Tag Archives: friendship

Get a Grip by Alyson Shelton

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Victoria Waddle

This compact novel (186 pages) is narrated in free verse. It has wide appeal, but is an especially good purchase for librarians seeking work on sibling death and grief, competitive gymnastics, changes in friendships that take place as kids get older, and hi/lo literature for tweens and teens. Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Warbler School Chronicles by Stephanie Barbé Hammer

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Victoria Waddle

The Warbler School would also be great to have on a display spinner at the middle school and high school libraries. A quick read packed with relatable emotions. Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sometimes We Tell the Truth

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Sometimes is, in fact, a modern telling of Chaucer’s tales with teens as the pilgrims. Except that these pilgrims are not making a commitment to the Almighty. They are going to Washington D.C . on a six-hour bus trip with their Civics class teacher. Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Literary Read Alike, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keep Sweet is here! My YA Novel 😊

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

My novel Keep Sweet officially launched yesterday. I also have an essay in an anthology on sibling loss and grief, The Loss of a Lifetime, which launched on Tuesday. We had a very emotional reading by the authors on Wednesday. It was recorded. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Grief, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Uncategorized, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Have a Novel! Keep Sweet!

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Victoria Waddle

Fourteen-year old Elizabeth Warren lives in the “Community” with her father, four mothers, and sixteen siblings. Their prophet heads the cult, controlling all aspects of the community members’ lives. When he announces that Elizabeth must marry her older cousin, she joins forces with her twin brother, her older sister, and two good friends to alter her fate. Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 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: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Looking for Alaska by John Green The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky You can … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

Sapphic Romance: Enemies to Lovers She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen came to my attention through an article in the Sojourners newsletter. Sojourners is a left-of-center interdenominational Christian organization that works towards social and racial justice.  I’m reading books … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why is ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ banned?

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

I thought you’d be interested in my most recent Substack post concerning Utah’s statewide ban of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Below, I’m excerpting the part of that post discussing this topic. I also always … Continue reading →

Posted in "Banned Book", banned books, censorship, Fable/Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Family Problems, Fiction, Mature Readers, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

No Place for Fairy Tales

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Victoria Waddle

By edd tello A transgender teen wants the quinceañera of her dreams No Place for Fairy Tales is a short novel in verse that will appeal to a diverse group of readers. I picked it up in my ongoing efforts … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bucking Expectations: Breaking Pattern

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Victoria Waddle

Rodeo is at the heart of Breaking Pattern, with great visual detail, fast-paced action, intense emotionality, and fabulous horses. Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment