Tag Archives: book reviews

Adult Books for Teens: Common Core: Nonfiction: “David and Goliath”

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell Like just about everyone else who has read Malcolm Gladwell, I’m a fan. But with David and Goliath, I wasn’t as easily swayed by his … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, adversity, book reviews, Common Core standards, Malcolm Gladwell, underdogs | Leave a comment

“Wonder”

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Wonder by R. J. Palacio Augustine—Auggie—Pullman has been homeschooled all his life, but for fifth grade, he is going to go to a private middle school. He’s smart enough, but he’s anxious. This will be the first time he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, children's fiction, children's literature, genetic deformities, genetic disorders, hi-low reading, high school students, middle school, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“Reaction”

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Reaction by Lesley Choyce Ashley drops the bomb on Zach—she’s pregnant and doesn’t know what to do. At first they try to figure things out together, but their fear and anger cause them to pull apart. Ashley is so … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, hi-low reading, Orca Soundings Series, Read 180, teen fathers, teen mothers, teen pregnancy, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The Book Thief”

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

I’ve got to see the movie–for those of you who haven’t read the book yet, here’s my original review comparing it to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The Book Thief is one you need to make time to read. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Book Thief, Holocaust, World War II, WW II, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

Adult Books for Teens: “The Round House”

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Round House by Louise Erdrich Joe and his dad Bazil are a bit worried about Joe’s mom. She isn’t home on time and there’s no indication of where she’s gone off to. Worried enough that they borrow a car—she … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Human Rights Issues, Literary Read Alike, Multicultural | Tagged Adult books for teens, American Indians, attempted murder, book reviews, coming of age, family problems, fiction, First Peoples, Indian reservations, Indian women, justice, mystery, National Book Award winner, Native Americans, Ojibwa Indians, race relations, rape, sexual assault | Leave a comment

“Bang”

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Bang by Norah McClintock “Act normal? The guy died, and JD wants me to act normal?” Quentin—‘Q’—thinks he’s going to have the usual day with his friend JD. Q thinks about asking JD’s sister Leah out. He thinks about hanging … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, crime, criminals in literature, hi-low reading, juvenile delinquents, murder, Orca Soundings Series, Read 180, reluctant readers, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Picture This”

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Picture This by Norah McClintock Ethan is living in his second foster home when he is enrolled in Picture This is a program for troubled teens. He’s learning photography skills and he’s good at it—creative and serious. So when … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, foster children, gangs, hi-low reading, mystery, Orca Soundings Series, reluctant readers, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Sports: “Game”

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Game by Walter Dean Myers “In a way it was like a bunch of guys in a game. They were falling behind every minute that passed, but they had lost interest in the score. It was as if … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged basketball, book reviews, hi-low reading, reluctant readers, sports, Walter Dean Myers, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Veterans’ Day Reading: “The Yellow Birds”

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers “The war tried to kill us in the spring.” “Then, in summer, the war tried to kill us as the heat blanched all color from the plains.” ‘The war had killed thousands by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, death, death and dying, Iraq, Iraq War, post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, U.S. army, veterans, Veterans' Day, war, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Movie Tie-In: Ender’s Game (Twentieth Anniversary Edition audiobook)

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Twentieth Anniversary Edition Audiobook) Ender Wiggins is a rare genius who may save the world from alien ‘buggers’ if he can prove himself in Battle School, and rise to the top command post. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged audiobooks, book reviews, Ender's Game, movie tie-in, science fiction, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment