Tell Me

Tell Me

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. 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 "Bauer has done an exceptional job of informing young readers about human trafficking without being heavy-handed or speaking down to her audience." — LMC 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. Joan Bauer is the author of eleven previous novels for young readers, among them the Newbery Honor Book, Hope Was Here , and the Los Angeles Times Prize winner, Rules of the Road.   She has also twice received the Christopher Award, as well as the Schneider Family Book Award and the Golden Kite Award. Joan Bauer lives in Brooklyn, New York. One I am in the mall dressed like a cranberry, feeling the emotion of the moment. What do I want to leave them with? I’ve been seriously trained to ask this question. I sit here thinking, and sitting isn’t easy because of the outfit I’m wearing. Every time I move, it puffs up. “We’re ready, Anna.” That’s Lorenzo Lu, my best friend and acting partner. “I’ll be right there. . . .” What do I want to leave them with? Sometimes I think in big, fat letters. I study myself in the scratched mirror. My face is covered with red makeup, and my lips shine with ruby lipstick. I smooth out my round, red costume, adjust my red gloves, scratch my red tights. I think I’m allergic to these tights. I look at the pile of 20 percent off coupons from the Wide World of Cranberries store and feel a major surge of energy. I want them to be happy they came. I want them to know that this cranberry cares. Lorenzo is wearing jeans, a red and white striped shirt, red socks, white shoes, and a big button that reads, I’M WITH THE CRANBERRY. I wiggle my hips, aim my voice to the corner of the room. “Do I look fat in this?” My voice echoes back. Very few kids can do this trick. Lorenzo laughs. “You look fat, Anna, because you are packed with antioxidants.” Antioxidants are major players in the cranberry world. Lorenzo sighs. His dad is Chinese and his mother is Italian; he’s got the best blend in his face. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” I know. Out in the mall, the music starts playing. I can hear Mr. Dimsdale shout into his microphone, “And now, are you ready for the big fun?” “Of course they are.” I scratch my tights again. “I might have to go to the bathroom,” Lorenzo mentions. I shake