Category Archives: Young Adult Literature

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews There really is a dying girl in this novel, so to say that most of it is a lot of fun seems weird. But it is fun. You should … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Humor, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, cancer, child-parent relationships, children of alcoholics, coming of age, creativity, death and dying, family problems, fiction, friendship, grief, humor, Jesse Andrews, JLG, Junior Library Guild, life skills, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, mental depression, Teen Issues, YA fiction | Leave a comment

“We Were Liars”

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart As the first grandchild of Harris Sinclair, Cadence has a lot to gain. The Sinclairs are east-coast old money whose family came to the U. S. on the Mayflower. Harris owns a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, E. Lockhart, family problems, mystery, parent-teen relationships, Teen Issues, We Were Liars, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Mystery/Humor: “Croak”

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Croak by Gina Damico For no reason she can figure out, sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is one crazy angry girl. Previously normal and a good student, the high school junior can barely get through a day of school without punching … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Adirondacks, book reviews, Crtoak, Gina Damico, horror, humor, mystery, small towns in fiction, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Blackbird”

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Blackbird by Anna Carey OK, yes, you have read this sort of story before, and you‘ve seen it in movies. Someone with amnesia wakes up. Without a memory, that person has to piece his or her life together … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged amnesia, Anna Carey, Blackbird, book reviews, Los Angeles, murder, mystery, romance, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Ball Don’t Lie”

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Ball Don’t Lie by Matt de la Pena “Real life always comes whipping back around at you like a boomerang. But right now there’s one last game to play. And Stickey’s right here. In the zone. Flowing. Every shot … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged basketball, biography, book reviews, bullying, child abuse, child-parent relationships, drug addiction, education, family problems, high school students, poverty, reluctant readers, sports book, Teen Issues, YA fiction | Leave a comment

Quick Reads: “Dead End in Norvelt”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos What an entertaining mix of fact and fiction about growing up in a small town. Founded by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the Great Depression, by the early 1960’s, Norvelt is dying … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Dead End in Norvelt, death, death and dying, Eleanor Roosevelt, fiction, hi-low reading, history, Jack Gantos, Norvelt PA, PTSD, reluctant readers, small towns in fiction, tweens, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Quick Reads: “Marty’s Diary”

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Marty’s Diary by Frances Cross Marty’s parents are divorced from one another and both are remarried. Although Marty’s mom has moved to Mexico City and had a new baby boy, Marty is not angry at her. She feels that her … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Cutting Edge series, divorce, hi-low reading, Marty's Diary, parent-teen relationships, siblings, step-children, step-parents, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten Nominees are here!

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Posted in Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Teen Issues, Top Teen Picks, Top Ten, YA fiction, YA literature, YALSA | 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

“School Spirits”

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins Related to the Hex Hall series Izzy Brannick hunts monsters of all types. However, she finds tracking and binding ghosts to be less than challenging. So when her mom (Aislinn) tells her that they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, ghost hunters, ghost stories, ghosts, Hex Hall series, hi-low reading, high school, high school students, monsters, paranormal, reluctant readers, School Spirits, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment