Author Spotlight: Joan Bauer

Joan Bauer is one of my favorite authors. Her books are so true to life. Here are the books we have by her in our libraries.

Rules of the Road (1998)

Meet Jenna Boller, star employee at Gladstone's Shoe Store in Chicago. Standing a gawky 5'11'' at 16 years old, Jenna is the kind of girl most likely to stand out in the crowd--for all the wrong reasons. But that doesn't stop Madeline Gladstone, the president of Gladstone's Shoes 176 outlets in 37 states, from hiring Jenna to drive her cross country in a last ditch effort to stop Elden Gladstone from taking over his mother's company and turning a quality business into a shop-and-schlock empire. Now Jenna Boller shoe salesperson is about to become a shoe-store spy as she joins her crusty old employer for an eye-opening adventure that will teach them both the rules of the road--and the rules of life. (Summary from Publisher)

Hope was Here (2000)

“A good waitress has to be ready for anything” (185). Hope Yancy is a good waitress. She’s dealt with new places and new people. In Mulhoney, Wisconsin, Hope deals with newness all over again. She likes Braverman, the cook, which is a no-no for a waitress. At 16, she’s fighting for truth and honesty in her small town. She wanted to see her boss, G. P. Stoop, elected mayor. Hope does what she can and tries to embody her name. (Summary by Miss Bridget)

Stand Tall (2002)

Tree struggles to find his place in a world he no longer recognizes. As the youngest child of newly divorced parents, he wonders what went wrong. Every week he lives in one house or the other. Tree also has to help his grandfather recover from a leg amputation. He doesn't fit in at school either. Tree’s only is 12 years old, but he’s already 6 foot 3 inches tall. Tree's new friend Sophie asks him if he has a motto. Tree finds that his motto is "stand tall." He can't change his height, so he might as well take pride in it. (Summary by Miss Bridget)

Peeled (2008)

Hildy Biddle, a reporter for her high school paper, takes the news seriously. She wants to give her readers an honest portrayal of the facts. The biggest story in her small town is a ghost. Strange things have been happening at the old Ludlow house. The town's newspaper is blowing things out of proportion. Hildy takes up her pen, even after the high school paper has been shut down, to give her town the real news. (Summary by Miss Bridget)

Close to Famous (2011)

Foster McFee has a dream. On day, she’s going to be a star—host of her own cooking show. But right now, the only star in sight is the one on her apron. Foster and her mom are on the run from the disaster that was her mom’s boyfriend. They land in Culpepper, West Virginia—a small town just right for big dreams. Foster’s baking skills are soon famous and she’s made friends. Can it last? (Summary by Miss Bridget)

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