Joan Bauer (novelist) facts for kids

Joan Baehler Bauer is an American author who writes books for young adults. She was born on July 12, 1951, in River Forest, Illinois. Today, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Evan Bauer. They have one daughter named Jean. Before she became a well-known writer, Joan worked in different jobs. She worked for McGraw-Hill and the Chicago Tribune newspaper. She also gained experience in advertising, marketing, and writing scripts for movies.

What Are Joan Bauer's Books About?

The main characters in Joan Bauer's books are usually teenagers. These characters often face tricky family situations. They might deal with feeling left out, sickness, or problems with how they see themselves. Joan Bauer makes these serious topics easier to read by adding a light touch and humor. Her books are known for being fun and enjoyable. You can often spot them by their bright covers, which usually have her name written in different colored letters.

Awards and Recognition for Her Books

Joan Bauer has won many awards for her writing. Some of these special honors include:

• Delacorte Prize for First Young Adult Novel, 1992, for Squashed
• Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults selection, American Library Association, 1999, for Rules of the Road
• Newbery Honor Medal
• Los Angeles Times Book Prize
• Christopher Award
• Golden Kite Award, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
• Michigan Thumbs-Up! Award for Children's Literature
• New England Booksellers Award
• Literary Light Award, Boston Public Library

Famous Books by Joan Bauer

Squashed

Squashed was Joan Bauer's very first book. It was published in 1992. The story takes place in rural Iowa. It's about a sixteen-year-old girl named Ellie Morgan. Ellie wants her giant pumpkin to grow much bigger so she can win a prize. She also hopes to lose some weight to impress Wes, the new boy in town. This book helped Joan Bauer win the Delacorte Prize for an Outstanding First Young Adult Novel.

Hope Was Here

The novel Hope Was Here came out in 2000. This book was a runner-up for the 2001 Newbery Medal. The Newbery Medal is a very important award for American children's literature. Hope Was Here tells the story of Hope Yancey, a 16-year-old waitress. She works in a small town in Wisconsin. The book shows how Hope learns important life lessons while working as a waitress.

Thwonk

Thwonk was published in 1996. This book is about a girl named A.J. McCreary and her crush, Peter Terris. A.J. meets a real-life cupid! This cupid can only grant one wish for her. She can wish for help with love, school, or art. A.J. knows she should use the wish to get into a famous art school. But she has been thinking about Peter for months, which makes her decision very hard.

Peeled

Peeled was published in 2008. The story follows a girl named Hildy Biddle. Hildy dreams of becoming a journalist. She writes for her school newspaper. One day, she is drawn to a haunted house in her town. She thinks it could be a great story. People have reported seeing ghosts there, and the whole town is curious. Hildy is determined to get the big story, no matter what happens.

List of Joan Bauer's Books

• Squashed (Delacorte Press, 1992)
• Thwonk (Delacorte, 1995) – a young-adult fantasy novel
• Sticks (Delacorte, 1996)
• Rules of the Road (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1998)
• Backwater (Putnam, 1999)
• Hope Was Here (Putnam, 2000)
• Stand Tall (Putnam, 2002)
• Best Foot Forward (Putnam, 2005)
• Peeled (Putnam, 2008)
• Close to Famous (Vikings, 2011)
• Almost Home (Viking, 2012)
• Soar (Jan, 2016)
• Tell Me (Viking, 2014)