Joan Bauer's five other novels offer continued laughs, tears, and excitement with gutsy, loveable characters. Thwonk features A.J. McCreary's adventures when a stuffed cupid comes to life to grant her long-desired wish. Peter Terris, school hunk, falls completely and totally in love with her, but rather than the thrill of a lifetime, A. J. discovers there is more to love and life than adoring smiles.

Rules of the Road follows with supershoe-sales girl, Jenna Boiler. Jenna struggles with school and competition from her prettier sister until the elderly Mrs. Madeline Gladstone hires her as a chauffeur. Jenna rides a road to self discovery and confidence that eventually allow her to confront her biggest challenge yet: her alcoholic father.

In Backwater, Bauer introduces sixteenyear-old Ivy Breedlove, family historian to an overachieving, legal minded family. Ivy digs up the family's black sheep member and ultimately...