Tag Archives: reluctant readers

“Held”

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Held by Edeet Ravel Chloe Mills is living every high school student’s dream. She’s in Greece with her best friend in a summer volunteer program. She and Angie rarely argue, but after a disagreement with Angie, Chloe decides to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Edeet Ravel, friendship, Greece, hi-low reading, human rights, infatuation, kidnapping, post traumatic stress disorder, prison, PTSD, reluctant readers, romance, Stockholm Syndrome, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“The Bully” and “The Gun”

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

The Bully by Paul Langan Darrell Mercer moves from Philadelphia, PA to California in the middle of his freshman year of high school. Although his neighborhood in Philly is not the best–even dangerous sometimes–he has a lot of good neighbors … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Bluford series, book reviews, bullying, friendship, guy books, hi-low reading, high school, high school students, life skills, parent-teen relationships, poverty, Read 180, reluctant readers, school problems, teachers, 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

Quick Reads: “Dead End in Norvelt”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos What an entertaining mix of fact and fiction about growing up in a small town. Founded by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the Great Depression, by the early 1960’s, Norvelt is dying … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Dead End in Norvelt, death, death and dying, Eleanor Roosevelt, fiction, hi-low reading, history, Jack Gantos, Norvelt PA, PTSD, reluctant readers, small towns in fiction, tweens, YA fiction, YA literature | Leave a comment

“Send”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Send by Patty Blount “A punch to the jaw wasn’t how I imagined starting my first day at another new school, but fate had a warped sense of humor.” So begins Send, with Daniel (and/or Ken) making the decision … Continue reading →

Posted in bullying, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, critical thinking, cyberbullying, death, death and dying, duty to respond, family problems, friendship, high school students, reluctant readers, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 Comment

“School Spirits”

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins Related to the Hex Hall series Izzy Brannick hunts monsters of all types. However, she finds tracking and binding ghosts to be less than challenging. So when her mom (Aislinn) tells her that they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Family Problems, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Supernatural, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, ghost hunters, ghost stories, ghosts, Hex Hall series, hi-low reading, high school, high school students, monsters, paranormal, reluctant readers, School Spirits, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 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

“Dare Me”

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Dare Me by Eric Devine Ben Candido has known enough about trouble and his former best friend Ricky to stay away for more than three years. But when their senior year of high school finally arrives, Ben can’t help … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Sports, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Dare Me, Eric Devine, family problems, friendship, high school students, LGBTQ, parent-teen relationships, reluctant readers, school problems, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 1 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

New series for struggling readers: Urban Underground and Cutting Edge

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

I’m looking forward to talking to our READ 180 classes this week about some of the series we’ve added for teens who are improving their skills. here are a few that I like, with a review of a book from … Continue reading →

Posted in Hi-Low/Quick Read, Read 180, Uncategorized, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, Cutting Edge series, If You Really Loved Me, parent-teen relationships, Read 180, reluctant readers, Teen Issues, The Only Brother, Urban Underground series, YA fiction | Leave a comment