Tag Archives: YA fiction

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 , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Movie Tie-In: Ender’s Game (Twentieth Anniversary Edition audiobook)

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Twentieth Anniversary Edition Audiobook) Ender Wiggins is a rare genius who may save the world from alien ‘buggers’ if he can prove himself in Battle School, and rise to the top command post. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Movie Tie-In, Over 375 pages, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “The Beckoners”

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Beckoners by Carrie Mac  Everyone calls April “Dog.”  She’s been bullied all through high school. From being forced to eat a whole box of dog biscuits and retching in the hallway to being beaten within an inch of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-Based/Religious Element, Family Problems, Fiction, Human Rights Issues, Read 180, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Horror! “Monstrumologist”

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey  Another entry in the true horror category, The Monstrumologist starts with the gruesome discovery by a grave robber of a partially-eaten corpse around which is wrapped another corpse of a human-like creature.  The grave robber, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Over 375 pages, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Horror! “Scowler”

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Scowler is a great October read, one in a YA branch of the true horror family. So—this is NOT your love triangle with some supernatural creatures thrown in ala Twilight and its progeny. Scowler is Dark. Scowler  is Disturbing. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Problems, Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Suspense, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Horror! “Unnatural Creatures: Stories Selected by Neil Gaiman”

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Unnatural Creatures: Stories Selected by Neil Gaiman      Lots of teens know who Neil Gaiman is. They’ve read some of his books or seen movies made from those books–Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere. And Gaiman’s written several frightening adult … Continue reading →

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Bullying Books: “I Swear”

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

I Swear by Lane Davis    Leslie Gatlin commits suicide in the prologue to I Swear, fulfilling the wishes of a group of girl bullies, who had been urging her to kill herself. Why did these girls do this? Much as … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Issue/Debate, Family Problems, Fiction, Young Adult Literature | Tagged , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bullying Books: “Reason to Breathe”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

     Reason to Breathe, by Rebecca Donovan I was talking to another teacher at Chaffey High, Mrs. Vanderbeck (who used to work at Colony as well), about the bullying books I was reading this year. She told me about one … Continue reading →

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Bullying Books: “Some Girls Are”

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Victoria Waddle

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers   Regina has bullied other girls all through high school. She’s popular. She’s Anna’s best friend. And Anna is the queen bee of the Hallowell High, calling all the shots, deciding who’s in and who’s … Continue reading →

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