Category Archives: Non-fiction

“The Wave”

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Victoria Waddle

The Wave by Susan Casey Here’s a great human v. nature story, one about the fierce power of gigantic waves and man’s efforts to subdue them. Casey alternates chapters between discussions of scientists who study ‘rogue’ waves—those that are vastly … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Environmental Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Tattoos on the Heart”

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Fr. Gregory Boyle Another book for ‘Character Month’ Father Gregory Boyle is the LA priest who founded Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Their motto: Nothing stops a bullet like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Non-fiction | 3 Comments

“They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan”

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng and Benjamin Ajak with Judy A. Bernstein In the introduction, Judy Bernstein compares the situation that the three … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction | Leave a comment

“Fast Food Nation”

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Though I’d read several books about food in the last few years, I missed this one. So when it came up as a choice for summer reading in the English II Honors class, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Leave a comment

“Into Thin Air”

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

  Much has been written about Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and I can’t say anything new, but that, like every reviewer, I thought it was a great book. I’m glad that it’s one of the options for your summer … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Biography/Memoir, Non-fiction | Leave a comment

“Superfreakonomics”

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner Maybe I shouldn’t do this so soon after commenting on Freakonomics, but I just loved this one, too. Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance, … Continue reading →

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“Freakonomics”

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

  Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner  When your econ teacher assigns some outside reading, this is the book to grab. It’s entertaining as well as informative. Its authors are a well-respected economist (as you’ll learn from … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Non-fiction | Tagged | Leave a comment

“Beautiful Boy” and “Tweak”

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

“It hurts so bad that I cannot save him, protect him, keep him out of harm’s way, shield him from pain. What good are fathers if not for these things?” Thomas Lynch, “The Way We Are” David Sheff begins Beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Non-fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Readicide”

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Victoria Waddle

Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do about It by Kelly Gallagher The dedication of this book states: “For those educators who resist the political in favor of the authentic.” So this is a book for … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Non-fiction | Leave a comment

“1776”

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Victoria Waddle

1776 by David McCullough (Another title I read in keeping my promise to find good non-fiction.) This is a great story written by a great storyteller. David McCullough has won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. (If … Continue reading →

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