Tag Archives: child abuse

Uncultured: The Children of God Cult

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Mestyanek Young grew up in the Children of God cult (often referred to as ‘the Family’). Her experience there is horrifying. Her childhood traumas are so numerous, it’s hard to understand how the cult even exists. Why don’t its members run the other way? Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Non-fiction | Tagged book review, book reviews, books, child abuse, child molestation, child sexual abuse, child-parent relationships, Children of God, cults, fiction, Mestyanek Young | Leave a comment

Banned books and Sold by Patricia McCormick

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

I’m discussing the top banned books of the 2023-24 school year over at Be A Cactus. These are the top three: You can look back at the post on Perks and at this one on Alaska if you want to see why I think those books … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural | Tagged book reviews, child abuse, child sexual abuse, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, Nepal, poverty, sex trafficking, sexual slavery, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

Memoir: Educated

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Victoria Waddle

Tara Westover, the author of Educated, grew up in the country, in view of Buck’s Peak, in Idaho. Previous books I’ve read about the ‘heartland’ and its ‘real American’ inhabitants—whatever that is supposed to mean to those that use the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems | Tagged child abuse, Educated, family problems, fundamentalism (religion), Idaho, inspiration, memoir, Tara Westover | 2 Comments

“The Last Good Place of Lily Odilon”

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

Last Good Place of Lily Odilon by Sara Beitia Eighteen-year-old Lily Odilon has been in trouble before. When Albert Morales meets her, there are plenty of rumors swirling around her–she had been a party girl, but isn’t anymore; she … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, child abuse, child sexual abuse, family problems, high school students, parent-teen relationships, romance, Teen Issues, 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

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

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

Bullying Books/Romance: “Eleanor and Park”

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Eleanor and Park is already popular with some of our readers of realistic teen fiction, but before Valentine’s Day rolls around, I’d like to introduce it to the rest of you who are looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged 1980s, book reviews, child abuse, child-parent relationships, poverty, Rainbow Rowell, romance, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “Reason to Breathe”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Reason to Breathe, by Rebecca Donovan I was talking to another teacher at Chaffey High, Mrs. Vanderbeck (who used to work at Colony as well), about the bullying books I was reading this year. She told me about one … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged basketball, book reviews, bullying, child abuse, child-parent relationships, children of alcoholics, soccer, sports, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Quick Picks II–They’re easy to read and you can’t put them down.

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

Check These Out! The book summaries are from the publishers–book flaps, etc. The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin Seventeen-year-old Matthew recounts his attempts, starting at a young age, to free himself and his sisters from the grip of their … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged child abuse, hi-low reading, Orca Soundings Series, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment