Joan Bauer

Don't let the cover full you! There is nothing over the top fluffy about the tale of a spunky, spirited, scared twelve year old whose father is a jerk and whose mother needs the jerk in her life more than needing to provide stability for her daughter.

There is nothing soft and fuzzy about a mother who is emotionally, mentally unstable and whose actions lead to homelessness for herself and her daughter.

Highly recommended. This is a poignant, honest look at how very strong young children can be show more under incredible adversity.

I also love the fact that the author provided a strong role model in a sixth grade teacher who cared deeply. There is a great message here about the power of teachers to shape lives.

The writing is wonderful and emotion laden. show less

Hope Was Here was a surprising read for me! I wasn’t expecting a book about a 16 year-old girl and waitressing and politics to make me think and most of all…HOPE.

Hope Was Here is one of the best titles to fit with a book I’ve ever read; the main character’s name is Hope and its main theme is hope. Hope Was Here is a very inspiring story. When I was done reading it, I thought it was the most inspiring story I’ve ever read…that’s pretty big!

Every character was unique and thought show more out. All of them had their own problems and were hoping (there’s that word again) by some miracle at times, everything would work out. Hope Was Here’s main focus was hope, but Joan also touched on the topic of an atypical family. Anything Joan wrote about Hope not knowing who her father is…had me almost to tears every time. I was crying during many portions of the book. To me, that’s a sign the author did something right.

I really cannot put into words how much this book made me FEEL! So much emotion and thought went into the writing of this from Joan Bauer’s end. I’m making sure to check into Joan’s other novels, I’m hoping they’re just as well written! The book is stuffed full of quotes, it was hard to only chose a couple to share with you!

Hope Was Here contained many interesting tips for waitresses. If you love reading AND are or want to be a waitress, this may be an interesting read for you!

Hope Was Here also contained politics and the process of it, which normally would bother me, but it didn’t at all in this book. show less

Ten-year-old Mickey has a talent and passion for pool, same as his late father. Mickey's nemesis is Buck Pender, a 13-year-old bully of the pool hall whom Mickey is determined to defeat in the youth nine-ball championship at his grandmother's pool hall. Unfoturnately, Mickey allows Buck to get to him, thus messing with his game. What ends up helping Mickey's game and passion is the return of family friend Joseph Alvarez who learned to play pool from Mickey's father. Mickey's mother is afraid show more Joseph will just let Mickey down as he had let the family down after her husband's death. But to Mickey, who was a baby when his father died, Joseph represents a connection to his father and the one sport they both love. Mickey's best friend Arlen also provides his math expertise to help Mickey with his game.

It's a vivid story about a likable kid who's passionate about his hobby. The working-class setting is that of a tight-knit family and neighborhood, where there is always someone there to pick you up when you're down. A great "boy book," too. show less

This book was an enjoyable read. It is the story of a 12 year old girl named Foster, whose life in many ways is far from ideal. Foster lost her father to the war in Iraq, leaves her hometown of Memphis suddenly due to her mother’s abusive boyfriend, and hides a very personal secret which limits her in school and holds her back in everyday life. The big secret is that Foster can not read but she has developed ways to cope – methods to remember things, a list of excuses to use to avoid show more reading and writing in front of others, and a genuine, magnetic personality that touches the heart of everyone she meets. She becomes endeared in her new community due to her caring, selfless personality and her fabulous ability to bake the very best cupcakes and muffins. The story tells of how she cultivates friendships and acceptance in the small community and struggles to overcome her inability and fear of reading with the help of her new friends.
The author did an excellent job developing the type of quirky, yet interesting characters you may find in a small, rural community. Each is likable despite their personal flaws. The author is so good at making her characters come alive in the dialogues, I felt I could hear their individual voices. The author incorporates current trends in this work – the growing love for the Food Network and cupcake baking in particular, and the love of our teens in recording events and producing their own films on small personal devices. The portrayed difficulties and emotions of the young girl will cause even reluctant and slow readers to empathize with her and read until they learn of the outcome of her struggles. An excellent, feel good book which touches on issues of particular importance to teens; acceptance, friendship, perseverance, and self worth. show less