Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A book that seems oddly determined to be derivative of better books for younger readers, going through all the motions of an “award-winning young adult novel” without any of the novelty. It’s not terrible, and I’d feel heartless if I gave it two stars, but I could list dozen books that would be better choices, all of which this one seems to borrow liberally from. That also makes it quite busy, as it tries to cover alcoholism, grief, insecurity, divorce, business ethics, a road-trip plotline, and finding yourself in your work. Bauer seems to express affection for people who make their job the focal point of their lives that probably hasn’t aged well, decades into the 21st century. There are also a lot of moments where side characters act very strangely for the sake of a joke, a plot point, or just so that the book can come off as quirky which, to be fair, younger readers probably won’t notice.
All this being said, there are some nice messages about growing up and surviving your problematic family that are delivered in a somewhat cheesy but appropriately direct way for kids. It’s fine, I guess.
All this being said, there are some nice messages about growing up and surviving your problematic family that are delivered in a somewhat cheesy but appropriately direct way for kids. It’s fine, I guess.
More like a solid 3.5 stars
Sixteen-year-old Jenna is a gawky awkward teenager who is good a selling shoes. One summer her life is dramatically changed, when she drives Madeline Gladstone from Chicago to Dallas in Gladstone’s Cadillac. Gladstone’ son is trying to force her out of the company, and sell it to a larger shoe discounter. Jenna learns confidence and grace through the summer as she helps evaluate Gladstone’s stores across the company, and eventually fights to save the company from the merger. She also battles the effects of her father’s alcoholism in her life.
Rules of the Road is still entertaining for today’s teens, and deals with very real issues such as alcoholism and death. Overall, the story reads like a solid classic, only the saving of the company seemed too contrived. It read like many 90s movies with a feel good ending that seems almost plausible. Some of the best elements of the story include the lack of romantic entanglements, and the head on discussion of the issues.
Sixteen-year-old Jenna is a gawky awkward teenager who is good a selling shoes. One summer her life is dramatically changed, when she drives Madeline Gladstone from Chicago to Dallas in Gladstone’s Cadillac. Gladstone’ son is trying to force her out of the company, and sell it to a larger shoe discounter. Jenna learns confidence and grace through the summer as she helps evaluate Gladstone’s stores across the company, and eventually fights to save the company from the merger. She also battles the effects of her father’s alcoholism in her life.
Rules of the Road is still entertaining for today’s teens, and deals with very real issues such as alcoholism and death. Overall, the story reads like a solid classic, only the saving of the company seemed too contrived. It read like many 90s movies with a feel good ending that seems almost plausible. Some of the best elements of the story include the lack of romantic entanglements, and the head on discussion of the issues.
I don't know how actual young-adults feel about this book, but for me it had a certain John Hughes-ian way about it that made me feel all bubbly inside. A perfect traditional road-trip story with an endearing humor and humanity made it a book that I could not put down.
I read this in junior high, and I will always remember loving it! Funny, adventurous, and poignant...I'll definitely have to re-read it someday.
A strangely pleasant mix of humor, profound insights and a hefty emotional charge, this book left me slightly emotionally raw. The protagonist went through everything I hoped to avoid for my own daughter when I left my first marriage, so this was pretty powerful for me on a personal level. Need to get my hands on the sequel.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I started reading this with my nephew for his summer reading, and I just never finished it. I honestly just found it boring.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Summary: Jenna Boller is a teenage shoe salesperson, and she gets an unexpected adventure when she agrees to go on a work-related road trip with her elderly boss.