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Joan Bauer

ジョーン・バウアー

Joan Baehler Bauer

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1951-07-12 （River Forest, Illinois, USA）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
River Forest, Illinois, USA → Brooklyn, New York, USA

Career

Occupations
Young adult novelist, Author
Active Years
1992-

Awards

Delacorte Prize for First Young Adult Novel
1992
Work: Squashed
Organization: Delacorte Press
Result: 受賞
American Library Association Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
1999
Work: Rules of the Road
Organization: American Library Association
Result: 選出
Newbery Honor
2001
Work: Hope Was Here
Organization: American Library Association
Result: 受賞（オナー）
Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1998
Work: Rules of the Road
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: 受賞
Christopher Award
Result: 受賞
Golden Kite Award
Organization: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Result: 受賞
Michigan Thumbs-Up! Award for Children's Literature
Result: 受賞
New England Booksellers Award
Result: 受賞
Literary Light Award, Boston Public Library
Organization: Boston Public Library
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Squashed

1992 Young adult novel

Set in rural Iowa, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Ellie Morgan as she strives to grow a prize-winning pumpkin while dealing with body image and teenage concerns.

Coming of ageSelf-esteemTeenage issues

Hope Was Here

2000 Young adult novel

Follows 16-year-old waitress Hope Yancey in a small Wisconsin town; everyday experiences and waitressing lessons expand into broader life lessons.

Small-town lifeResponsibility and growthFamily relationships

Thwonk

1996 Young adult fantasy

Features A.J. McCreary and Peter Terris; a real-life cupid appears who can grant a wish but only in one area (romantic, academic, or artistic), complicating the protagonist's choices.

RomanceChoicesComing of age

Peeled

2008 Young adult novel

Follows Hildy Biddle, an aspiring journalist writing for her school paper, who investigates a haunted house in town and seeks the big story despite consequences.

JournalismCuriosityMystery

Rules of the Road

1998 Young adult novel

A novel about young people facing family and life challenges; it received critical recognition and selection by library awards.

Family issuesSelf-discovery

Close to Famous

2011 Young adult novel

Tells of a girl who dreams of fame and the events that unfold in a small town.

Desire for fameSmall-town dynamics

Bibliography

  • Squashed
  • Thwonk
  • Sticks
  • Rules of the Road
  • Backwater
  • Hope Was Here
  • Stand Tall
  • Best Foot Forward
  • Peeled
  • Close to Famous
  • Almost Home
  • Tell Me
  • Soar

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Humorous, accessible proseEmpathetic portrayal of characters' inner lives
Recurring Motifs
Family issuesSelf-esteemAdolescent growthHumor

Legacy

Joan Bauer is a prominent young adult author known for blending humor with empathetic portrayals of teen struggles and family issues. She has received multiple honors, including a Newbery Honor for Hope Was Here, and her books are widely read in libraries and schools.

Quotes

  • Bauer juggles story lines as well as Hope juggles plates, and the lessons of waitressing expand into lessons about the essentials of life.
    Source: Newbery Committee (2001) (2001)

Trivia

  • Full name Joan Baehler Bauer.
  • Worked for McGraw-Hill and the Chicago Tribune prior to becoming a novelist.
  • Has experience in advertising, marketing, and screenwriting.
  • Married to Evan Bauer; they have one daughter, Jean.
  • Known for bright covers featuring her name in mismatched colored letters.