Joan Baehler Bauer (born July 12, 1951) is an American writer of

young adult literature Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...

currently residing with her husband Evan Bauer in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. Bauer was born in

River Forest, Illinois River Forest is a suburban village adjacent to Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 11,717. Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University (Ill ...

. They are the parents of one daughter, Jean. Before becoming a famous author Joan spent years working for McGraw-Hill and the Chicago Tribune. She also did some work in advertising, marketing, and screenwriting.

Themes

The main characters in her books are typically

teenagers Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with ...

who are dealing with complicated family issues, such as

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

, abandonment, illness, and self-esteem issues. These issues are lightened up with a light touch and humor. Bauer is well known for her enjoyable young adult fiction novels, which always feature bright covers with her name in mismatched colored letters.

Awards

She has received multiple awards and recognition for her work including: Delacorte Prize for First Young Adult Novel, 1992, for ''Squashed;'' Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults selection, American Library Association, 1999, for ''Rules of the Road;'' Newbery Honor Medal; ''Los Angeles Times'' Book Prize;

Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organizatio ...

; Golden Kite Award, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; Michigan Thumbs-Up! Award for Children's Literature; New England Booksellers Award; Literary Light Award, Boston Public Library.

Notable works

''Squashed''

Bauer's first book, ''Squashed,'' was set in rural Iowa. The novel features a sixteen-year-old named Ellie Morgan, whose life "would be almost perfect if she could just get her potentially prize-winning pumpkin to put on about 200 more pounds—and if she could take off 20 herself ... in hopes of attracting Wes, the new boy in town." The novel was published in 1992 by

Delacorte Press Dell Publishing Company, Inc. is an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, that was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte Jr. with $10,000 (approx. $145,000 in 2021), two employees and one magazine title, ''I Confess'', and ...

, a Dell Publishing

imprint Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...

. According to Delacorte, ''Squashed'' won its annual Prize for an Outstanding First Young Adult Novel.

''Hope Was Here''

The novel '' Hope Was Here was'' published by

G. P. Putnam's Sons G. P. Putnam's Sons is an American book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group. History The company began as Wiley & Putnam with the 1838 partnership between George Palmer Putnam an ...

in 2000. The novel was one of four Newbery Honor Books, and runner-up for the 2001

Newbery Medal The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...

. The American Library Association award recognizes the year's most distinguished contribution to American children's literature; a distinct award for young-adult books had been introduced in 2000, the

Michael L. Printz Award The Michael L. Printz Award is an American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". It is sponsored by ''Booklist'' magazine; administered by the ALA's ...

. ''Hope Was Here'' features Hope Yancey, a 16-year-old waitress in small-town Wisconsin. According to the Newbery Committee chair, "Bauer juggles story lines as well as Hope juggles plates, and the lessons of waitressing expand into lessons about the essentials of life."

''Thwonk''

''Thwonk'' was published in 1996 by Bantam books. The novel features A.J. McCreary and her love interest Peter Terris. She encounters a real-life cupid who can only help her in one aspect of her life: either romantically, academically, or artistically. She knows she should use the wish to get into a prestigious art school but she has been obsessed with Peter for months which complicates her situation.

''Peeled''

''Peeled'' was published in 2008 by Putnam Juvenile. The novel follows Hildy Biddle. She dreams of being a journalist. She writes for her school newspaper and is drawn to a haunted house in her town for a story. That is where her journey begins. There have been reported ghost sightings and the town is intrigued. Hidly is determined to get the big story no matter what the consequences.

Books

* ''Squashed'' (

, 1992)"Publisher description for Squashed / Joan Bauer"
Library of Congress. Retrieved 2014-03-31. * ''Thwonk'' (Delacorte, 1995) – a young-adult

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

novel * ''Sticks'' (Delacorte, 1996) * ''Rules of the Road'' (

, 1998) – Golden Kite Award, LA Times Book Prize * ''Backwater'' (Putnam, 1999) * '' Hope Was Here'' (Putnam, 2000) – a Newbery Honor Book * ''Stand Tall'' (Putnam, 2002) * ''Best Foot Forward'' (Putnam, 2005) * ''Peeled'' (Putnam, 2008) * ''Close to Famous'' (

Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

, 2011) * ''Almost Home'' (Viking, 2012) * ''Soar'' ( Jan, 2016) * ''Tell Me'' (Viking, 2014) – forthcoming September"Tell me"
Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2014-03-31.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bauer, Joan 1951 births 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American children's writers American young adult novelists Living people Newbery Honor winners Novelists from Illinois American women novelists American women writers of young adult literature People from River Forest, Illinois 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American women writers