Tell Me, Joan Bauer
Tell Me, Joan Bauer
3 Rating(s)
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

Tell Me

Author: Joan Bauer

Narrator: Cassandra Morris

Unabridged: 5 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/16/2014


Synopsis

Award-winning author Joan Bauer latest novel is full of warmth, humor, hope, and a healthy dose of suspense

The unofficial town motto is "Nothing bad ever happens in Rosemont" where  twelve-year-old Anna has come to stay with her grandmother, Mim, hoping to forget her worries about her parents' troubled marriage.  She'll be busy with the town's annual Flower Festival, a celebration with floats and bands that requires weeks of preparations.

But before long, Anna finds herself involved in a very big problem. When she observes a girl her own age who seems to be being held against her will, Anna can't forget the girl's frightened eyes and she is determined to investigate. "When you see something, say something" she's been told—but what good does it do to speak if no one will listen? Luckily, a take-charge girl like Anna is not going to give up.

Told with Joan Bauer's trademark mixture of humor and heart, Tell Me will enthrall her many fans and win her new ones.

“Bauer establishes a multi-faceted plot combining crime drama with a modern coming-of-age story.”—School Library Journal
 
“Skillfully weaves subplots together as Rosemont citizens (and Anna’s parents) rise to the challenge of solving the mystery.”—Publishers Weekly

About The Author

Joan Bauer is the author of numerous books for young readers. She received a Newbery Honor Medal for Hope Was Here, and the L.A. Times Book Prize for Rules of the Road. The Christopher Award was given to both Hope was Here and Close to Famous, which also received the Schneider Family Book Award. Joan is the recipient of numerous state awards voted by readers.Bauer lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at www.joanbauer.com.Cassandra Morris can be seen and heard on television and radio. She is the voice of Lola on the cartoon series Angelo Rules, was nominated for a 2010 Audie Award for audiobook narration, and has appeared in national commercials. She has done sketch comedy on Late Show with David Letterman and HBO, and studies improv at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kelly on September 09, 2014

As an FYI, this is middlegrade. I point that out to say this: while this book deals with human trafficking, it's a really good introduction to it in terms of explaining what it is without scarring young readers for life. I love the message of this book, which is that anyone can do something to make t......more

Goodreads review by Mary on February 05, 2015

I am a big fan of Joan Bauer and have read and recommended many of her books to middle grade and middle school readers. That being said, I found “Tell Me” disappointing. I think the book did a good job as far as introducing and explaining human trafficking to middle grade students without going into......more

Goodreads review by Andrea on May 25, 2021

Initially, I expected Tell Me by Joan Bauer to be jejune. It looked like a simple, easy-to-read book. I expected the story to be somewhat similar to children's books. Turns out I was WAY off. Not even a bit close. And for once I’m glad that I was wrong. To summarize the story, Anna McConnell has a t......more

Goodreads review by Jackie on April 27, 2016

I recently read a very interesting and inspiring book called Tell Me by Joan Bauer. The genre of this book is realistic fiction. It is realistic fiction because it is not a true story, but it includes events that could happen in real life. The setting is at Anna's grandmothers house, during the flow......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on September 19, 2021

I haven’t laughed this much in a non-comedy book in a longtime. The writing was enjoyable on a serious topic - human trafficking aka modern day slavery. This was told for a child’s perspective so it wasn’t graphic, but did tell kids and adults that they can make a difference by observation. This was......more


Quotes

"Humor and hope are balanced throughout."--VOYA

"Intriguing."--Kirkus Reviews

"Bauer (Almost Home) skillfully weaves subplots together as Rosemont citizens (and Anna's parent) rise to the challenge of solving hte mystery."--Publishers Weekly

"Bauer establishes a multi-faceted plot combining crime drama with a modern coming of age story."--School Library Journal

various

Praise for Tell Me:

"Bauer establishes a multi-faceted plot combining crime drama with a modern coming of age story. Anna’s voice rings clear through first-person narration, allowing readers to sing, cry, and smell the flowers along with the protagonist. Short chapters and smart  dialogue keep the pace moving. Ultimately, Bauer twists the widespread divorce issue into a lesson on empathy, inviting readers to keep their minds and eyes alert to worlds other than their own." —School Library Journal

"In this novel filled with comedy and drama. . . Bauer skillfully weaves subplots together as Rosemont citizens (and Anna's parents) rise to the challenge of solving the mystery." —Publishers Weekly

"There are numerous, valuable messages for readers here: pay attention, trust your instincts, and speak up; sometimes being brave is about small, uncertain steps that we take; and helping others helps us, too. Humor and hope are balanced throughout, making this a good recommendation for those who prefer a serious topic treated with a less heavy hand and a happy ending." —VOYA

"Bauer manages the difficult feat of folding the topic of human trafficking into a middle-grade novel about daily-life family and peer struggles; in fact, Anna’s conviction that the missing girl matters is part and parcel of her character throughout, as she similarly commits whole-heartedly to her acting efforts and beloved friends. . . Readers will appreciate the story for Bauer’s classic and relatable heroine who pursues her goal through adversity." —BCCB

Close to Famous: Winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, Christopher Award, Judy Lopez Memorial Prize, An Amazon Top Ten Middle Grade Book, a YALSA/ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick; Hope Was Here: Newbery Honor Book, Christopher Award, ALA Notable Book; Rules of the Road: Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Golden Kite Award, ALA Notable Book, Best Book for Young Adults.