Tag Archives: book reviews

Nonfiction: “The Half has Never been Told”

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Half has Never been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist I was fascinated by Baptist’s argument that an important foundation of American capitalism, and an essential element in the economic success … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Non-fiction, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, American History, book reviews, Common Core, Common Core standards, Edward E. Baptist, slavery, The Half has Never been Told | 1 Comment

Ranger’s Apprentice series–all here now!

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

We have had some guys asking for fantasy fiction with male protagonists/heroes. You want to read something great beyond The Lord of the Rings. Come checkout The Ranger’s Apprentice. We’ve filled out the series, and finally have them all. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Fiction, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged adventure stories, book reviews, Fantasy fiction, friendship, guy books, magic, murder, mystery, Ranger's Apprentice, Ranger's Apprentice series, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

You Loved “Au Revoir Crazy European Chick”

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

We have the sequel–Perry’s Killer Playlist. And if you’ve read that, we have a new book by the same author–Con Academy. Enjoy!

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Romance | Tagged adventure, Au Revoir Crazy European Chick, book reviews, Con Academy, Joe Schreiber, Perry's Killer Playlist, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Nonfiction: “Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife”

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Spook by Mary Roach I’m gathering some scary stories for a fall display, and thought I’d add Spook–which is not a scary book at all, but rather an entertaining work of nonfiction that takes a look at life after death. … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Humor, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, Common Core standards, death, death and dying, ghosts, human soul, humor, Mary Roach, mediums, nonfiction, science, soul, spirits, Spook, supernatural | 2 Comments

“Held”

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Held by Edeet Ravel Chloe Mills is living every high school student’s dream. She’s in Greece with her best friend in a summer volunteer program. She and Angie rarely argue, but after a disagreement with Angie, Chloe decides to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Edeet Ravel, friendship, Greece, hi-low reading, human rights, infatuation, kidnapping, post traumatic stress disorder, prison, PTSD, reluctant readers, romance, Stockholm Syndrome, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The Bully” and “The Gun”

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Bully by Paul Langan Darrell Mercer moves from Philadelphia, PA to California in the middle of his freshman year of high school. Although his neighborhood in Philly is not the best–even dangerous sometimes–he has a lot of good neighbors … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Bluford series, book reviews, bullying, friendship, guy books, hi-low reading, high school, high school students, life skills, parent-teen relationships, poverty, Read 180, reluctant readers, school problems, teachers, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Go Set a Watchman”

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee With the flap over Harper Lee’s new book still simmering among readers I know, I have to admit that I’m surprised at how virulently both professional reviewers and ordinary lovers of To … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Human Rights Issues | Tagged Adult books for teens, Atticus Finch, book reviews, child-parent relationships, coming of age, critical thinking, family problems, friendship, Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee, Jean Louise | Leave a comment

“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

Sci-Fi/Future Dystopias: “Oryx and Crake”

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Snowman (as in Abominable), who was once known as Jimmy, appears to be the last human being on earth. His existence doesn’t seem much worth living–the environment is in ruins and he cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic | Tagged Adult books for teens, biotechology, book reviews, death and dying, divorce, environmental destruction, family problems, fiction, future dystopia, genetic engineering, global climate change, global warming, grief, human rights, Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake, science fiction, technology | 1 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