Customer Reviews

Rules of the Road

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Rules of the Road was included as one of the required texts for our Reading and Writing Festival to be held in the spring. As a teacher, I am thrilled that a book focusing on the inner strengths of a 16-year-old girl was included. Sure, there are myriads of books addressing heroines -- but this book is different. We get a sense of Jenna's dismay with adolescence; she deals with divorce, alcoholism, and loneliness with a unique sense of charm and wit. We hear Jenna's voice maturing throughout the saga of driving to Texas -- and are charmed by her relationship with her aging boss. What book have you read lately that addresses respect for elders, discusses the horrors of alcoholism, the sadness of Alzheimers, and the inequities of being young, and even integrates a lesson in economics! All in a rambunctious, lively dialogue emanating from the soul of a young lady who I would love to have in my classroom. I tend to "read-between-the-lines" of every dialogue journal I review after reading such a moving book. Thank you, Joan Bauer.

I've read two of Joan Bauers books, this one and Backwater, and I really liked this one more, especially because of the narrator! She was really believable with a lot of spirit, and humor. All the other characters were fabulous too. Some people might not like the way in Bauer books how each main character has their "thing" (like in Squashed, it was growing pumpkins/agriculture, or Backwater, the girl was obsessed w/ history) but Jenna's drive here (shoes and selling) brought the story up, instead of in Backwater, where I thought it slowed the story down. DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY read this one!

I'm an adult/female who reviews dozens of middle grade and young adult books as part of my job. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a book since "The Agony of Alice." I laughed out loud and had tears in my eyes..all within a few pages! Joan Bauer touches upon the traditional teenage concerns...feeling awkward & ugly at times and being an outsider at school. Everyone, no matter what age they are now, will relate to Jenna's feelings. But, more importantly, the relationship between Jenna, the "smart" 17 year-old, and Mrs. Gladstone, the ageless 73 year-old, will convince you that there are are no age limits on friendship.

Joan Bauer's funny and unforgettable character, Jenna makes up for her self-perceived lack of beauty and confidence with wit and amazing grace in the face of her father's alcoholism, her employer's cranky personality; Jenna's insight is often hilarious, always profound. When Jenna takes on the task of driving ancient Madeline Gladstone to Texas, readers will be thankful they came along for the ride! The messages are clear for everyone to explore, but this book is a must-read for young people struggling with drug-abuse issues in their home.

Jenna Boller is the 16-year old heroine that we would all like to be: funny, gutsy, accepting of herself, secretly beautiful, strong. She's really good at selling shoes, and visits her Grandma at the nursing home. At the same time, she seems approachable, like an old pal, or your best friend. Someone you can hang out with, appreciate, and learn from.

At the same time, some of her antics seem really far-fetched for a 16-year old. Some of the more shocking things she does, however, don't serve to completely save the day, so I can forgive her for not doing what I expected. I appreciated that the author didn't take the easy way out -- she addressed several hard issues that many kids today have to face: alzheimer's, ageism, broken homes, parents who aren't perfect, and even death.

This is by far one of the best books for Young Adults I've read. I haven't met a heroine this promising since Meg Murry in A Wrinkle in Time.

Jenna doesn't do well in school, and she isn't happy with the fact that she is so tall. Her little sister is the beautiful one in the family. Jenna does have one talent, though. She is excellent at selling. Specifically, she is excellent at selling shoes, which is her part-time job. She loves working at Gladstone's shoe store, a store that prizes quality service and quality products.

This summer it seems that Jenna's life is about to become more complicated. Her alcoholic father, often gone for years at a time, is back in town and trying to get in touch with Jenna. Jenna knows that means he will be calling at all hours after he has been drinking and showing up to see her at work and at home. She doesn't know how she will handle him this time.

Then a wonderful opportunity presents itself. The aging president of the company, a grumpy woman who can't seem to accept that she is getting older, needs to travel extensively to visit some of her shoe stores and attend important meetings. She doesn't like to fly, so she needs someone to drive her across the country. She takes a liking to Jenna and, surprisingly enough, Jenna's mom agrees to let her go.

Thus starts an adventure Jenna would never have dreamed. Mrs. Gladstone is grumpy and snappy, but Jenna begins to really like her and even learns how to talk her into things. On this trip Jenna learns that Mrs. Gladstone's son is trying to take over the company and turn it into a discount place that sells substandard shoes. Mrs. Gladstone isn't sure she can stop her son from taking over. But Jenna is pretty sure she can, and is willing to do whatever it takes to help.

I really liked the relationship between Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone. They were both strong and stubborn, and balanced each other well. I also liked that Jenna's home life wasn't perfect and her mother had a good reason for sending her on this trip. It was a well-written story of personal growth.

this book holds a wonderful premise, a girl who loves to sell shoes. Then the adventure starts. I read this book and loved it. Recomendations all around. 13 year old girls might really get an extra kick out of it.

I'm am not a big reader,but being a high school student, that's something you have to do. Our History teacher gave us an assignment to pick our own kind of book and right a report on it. Dread immediatly came. But as soon as I started reading Rules Of The Road I couldn't put it down. It was funny, serios, educational, and heartbreaking all at once. I could really connect with the main character. We both came from a broken home for the same reason and we both are new drivers. I knew exactly how she felt and that made the book a lot more interesting. This is the first book by Joan Bauer that I have read, but I can't wait to read Sticks and Thwonk!

Rules of the Road is propably one of the best books I have ever read. It has humor, and reality. I can relate to it very much since my parents are divorced, they have many family issues,and I am a teen. The setting takes place in a apartment in, Chicago,Illinois. It is summer and Jenna Boller, is the best shoe seller in town and works at, Gladstones Shoes. Some of the plots is that, Jenna has turned sixteen-years-old,and has been driving for six months. Mrs.Gladstone needs a driver to drive her to, Dallas, Texas. Mrs.Gladstone asked Jenna to be her driver and assistant. Jenna must ask her mom first, and Jenna's mom doesn't like the idea of Jenna going away for six weeks. Then her old drunk father keeps calling Jenna and coming to her work. So Mrs.Boller says it would do some good for Jenna to get away from her father. But Mrs.Boller reminds her that she can't run away from her problems. Jenna and Mrs.Gladstone learn rules of the road and family lessons. Later in Texas Jenna meets, Henry Bender,the best shoe salesman in Texas. He is very intelligent and just from knowing Jenna for a week, becomes like a father. Then a terrible thing happens, Mr.Bender has been killed in a car accident from a drunk driver. Jenna learns that because her dad was a drunk that it made her strong. She learned that it made her different, and most important it showed her how to say no to the darkness. The conflict of this story is that while Mrs.Gladstone is in the meeting that the people vote whether she or her son, Elden, should take over Gladstones Shoes Elden gets a plane ticket and a taxi and makes Jenna get in so that she can't vote to keep Mrs.Gladstone in the business. Elden is a horrible salesman and only cares about money. But Jenna tells the taxi driver to turn around and she gets in the meeting room and she does a speech. Everyone wants to vote that Mrs.Gladstone stay the manager of Gladstones Shoes and she does. As the story comes to a end, Jenna is back home and is walking in the park, then her dad pulls up and motions her to come into the car. She does and then notices that he is drunk. She tells him to stop the car and he doesn't, he is driving uncontroablly. She finally reaches the gear shift and puts it in neutral. The car stops and ah policeman comes and arrests Mr.Boller. Jenna runs home and talks to her mom after calming down from crying so hard. Later Jenna finds out that her father has been bailed out by, Sueann Turnbolt, his latest girlfriend. Jenna meets her father at the park. They get into another fight. Jenna relized that she had been without her dad for a long time and if he hasn't changed and she doesn't like his attitude then she doesn't have to stay around. Then her dad leaves. This story is a powerful and moving story, especially people who can relate to the problems. I will most likely read this story again and this time just for enjoyment.

This was a very enjoyable and engaging young adult novel. The main theme deals with drawing on your inner strength to overcome obstacles and standing up for what you believe in. Humor was used appropriately to decrease tension during stressful times in the story. The characters have colorful personalities and even though there is a significant age difference there is a nice balance. Girls will especially appreciate Jenna's concerns and self-doubts due to their universal appeal. Anyone who has been touched by alcoholism will relate to the effect this disease can have on a family. Statistics show one in four families in this country are affected in some way by alcohol abuse, so this topic should also have quite a wide reach. This reading could be used to open a discussion on the topic. Both main characters struggle with themselves and other people, but in the end each overcomes their struggle and becomes stronger, happier, and wiser from their experience.