Close to Famous

I was very interested in reviewing this book. I had recently finished "Almost Home" and was hopeful that this book was of the same vein. The beginning chapter or two was very shocking. Foster and mother were running away from the mother's old boyfriend because she wouldn't be in his band anymore. He came storming into their place, verbally abused her and then punched her in the eye. Yes, the message of the trials and success of Foster was good, but there was no real reason to write this shocking incident for young readers to read. Fortunately, I had checked out the book from our public library to review before I purchased for our church library. There was no need for this situation to escalate to this degree. I actually found the email address for the author and wrote her a note. She was good enough that she wrote back. She offered her explanation of the shocking incident. It may not be shocking to many, but in this day and age of violence being in the news every day, kids need positive communication and not "running away" from bad people. I will not purchase for my church library.

Foster McFee and her mama flee their Tennessee home late one night to escape her mama's abusive Elvis impersonator boyfriend. Together they find themselves in the small town of Culpepper where they meet several eccentrics including a very grumpy restaurant owner, a reclusive former Hollywood star, and a boy with a dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker...if only he had a camera! Slowly Foster and her mama fall in love with the town and its people and find their place as Foster's cupcakes become a town hit and mama gets a job. Struggles are sure to find them however. Elvis is on the warpath and looking to take Foster's mama back to Tennessee, Foster is hiding a shameful secret that may be her undoing, and the prison that both supports and damages the town may be the cause of one of the biggest events of their lives. If you love Joan Bauer's books and characters, you'll love this book; if you don't know who Joan Bauer is, now is an excellent time to find out. Foster's voice is full of humor, pride, and sometimes tear-stained pain, but Foster is a survivor who will leave you cheering for her long after you read the last page! Highly recommended for grades 5 and up.

I started reading the book, which we are using in class next year, only to discover that the story takes place in Culpeper, West Virginia. Culpeper is in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I can't imagine how educated people can continue to mistake one state for another. West Virginians are sick of this, and I wish that we had not chosen this book.

This must be the year of the girls-want-to-cook story. Close to Famous has a 12-year-old cook with dreams of stardom, much like the girls in [[ASIN:1416990852 It's Raining Cupcakes]] and [[ASIN:0545165822 Stir It Up: A Novel]]. In Close to Famous, however, although young Foster McFee is a wonderful baker, and dreams of being on a Food Network show, she also has a terrible secret -- she can't read. When Foster and her mom move to the small town of Culpepper, West Virginia, they find friendly folks hungry for Foster's cupcakes, and surprisingly, ready to help her learn to read. Great book for middle school girls, ages 8-13.

Joan Bauer's CLOSE TO FAMOUS shows young people (about age 12) how they can overcome obstacles. The means that Bauer presents might not be the best way for a young person to solve a problem, but this does show that problems can be overcome.

The novel opens with Foster McFee and her mother on the run, driving away from an Elvis impersonator named Huck with whom the mother had been involved. The Elvis impersonator became abusive, so the mother did make the right choice to get herself and Foster out of the situation.

Foster has academic problems; she has difficulty with reading. But she is a wonderful young baker and dreams of having her own show on Food Network. She must learn ways to overcome her reading problems and improve her grades in school. Foster tells Miss Charleena, a new (adult) friend, "... in school I feel like an all-out loser, but when I cook I feel like I can beat the world."

So Foster and her mother start over and get on their feet again in a new community. I see this novel as one that shows young people that bad things do happen, but we all have the power to overcome them.

How I obtained this book: A visit to a bookstore during a workshop about YA books - though I see this as for slightly younger than YA.

Meet Foster McFee. "I got an Easy Bake Oven when I was four years old, and the rest is history." She's a girl with a big dream -- she wants to be the first kid chef with a cooking show on the Food Network.

But right now, dreaming big is hard. Her daddy was killed in Iraq, and Foster and Mama are on the run out of Memphis with a crazed Elvis impersonator chasing them.

They find refuge in the ordinary West Virginia town of Culpepper. But the town turns out to be far from ordinary. There's Lester, the ex-Army sergeant. Lester's daddy's stupid, dead fish. Miss Charleena, the reclusive Hollwood actress. Macon, the aspiring documentary film-maker (without a camera). Sonny Kroll, the Food Network's motorcycle-riding star chef and Foster's idol. Angry Wayne. An escaped convict. The Church of God FOR SALE. A huge market for Foster's homemade cupcakes and muffins.

Big secrets will be revealed, and dreams will be chased. But also in the chase is a yellow Cadillac with a horn that honks out "Jailhouse Rock". Because fake-Elvis has left Memphis, and he's a hunk, a hunk of burnig jealousy, heading for Culpepper...

This is a great book for young readers, and especially for reluctant readers. A super book to read aloud to kids. There's a female protagonist, but it's not all girly -- guys will like it too.

This was a nice book, and I very much enjoyed it. Bauer is a clever author, and there were character dialogue in the book that made me laugh out loud. I was however disappointed by the rushed ending. I didn't feel that the characters were able to have the conclusion they deserved and wish Bauer had spent more time with her conclusion. But that was not enough of a reason to not greatly enjoy the story.

Very interesting book, my 10 year old loved it!

everything perfect

My daughter loves this book. She is almost finished.