Category Archives: Human Rights Issues

Adult Books for Teens: “The Harder They Come”

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Harder They Come by T. C. Boyle A cruise to Central America and a stop in Costa Rica sound like a vacation dream for a middle class retired couple. After all, Costa Rica is supposed to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, child-parent relationships, Common Core, Costa Rica, death, drug addiction, drug cartels, drug dealers, family problems, grief, Mendocino, mental depression, mental illness, murder, parent-teen relationships, schizophrenia, school problems, small towns in fiction, T. C. Boyle, The Harder They Come | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “All the Light We Cannot See”

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr A French girl whose father is the master of the locks at the Museum of Natural History in Paris goes blind when she is only six years old. Her father … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, bullying, Family Problems, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr, Brittany, bullying, child-parent relationships, coming of age, France, Germany, Hitler Youth, miners, mining, Nazis, Paris, precocious children, Pulitzer Prize, Saint-Malo, World War II | 4 Comments

Common Core: Nonfiction: “The Age of Acquiescence”

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Age of Acquiescence: The Life and Death of American Resistance to Organized Wealth and Power by Steve Fraser I picked up Age of Acquiescence because it was recommended as a companion work to Capital in the 21st Century. Age of Acquiescence … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, Age of Acquiescence, book reviews, capitalism, Common Core, Common Core standards, critical thinking, economics, nonfiction, poverty, Steve Fraser | Leave a comment

“Send”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Send by Patty Blount “A punch to the jaw wasn’t how I imagined starting my first day at another new school, but fate had a warped sense of humor.” So begins Send, with Daniel (and/or Ken) making the decision … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, critical thinking, cyberbullying, death, death and dying, duty to respond, family problems, friendship, high school students, reluctant readers, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

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

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

Common Core: Adult Nonfiction: “Deep Down Dark”

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar Although you are very young, you may remember the collapse of the San Jose Mine in Chile back in August 2010. This was such a huge news story. Thirty-three men were trapped in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Chile, Common Core, Common Core standards, Deep Down Dark, Hector Tobar, miners, mining, mining accidents, nonfiction | Leave a 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

“The Vast Fields of Ordinary”

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd “’We’re all sick,’ Alex said. ‘I was thinking that the other night. . . . I remember in high school seeing people who seemed like they had it all together. . . … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged abusive relationships, coming of age, divorce, emotional abuse, extra-marital affairs, family problems, fathers and sons, gay teens, GLBTQ, LGBTQ, mothers and sons, Nick Burd, partner abuse, romance, Vast Fields of Ordinary, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “The Circle”

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

The Circle by Dave Eggers With job prospects slim, Mae Holland, a 24-year-old college grad, has been working at a local utility company for a few years. She sees her job as a dead end, but what can she do? … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Literary Read Alike, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic | Tagged 1984 readalike, Adult books for teens, book reviews, Brave New World readalike, future dystopia, monopolies, privacy, social media, surveillance, technology | 2 Comments