Tag Archives: friendship

“How to Lose Everything”

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Victoria Waddle

How to Lose Everything: A Mostly True Story by Philipp Mattheis Sam, Eric, Schulz, and Jonathan are four friends living in a surburb of Munich, Germany. They mostly hang out at the skateboard park, a group of lost boys, adrift. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Young Adult Literature | Tagged abandoned houses, conduct of life, drugs, ethics, friendship, Germany, hi-low reading, high school students, Read 180, teenage boys, theft, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Tough Teen Topics: “Such a Pretty Girl”

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess Fifteen-year-old Meredith (“Chirp”) is coming undone because her father, who sexually molested and raped her when she was twelve, is coming home from prison. It’s clear from the outset of Such a Pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged child sexual abuse, fathers and daughters, friendship, mothers and daughters, neighbors, rape, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

Historical Fiction: “Code Name Verity”

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein This is a must-read for teens. And for adults. It’s no more only a ‘teen book’ than The Book Thief is a ‘teen book.’ Never mind how the publisher describes it. Read it. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Historical Fiction/Historical Element, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Human Rights Issues, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, espionage, fighter pilots, French Resistance, friendship, Nazis, pilots, spy stories, women air pilots, World War II, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The Running Dream”: California Young Reader Medal Nominee

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen Jessica, the best sprinter on her high school track team has just broken the league record in the 400-meter, beating her cross-town rival who is narcissistic snot. But the best day of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged amputee, California Young Reader Medal nominee, cerebral palsy, disabilities, friendship, running, track and field, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“Wave Warrior”

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Wave Warrior by Lesley Choyce Another Orca Soundings adventure for teens working on their reading skills. Ben Currie lives in Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. (For those of us Southern Californians with little knowledge of geography—think far to the east, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged death and dying, friendship, hi-low reading, Read 180, surfers, surfing | Leave a comment

“Riley Park”

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

Riley Park by Diane Tullson Here’s another super-quick Orca Soundings novel that I liked: Corbin and his best friend Darius are both attracted to the same girl, Rubee, who works at the local Safeway grocery store as a checker. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged friendship, hi-low reading, Orca Soundings Series, Read 180, reluctant readers | Leave a comment

“Jumpstart The World”

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Victoria Waddle

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde “’I’m taking that cat. I want the black one. You can’t talk me out of it, so don’t even try.’ I was already starting to understand him. To feel for him. Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Mature Readers, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged friendship, GLBTQ, transgender | 1 Comment