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Close to Famous Joan Bauer

Foster and her Mama left Memphis in the middle of the night, on the run from a boyfriend gone bad. They end up in Culpepper, WV, where they find a town dominated by the new prison--a prison that was supposed to give the town jobs and revililization, but didn't.

All Foster wants to do is bake, and have her own cooking show. When life gets rough, she just pretends she's on camera and narrates her cooking, practicing for her big break.

Meanwhile, there's a recluse movie star who sees Foster's hidden shame (she can't read), a budding documentary filmaker (who doesn't have a camera), a church that needs saving, and a robotic tarantula.

We have a small town full of quirky characters and a plucky girl who's new to town and saves the day and really, just a lot of tropes and themes that usually make me roll by eyes, BUT NOT THIS TIME. Foster's voice and determination to bake got me right from the start. I LOVE when she pretends she's on camera-- she's got it down perfectly and obviously uses it to work out her thoughts in a very fun way. They way Bauer draws side characters gives them a little more depth (and humor) than average. I especially loved the dynamic between the prison and the town--it's a fascinating issue and one that Bauer handles well and except for one scene, the prison isn't a scary presence. I liked how she explored how the town deals with the promised prosperity that failed to materialize.

I had to read this one for a training and wasn't expecting to love it as much as I do.

One note-- this was Schneider Family Book Award winner. The Schneider Family award "honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." I assume it won because Foster can't read. The only problem is, that assumes Foster can't read because of a learning disability. WHY Foster can't read is never really discussed and a disability is only 1 possible explanation. (I mean, Doug Swieteck can't read either, but that's just because he never had good instruction, not because of a learning disability.) That's not to detract from the book at ALL, mostly a committee process thing that I'm curious about.

Book Provided by... my local library

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It's another one folks! Another title that I have seen rave reviews on, all around the blogosphere, that I just didn't really enjoy. Who knows why, just another I didn't get, though there must be something that is making the rest of you love this story so much!

Peeled, written by the popular Joan Bauer, is the story of Hildy Biddle (gotta love that name), a reporter for her school's newspaper, "The Core." The town newspaper has begun running stories on some eerie happenings around town, namely creepy messages that are starting to worry the residents of the town. Sensationalism gets to an all time high and Hildy decides to take on the story herself, for the school's paper, to get the truth as to what is really going on. The town's reporters only seem to be interested in selling the story and ultimately creating a huge haunted house amusement park in town, which would shut down farmland that the residents of Banesville make their living off of. Hildy begins her own in-depth investigation, resulting in her entering into incredibly hot water and risking everything to get the truth.

I honestly don't know why I didn't enjoy Peeled. Who knows...maybe it's just the mood I've been in lately, affecting my reading taste. It is written in typical Bauer fashion, with funny characters and humor spun throughout the seriousness of the plot, yet I still just didn't connect with the story. I do, however, need to comment on the genius of the cover. The cover depicts the plot perfectly and definitely is one of those that make you want to grab the book off the shelf and take it home. Covers too often stray too far from the story, though this one is just perfect.

I'm excited to announce that I'm now a reviewer for Teens Read Too! They only post one review per book, so any books that have already been reviewed there, I will still post here. Books that I have reviewed for TRT, will be posted on their site.

My review for Best Foot Forward, by Joan Bauer can be read here at Teens Read Too.

Jump on over to whimsybooks to read her post. Come on. Everybody play!

I hand wrote thank you notes to Sharon Draper and Joan Bauer. As they are enormously successful, I don't expect they needed the boost, but they are two authors who hooked me on YA literature. There were others, and I may write more letters. I've already commented on Laurie Halse Andersons page about her incredible books, and how my students devour them. I may send a note to Joyce Sweeney, except I see her twice a year, and it's much more fun to praise her work in person. Same with Alex Flinn, Dorian Cirrone, Edward Bloor, Gaby Triana, and Laurie Friedman. Amazing Florida writers, all of them. I probably shouldn't have started listing names, because I'm sure I left someone off. I should go browse my bookshelf. Oh my gosh, I could go on and on. But I can't write them all thank you notes. See? That's why you have to play, too! We have to spread the joy! Have fun.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, Feb. 13, 2007) is now available. Here's a peek:

I'm slowly coming out of the depths of my Stephenie Meyer obsession and am finally ready to share my notes about another brilliant author. Joan Bauer is the author of many award-winning novels, including 2003 Newbery Honor book, HOPE WAS HERE.

Bauer's books are filled with strong, inspiring characters with unusual talents. For example, in Hope Was Here, the main character, Hope, is an extraordinary waitress.

Here are my notes from BYU's Midwinter Books for Young Readers. I'm not sure I've ever seen a more enthusiastic speaker...

-As a young mom, Joan Bauer wrote in the loft in her home. However, it soon became apparent that not having a door was a problem. She used to stall the kids by putting a jar of jelly beans on the stairs, to get a few extra minutes of writing time.

-There was a time when Bauer was very depressed. She was supposed to speak to a group of 400 blind/handicapped children in New York. She wanted to give them her all, but she was beating herself up inside. The day was rainy. A little girl asked her what she would be speaking about before she started. Bauer said vaguely that she'd be telling some stories. The girl continued, "Well, are they good stories?". Bauer wasn't sure they were. She began her speech. She spoke about a terrible accident that almost took everything away from her, including her writing ability. A boy wanted the mic. Bauer wasn't sure it was a good idea, but she let him have it. It took several minutes for the boy, Rodney, to get up and speak. He said, "Every day I need to laugh." She hopes her stories show the pains of life and where laughter fits in.

-One of her books, STAND TALL, begins with Ecclesiastes 3, which says "...a time to weep, a time to laugh..." She wrote this book in the wake of September Eleventh. It's about a time to face war, internal and external.

-Bauer likes to think about all the hands that touch a book. Every person that touches the book, adds their own story and experiences to it.

-She is a strong believer in hope and passion. This is why she gives each character a strong passion/talent. And she hope all her books are infused with hope.

-When she was recovering from her accident, a lawyer made her question, "Who am I to have this big dream anyway?" He said that she could prove she was a writer one day by sending a book to him. She thought, "Yeah right. When I'm a writer, you can go buy my book at the store."

-When asked how she can write for children, she says, "I am every age that I ever was."

-Pain and laughter go together. Think of Moses with his staff. The Lord said to throw it down and it became a serpent. "What do you have in your hands? Throw it down." Find out what power it has.

-Music comes from the soul, not just the instrument.

-She doesn't usually do writing exercises, except in her head. However, she'll sometimes do a 30-page character sketch. She thinks/researches for 2-3 months before beginning a novel.


Stay tuned for the final amazing speaker I heard on Saturday....Rosemary Wells.

I usually blog on Monday, and if I don't, I blog Tuesday morning. But this week I didn't because I was too busy reading this:



HOPE WAS HERE by Joan Bauer (think she's related to Jack?) is an excellent novel that will appeal to fans of Deborah Wiles (Each Little Bird that Sings and Love, Ruby Lavender).

I am also reading many picture books by Rosemary Wells. MAX'S CHOCOLATE CHICKEN is a bundle of fun.

I have been waiting and waiting for Stephenie Meyer's book, TWILIGHT, at the library. And I really hope I get it by this weekend.

So, why am I reading up on Joan Bauer, Rosemary Wells, and Stephenie Meyer? I am going to see them on Saturday at BYU's Midwinter Books for Young Readers Symposium. AND it looks like there will be plenty of time for questions. So, come on, don't be shy...what questions would you like me to ask these brilliant authors?

Because, here's a confession. I hate speaking on-the-spot. Ask me to speak in front of a group, and sure, I don't have a problem with that if I am prepared. If I go there, questions-in-hand, I'll be perfectly fine and composed. If I go unprepared, I'll sweat, turn read, stutter, and probably chicken-out of asking anything at all.