Close to Famous is the story of Foster, a young teenage girl struggling with her Dad’s death, her mother’s abusive relationship with an Elvis impersonator, and her inablility to read. But she loves to bake and uses that talent to help in overcoming her unstable life. She dreams of being the first teenager with her own national cooking show on TV, and soon discovers that most of the people she meets in her new town have dreams, too. The cupcakes and muffins Foster makes will leave you wanting the recipes; luckily the author makes some of them available on her website.
Joan Bauer is one of my favorite YA authors. Her characters are real, and teens can relate to them and their problems. She brings a sense of humor and warmth to her stories. Her characters overcome their difficulties with determination and hard work, and give us hope that we can, too.
Review by Jane Crockett, Cottonwood High School Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 Stars)
Interest Level: Grades 6-10
Close to Famous
Written by Joan Bauer
Viking
250 p.
Release Date: February 3, 2011
ISBN: 9780670012824 (hardcover)
