Books with author Joan Bauer

Foster McFee dreams of having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Macon Dillard's goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Foster's mother Rayka longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous in the little town of Culpepper. Until some unexpected events shake the town and its inhabitants-and put their big ambitions to the test. Full of humor, unforgettable characters, surprises, and lots and lots of heart, this is Joan Bauer at her most engaging.

Something’s rotten in the heart of apple country! Hildy Biddle dreams of being a journalist. A reporter for her high school newspaper, The Core, she’s just waiting for a chance to prove herself. Not content to just cover school issues, Hildy’s drawn to the town’s big story—the haunted old Ludlow house. On the surface, Banesville, USA, seems like such a happy place, but lately, eerie happenings and ghostly sightings are making Hildy take a deeper look. Her efforts to find out who is really haunting Banesville isn’t making her popular, and she starts wondering if she’s cut out to be a journalist after all. But she refuses to give up, because, hopefully, the truth will set a few ghosts free. Peeled is classic Joan Bauer, featuring a strong heroine, and filled with her trademark witty dialogue, and problems and people worth standing up to.

Imagine having a personal cupid--an actual winged being--pop into your life and offer to make your dreams come true. The catch is he can help you in only one way: artistically, academically, or romantically. That's what happens to aspiring photographer Allison Jean (A. J.) McCreary. A. J. knows she should concentrate on getting into a top-notch art school. But she's spent five torturous months obsessed with handsome hunk, Peter Terris. Just one shot from the cupid's bow and thownk, A. J. will have the undying devotion of handsome Peter...forever.

There's only one thing in the world Mickey Vernon really wants, and it's hanging in the window of his family's pool hall. It's an awesome shirt that says Vernon's Pool Hall Youth Tournament Champion, Cruckston New Jersey, and the winner of the tento thirteen-year-olds' nine-ball tournament will have the honor of wearing it. For a ten-year-old, Mickey is one fantastic pool player. But to win the shirt, he's going to have to beat Buck Pender. Buck is three years older, is probably part gorilla, and has been pushing Mickey and his friends around since forever. Even with coaching from Arlen Pepper, math brain and loyal best friend, Mickey figures he's doomed.But then a bearded stranger in a cowboy hat rolls into town in a Peterbilt truck -- the ultimate. Joseph Alvarez is an ace with a pool cue. Even more important, he knew Mickey's pool champion father, who died when Mickey was a baby. But he's also a man with a past -- and Mickey's mother doesn't want Joseph spending time with her son. Mickey has absolutely got to talk his mother into letting this man teach him his dad's pool secrets.Amazing triple bank shots, fifth-grade heroics, and desperate measures to deal with unreasonable mothers add up to a hilarious novel about pool, parents, and trying to be the best.