Tag Archives: drug addiction

Drug Abuse “In Ecstasy”

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Victoria Waddle

In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey Fifteen-year-old Sophie and Mia are longtime best friends, who, as the novel opens, are getting ready for a big party. Sophie is more outgoing. Mia is socially awkward and just hopes to get through … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug dealers in literature, drug use, drugs, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, In Ecstasy, Kate McCaffrey, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: “The Harder They Come”

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Harder They Come by T. C. Boyle A cruise to Central America and a stop in Costa Rica sound like a vacation dream for a middle class retired couple. After all, Costa Rica is supposed to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, book reviews, child-parent relationships, Common Core, Costa Rica, death, drug addiction, drug cartels, drug dealers, family problems, grief, Mendocino, mental depression, mental illness, murder, parent-teen relationships, schizophrenia, school problems, small towns in fiction, T. C. Boyle, The Harder They Come | 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

“Criminal”

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy Nikki is absolutely crazy for her boyfriend Dee. Though he often seems distant, she rationalizes his behavior. After all, among his many tattoos is the one she is can’t help bringing her lips to–N–for … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, child-parent relationships, Criminal, criminals, drug addiction, family problems, friendship, gangs, hi-low reading, murder, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, Teen Issues, Terra Elan McVoy, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Gabi: A Girl in Pieces”

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero “My mom says, ‘Ojos abiertos, piernas cerradas.’ Eyes open, legs closed.” This advice, the total sum of Gabi’s sex education at home, gets more ironic (and darkly funny) as the book … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, death and dying, drug addiction, family problems, friendship, grief, grieving, high school students, Isabel Quintero, JLG, Junior Library Guild, LGBTQ, Morris Award, parent-teen relationships, poverty, rape, romance, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 4 Comments

Sci-Fi: “Ship Breaker”

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi In the aftermath of environmental apocalypse, in the world of ship breaking on the Gulf Coast, Nailer survives by pulling copper wire from grounded oil tankers. He, like everyone else he knows, is looking for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Environmental Issues, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, clipper ships, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug dealers in literature, environmental issues, moral dilemmas, New Orleans, oil tankers, poverty, recycling, science fiction, The Gulf Coast, wealth, YA fiction, YA literature, yachts | Leave a comment

“Out of Reach”

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Out of Reach by Carrie Arcos Rachel’s brother Micah is a meth addict. She’d like to think he is getting better—after his stint in rehab, especially. But Micah never wanted to go to rehab, and he is back to using … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, brothers and sisters, drug addiction, drug dealers in literature, family problems, meth addiction, methamphetamine, methamphetamine addiction, National Book Award Finalist, San Diego, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: Biography: “Breaking Night”

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Breaking Night by Liz Murray Being the child of drug addicts makes for a life both frightening and weird. There’s no stability, the strangers in house can be anyone, including child sexual predators. And the parents themselves are pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Non-fiction | Tagged Adult books for teens, child-parent relationships, children of alcoholics, drug addiction, homeless teens, homelessness, New York, New York City, sisters | Leave a comment

Adult Books for Teens: Biography: “The Los Angeles Diaries”

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Los Angeles Diaries: A Memoir by James Brown James Brown begins with that phenomenon of nature that all of us here in the Inland Empire know: the Santa Ana winds. We’ve seen the uprooted trees and downed powerlines … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Family Problems, Non-fiction | Tagged alcoholism, arson, autobiography, children of alcoholics, drug addiction, Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Bernardino County, writers, writing | 1 Comment

More new biography and memoir

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

So–I’m defining biography and memoir a little loosely here, but I think teachers would love to have you read any of these books. And you’ll find empathy, outrage, inspiration and courage through your reading. Enjoy! We All Fall Down by … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography/Memoir, Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Human Rights Issues, Over 375 pages | Tagged Adult books for teens, civil rights, drug addiction, entrepreneurship, inspiration, small business | Leave a comment