Joan Bauer's beloved Newbery Honor book--now with a great new look for middle grade readers
When Hope and her aunt move to small-town Wisconsin to take over the local diner, Hope's not sure what to expect. But what they find is that the owner, G.T., isn't quite ready to give up yet--in fact, he's decided to run for mayor against a corrupt candidate. And as Hope starts to make her place at the diner, she also finds herself caught up in G.T.'s campaign--particularly his visions for the future. After all, as G.T. points out, everyone can use a little hope to help get through the tough times . . . even Hope herself.
Filled with heart, charm, and good old-fashioned fun, this is Joan Bauer at her best.

Meet a spunky girl who solves her problems with humor, heart, and cupcakes! When Mama's abusive boyfriend, an Elvis impersonator, chases them out of Memphis, Foster and her mom end up in Culpepper, West Virginia. This small town is filled with quirky residents, from the grumpy restaurant owner Angry Wayne to the reclusive movie star Miss Charleena. But even in this tiny town, people have big dreams, and Foster herself dreams of someday having a TV cooking show like her idol. But for right now, Foster's going to concentrate on perfecting her baking, helping her new friend Mason make a documentary, and finally learning to read with the help of Miss Charleena!

Ellie's life would be just perfect if Max, her giant pumpkin put on about two hundred pounds before the weigh-in contest.

Ivy doesn't want to be a lawyer. Who cares?-well, her father, for starters, who expects his daughter to take up the Breedlove family profession with dedication and enthusiasm. What Ivy wants to be is a historian, a vocation that's getting quite a workout as she prepares a family history in honor of her beloved great-aunt Tib's eightieth birthday. As in Bauer's Rules of the Road, the central story is of a journey: Ivy hikes into the wilds of the Adirondacks to find her reclusive aunt Jo-and to find her own destiny as well. Persistent, mouthy, and good, Ivy is an admirable heroine who will be familiar to Bauer fans; older female friends (including Tib, Aunt Jo, and wilderness expert Mountain Mama) are equally attractive if given to message-laden dialogue. In fact, the book could have used less preaching and more story overall, but Ivy is such a darned fine gal that readers will be glad to make her acquaintance.

Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer's new novel will touch your heart
When twelve-year-old Sugar's grandfather dies and her gambling father takes off yet again, Sugar and her mother lose their home in Missouri. They head to Chicago for a fresh start, only to discover that fresh starts aren't so easy to come by for the homeless. Nevertheless, Sugar's mother has taught her to be grateful no matter what, so Sugar does her best. With the help of a rescue dog, Shush; a foster family; a supportive teacher; a love of poetry; and her own grace and good humor, Sugar comes to understand that while she can't control the hand life deals her, she can control how she responds.

Imagine having a personal cupid--an actual winged being--pop into your life and offer to make your dreams come true. The catch is he can help you in only one way: artistically, academically, or romantically. That's what happens to aspiring photographer Allison Jean (A. J.) McCreary. A. J. knows she should concentrate on getting into a top-notch art school. But she's spent five torturous months obsessed with handsome hunk, Peter Terris. Just one shot from the cupid's bow and "thownk," A. J. will have the undying devotion of handsome Peter...forever.

The Newbery Honor author pens this companion to her "New York Times" bestseller, "Rules of the Road." Here she tells a funny and poignant story about honesty, self-esteem, the demands of loyalty, and the redemptive power of "sole."

It is the simmering summer of 2001 in New York City: at soft Tidings, a message is not handed over but told to the recipient. And the messages as a rule, are not especially good news.

Hildy Biddle wants something monumental to happen so she can finally prove herself to be more than a high school journalist. The problem? Her town's biggest story stars a ghost, which is not an easy interview. But while the local paper is playing up people's fears with shocking headlines of creepy happenings, Hildy is determined to discover what's really going on. Unfortunately, her desire to uncover the truth is starting to cause a stir. With rumors swirling and tensions high, can Hildy push past all the hype and find out the real truth?