"Close to Famous" by Joan Bauer

It's been interesting these last few months.  I've read a lot of books that land solidly in the middle school ethos, with characters ranging from age 10 to age 13.  Some have been very good, but many have hit my sore spot by being overly preachy.  If there is one thing that young adult novels don't need is another one of those "hit you over the head with the lesson/moral/point" stories.  As loaded as this book is with messages, it somehow avoids any kind of didactic tone.  Perhaps it is an example of a tale well-told.  When the story is compelling and well-woven; the characters engaging, interesting and real, the lessons feel like part of the tale instead of something awkwardly piled on top because it's a "book for children."  As has been evidenced by so many novels of late, a good book is a good book for all.  And this is a good book.  The young protagonist, Foster, is a child who struggles but sees the good.  She is a strong spirit who rises above those who would see her put down (yes, that is a small reference to the cooking theme of the book).  She has dreams and is fierce about pursuing them.  Begun as a car chase in the night, this entertaining story about a girl who is a maestro in the kitchen gently touches on the darker elements of the adult world around her.  Maybe that's why there are so many stories written about kids of this age.  It is a magical time when kids still believe that any battle can be won with perseverance, determination and heart.  Filled with colorful, unique, and unexpected characters, this is a story with lots of delightful twists and oodles of heart -- charm, but not saccharine.  It is a genuine story, and one I really enjoyed reading.  One very minor quibble ... the book made me hungry.  Ms. Bauer, please include recipes at the end!

Oddly, I thought a lot about race when reading this book.  After the sad blog comments about skin color in the casting of the Hunger Games movie, I started thinking about how we perceive characters based on color.  Foster's mother is obviously mixed race and Foster is most certainly a bit of a mix herself (not fully or accurately portrayed by the cover of the book).  Several characters are likely African American -- but beyond a quick description Foster gives of her mother's heritage and a description of herself in a bathroom mirror, specific skin color is not mentioned.  Does it matter?  It shouldn't.  But it is interesting how "picturing a character" is important when reading a book.  Did I picture some characters as white and others black?  Yes.  Does it have any effect on the plot?  No.  Was I "right" about skin color?  Probably not.  What does all that mean?  I don't know.  But it's worth mentioning the preconceptions we bring with us into literature.  And it's worth thinking about how that impacts the world we choose to see outside of books.

Anyway.  Until next time.  Eat a cupcake.  And read this book.