Tag Archives: friendship

“A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone While the title may seem misleading once you start reading the book, you’ll understand it by the time you reach the final page. This quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl, dating, friendship, hi-low reading, high school students, novel in verse, Read 180, romance, Tanya Lee Stone, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: Bullying: “Give a Boy a Gun”

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

I’m thinking about my book talks with Read 180 classes tomorrow. I read Give a Boy a Gun for the first time last night–it stands the time of time. Still compelling. Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, Common Core standards, death, family problems, friendship, hi-low reading, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, reluctant readers, school problems, school shooting, Teen Issues, Todd Strasser, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 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

Adult Books for Teens: “Colorless Tsukuri Tazaki”

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami Sometimes I love a book so much, it’s hard to know what to say about it without the effusion seeming insincere. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki is one of those books. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Mature Readers, Multicultural, Over 375 pages | Tagged betrayal, college, Colorless Tsukuri Tazaki, engineers, friendship, Haruki Murakami, high school, Japan, Japanese culture, meaning of life, mental depression, metaphysics, pilgrimage, secrets, suicide, train stations | Leave a comment

“Freaks Like Us”

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught Sunshine is the one person who understands Jason, who helps him when the voices in his head make it hard to know what is real and what is an illusion. The two of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged ADHD, book reviews, Freaks Like Us, friendship, missing persons in fiction, mystery, romance, schizophrenia, selectively mute, Special Education, Susan Vaught, suspense, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday: “Breathing Underwater”

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn Nick is in court, facing a restraining order. He tells the judge that he never hit his girlfriend, Caitlin. The judge isn’t buying it. And it’s a good thing, too, because in the journal that … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged abusive men, affluent teenagers, anger management, body image, book reviews, dating, football, friendship, high school, male-female relationships, partner abuse, self-esteem, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Please Ignore Vera Dietz”

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King I’m sorry I ignored Vera Dietz for so long, but I finally had the chance to read her story. And loved it. Smart, witty, tragic, redeeming. By turns, of course. Charlie Kahn … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense | Tagged book reviews, bullying, death, death and dying, friendship, grief, romance, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass”

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina You’d think that this was just a titillating title for a silly girl-drama book. But you’d be wrong. Yaqui Delgado wants to Kick Your Ass is a really good … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Multicultural, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullies, bullying, Cuban Americans, family problems, friendship, gangs, high school girls, Latinas, Meg Medina, Mexican Americans, YA fiction, YA literature, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass | 3 Comments

Teen Book Fest Author: “Noggin”

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

Noggin by John Corey Whaley When Travis comes back to high school after a five-year absence, one of his classmates calls out “Noggin!” And the principal frowns and the geometry teacher makes the boy apologize. Because it’s rude … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, cancer, cryogenics, friendship, gay teens, gay youth, John Corey Whaley, Noggin, Ontario Teen Book Fest, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

“The Miseducation of Cameron Post”

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth Cameron Post and Irene Klauson have always been best friends. They do everything together including all those things they shouldn’t do, like shoplift. And there’s always been an edge to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Mature Readers, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged accidents, coming of age, conversion therapy, death, friendship, fundamentalism (religion), gay youth, GLBT, GLBTQ, grief, guilt, lesbians, Montana, orphans | Leave a comment