Close to Famous

Foster McFee and her mother flee their home in Memphis in the middle of the night to escape her mother's abusive boyfriend. They end up in tiny Culpepper, West Virginia, where Foster hopes to continue pursuing her dream of becoming a professional baker despite being unable to read well. In their new town, Foster begins selling her cupcakes to the local diner while her mother looks for work as a singer. The twelve-year-old girl meets an eccentric cast of neighbors, including a retired movie star who becomes her mentor and a documentary filmmaker who takes an interest in the town. Foster must navigate starting over in a new place while facing her reading challenges and working to build her baking business. Her determination to succeed leads her to form unexpected connections within the community. The story explores themes of perseverance, healing from trauma, and finding one's place in the world. Through Foster's experiences, the novel illustrates how pursuing a passion can help overcome obstacles and build resilience.

Readers connect with the relatable main character Foster and her passion for baking cupcakes. Many reviewers mention how the book handles serious topics like domestic violence and illiteracy while maintaining an optimistic tone. Readers appreciated: - Realistic portrayal of small-town life and community - Character growth and determination - Balance of humor with difficult themes - Baking details and recipes - Strong adult mentor relationships Common criticisms: - Plot feels predictable - Some side characters lack depth - Resolution wraps up too neatly Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (120+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Multiple readers noted the book works well for both middle-grade students and adults. One reviewer wrote: "The cooking metaphors throughout added layers of meaning without being heavy-handed." Several teachers mentioned successfully using it in their classrooms, particularly for discussions about overcoming challenges.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer A teenage waitress moves to a small town with her aunt and discovers her voice through local politics and serving up comfort food at a diner.

Pie by Sarah Weeks A girl inherits her aunt's pie shop and searches for a lost recipe while uncovering family secrets and finding her place in a small town.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen A perfectionist teen takes a summer catering job that teaches her about food, friendship, and moving forward after loss.

All Four Stars by Tara Dairman A sixth-grade food critic secretly writes reviews for a major newspaper while navigating middle school challenges.

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano A chef rebuilds her career through underground dinner parties after losing her restaurant due to social media backlash.

🍰 Author Joan Bauer got the idea for Foster's cupcake-baking passion after visiting a cupcake shop in Manhattan and watching the joy that beautifully decorated cupcakes brought to customers. 📚 The book tackles the serious issue of illiteracy through its main character, who struggles to read but excels at memorizing recipes and baking. 🏆 Close to Famous won the 2012 Christopher Award, which celebrates media that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit." 🎬 The character of Miss Charleena, the retired Hollywood star, was inspired by Joan Bauer's early experiences working as an assistant to movie executives in New York City. 🧁 The cupcake recipes mentioned in the book are real, tested recipes that readers can make at home, though they aren't included in the book itself.