various adults (psychologist, police personnel) interview the two best friends of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged reluctant readers, school shootings, school violence, Walter Dean Myers, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Death Sentence: Escape from Furnace, Book Three

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Just a quick note on Death Sentence: Book Three of Escape from Furnace. I read it. It still has the appeal of the first two books, but it does have that middle of the series lag, at least at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Escape from Furnace series, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Summer Reading: Bullying Books

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Summer Reading One of my reading goals this summer is to read and select some books about bullying—both the cyber sort and the in-person attacks. I hope to recommend two bully-themed books per month in the 2013-14 school year. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged bullying, cyberbullying, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Solitary: Escape from Furnace, book two

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Solitary: Book Two of the Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith Just a quick heads up on this series. I reviewed the first book, Lockdown here. I thought it was great entertainment and a perfect choice for guys … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Read 180, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Escape from Furnace series, guy books, Read 180, reluctant readers, science fiction, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace, Book 1

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace, Book 1 by Alexander Gordon Smith Beneath heaven is hell. Beneath hell is Furnace. So begins the Escape from Furnace series, now complete at five books. Lockdown is a great ‘guy read,’ full of injustice, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged criminals in literature, Escape from Furnace series, guy books, juveniles in prison, prison, science fiction, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Walking Dead: Coming Soon

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Briefly: You asked for it. We weren’t sure about the novels–reports/reviews are that they are far more graphic than the TV series. Decision: We’ll have the graphic novel series available to you soon. They are mature, for teens, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novel, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Mature Readers | Tagged graphic novels, Television Tie-in, TV tie-in, walking dead, zombies | Leave a comment

Orca Soundings: “Juice”

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Juice by Eric Walters When Coach Reeves retires and Coach Barnes comes to coach football at Michael ‘Moose’s’ high school, optimism is high. Barnes has coached at Division One Central High and tells his new team that they can … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged football, football in literature, hi-low reading, Orca Soundings Series, reluctant readers, steroids | Leave a comment

Orca Soundings: “Last Ride” and “Back”

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Last Ride by Laura Langston Back by Norah McClintock I’m excited about seeing the READ 180 classes again soon, so I want to recommend a few more Orca Soundings books that I’ve read recently. You’re going to love these the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged hi-low reading, Norah McClintock, Orca Sounding series, reluctant readers | 1 Comment

Darren Shan Fans: “ZOM-B” is here

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

ZOM-B by Darren Shan Darren Shan is popular with kids of all ages. His Cirque du Freak, Demonata and The Saga of Larten Crepsley series have been bestsellers. He’s got a new series. And ZOM-B is the first book. Considering … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged darren shan, Darren Shan series, hi-low reading, horror, reluctant readers, YA fiction, ZOM-B series, zombie apocalypse, zombies | Leave a comment

“Wave Warrior”

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Wave Warrior by Lesley Choyce Another Orca Soundings adventure for teens working on their reading skills. Ben Currie lives in Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. (For those of us Southern Californians with little knowledge of geography—think far to the east, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged death and dying, friendship, hi-low reading, Read 180, surfers, surfing | Leave a comment