Tag Archives: Teen Issues

“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

YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten Nominees are here!

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

Posted in Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged Teen Issues, Top Teen Picks, Top Ten, YA fiction, YA literature, YALSA | 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

“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

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini When he’s only fifteen years old, Craig Gilner is so depressed that he makes a plan to kill himself–he’s going to throw himself off the Brooklyn Bridge. Thankfully, Craig has … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Over 375 pages, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged book reviews, family problems, friendship, high school students, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini, parent-teen relationships, romance, school problems, suicide, suicide in literature, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“I’ll Give You the Sun”

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Victoria Waddle

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson “How can love be such a wrecking ball?” Noah and Jude are twins who have distinct personalities but sense that they are two halves of a perfect whole. While both are artistic … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Literature | Tagged artists, book reviews, bullying, child-parent relationships, coming of age, creativity, death, death and dying, family problems, friendship, grief, LGBTQ, painting, parent-teen relationships, Printz Award, risk, romance, school problems, sculptors, Stonewall Book Award, Teen Issues, YA fiction, YA literature | 2 Comments

“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

“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

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