Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Foster and her mother flee Memphis to escape from her mother’s abusive boyfriend Huck. They wind up in Culpepper, living in a motor home. Her mother quickly finds a job. They are determined to make sure Huck can’t find them. He is violent.

Foster loves baking and she finds a local diner owner and convinces him to let her sell cupcakes to his customers. She hopes to have her own show on the Food Network someday. She practices baking and pretends to be in a recording studio. Baking can be a little tricky for Foster because she has trouble reading, but she is very determined.

Foster starts working for Miss Charleena, who was a famous actress and is now hoping to make a comeback. When Miss Charlena discovers Foster’s secret about her reading problems, they make a pact to help one another.

A young boy named Macon wants to be a documentary filmmaker someday. First he has to get a camera and a little experience. He and Foster decide to film people around the town and they get great footage. Their first story is about a home that helps families when they are visiting prisoners.

Many of the residents of Culpepper have big dreams they hope to achieve. Foster is determined to help them all.


This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 8 and up.


Visit Joan Bauer's website

The Sweetness of Salt

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante. Published by Bloomsbury, 2011.

Class Valedictorian Julia is approaching her summer with mixed feelings. She has an internship lined up at the courthouse, a pre-law scholarship for a great college and everything seems to be coming together. So why isn’t she excited?

Family arguments always ensue whenever her sister Sophie comes for a visit. Graduation day is the usual anticipated disaster and by the end of the day Sophie has fled back to her home in Vermont, but not before she dropped a few bombshells. For one thing, she is opening a bakery, giving her car to Julia and invited her to come for a visit. And if that didn’t cause enough chaos, Sophie yells about an awful family secret.

Julia has a crush on next neighbor Milo but realizes her feelings aren’t reciprocated. Timing seems perfect for a visit to Sophie. Of course, Julia’s parents don’t agree, but Julia knows they aren’t telling her the truth. Sophie has volatile relationships with her entire family, so Julia knows this is going to be a challenging visit. In fact, it is going to change her life.

This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Visit author Cecilia Galante's website