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liftyourheavyeyelids's review
3.0
Jenna Boller loves working at Gladstone's Shoes. She can't wait to spend her summer selling shoes and spending time with her best friend Opal, until her alcoholic father comes back to town. Coincidently, Jenna is offered to drive Mrs. Gladstone, owner of all the Gladstone's Shoes stores in the U.S., to Texas. Jenna wants to take up Mrs. Gladstone's offer, but can she escape her problems by leaving town?
Things I liked: This was therapeutic in the sense that you can run away with Jenna from her problems even if you can't run away from your own in real life. This book is authentic in the way it deals with both alcoholism and dementia, to the point of hitting a little too close to home a few times (this is why it took me so long to finish). I appreciate the references to Al-Anon and the explanation of AA. This could be especially useful for a teen who is in a similar situation as Jenna and is looking for support. I also liked the short, bite size chapters, and the fact that Mrs. Gladstone listens to Jenna even though she is a teen. Perhaps this is because Mrs. Gladstone is not taken seriously because of her age as well.
Things I didn't care for: I'm not sure this book would be relevant for modern teens....teens are not as interested in car culture as much these days. Also, I think it would be difficult to sell this read to a teen....because on the surface level it seems like a boring story about shoes and an old lady.
Furthermore, while the first 100 pages or so seemed pretty good, the second half of the book seemed rushed and not as genuine. I was a bit disappointed about this to be honest. That being said, the very last chapter was excellent and really showed the way Jenna's character had developed during the story.
Things I liked: This was therapeutic in the sense that you can run away with Jenna from her problems even if you can't run away from your own in real life. This book is authentic in the way it deals with both alcoholism and dementia, to the point of hitting a little too close to home a few times (this is why it took me so long to finish). I appreciate the references to Al-Anon and the explanation of AA. This could be especially useful for a teen who is in a similar situation as Jenna and is looking for support. I also liked the short, bite size chapters, and the fact that Mrs. Gladstone listens to Jenna even though she is a teen. Perhaps this is because Mrs. Gladstone is not taken seriously because of her age as well.
Things I didn't care for: I'm not sure this book would be relevant for modern teens....teens are not as interested in car culture as much these days. Also, I think it would be difficult to sell this read to a teen....because on the surface level it seems like a boring story about shoes and an old lady.
Furthermore, while the first 100 pages or so seemed pretty good, the second half of the book seemed rushed and not as genuine. I was a bit disappointed about this to be honest. That being said, the very last chapter was excellent and really showed the way Jenna's character had developed during the story.
olivia_s_books's review against another edition
5.0
A very enjoyable book, which was very well-written and had great characters. I also liked the fact that, unlike most YA books, there was no romance in this book. So it was a really good read.
carmenrlawrence's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good book... reminded me a lot of "Devil Wears Prada."
alanaes's review against another edition
2.0
Not Bauer's best. Pacing is strange, story is all over the place. Could have been better in more pages, maybe? The emotional center never had time to build, making the big dramatic moments feel hokey and forced. Too much suspension of disbelief required to make sense of all the coincidences needed to move the story forward.
lucythebuller13's review against another edition
5.0
READ THIS FOR FREAKING SCHOOL AND IT DESTROYED ME BUT OKAY.
snugshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Joan Bauer has a way of writing about normal people doing normal jobs and things, and making it so interesting. Things like pumpkin farming, waitressing, school news reporting. Normal kids struggling with normal things, everything from being too tall, weight issues, family problems, lack of confidence. She makes it all so interesting and the people so easy to love. There's nothing all that different about them. She just shows you the good things about normal people, and what they can do.
A lot of the things in this book really hit him for me, like the absent, alcoholic father and grandmother with Alzheimer's, as I've had both. These issues are expressed so simply and truly though, it seems like the author's been through them herself.
I loved the kind of grand finale of the book. The "bad guy," being put in his place is always a good part of any book. And I love the "guy I almost knocked over."
Also, any author who kinda makes me want to be a shoe salesman is good in my book.
A lot of the things in this book really hit him for me, like the absent, alcoholic father and grandmother with Alzheimer's, as I've had both. These issues are expressed so simply and truly though, it seems like the author's been through them herself.
I loved the kind of grand finale of the book. The "bad guy," being put in his place is always a good part of any book. And I love the "guy I almost knocked over."
Also, any author who kinda makes me want to be a shoe salesman is good in my book.
kkismet's review against another edition
4.0
Jenna has just turned 16 and gotten her drivers license. Her life should be full of excitement and hope for the future. Instead she has to deal with her low grades and an alcoholic father. But she has a job selling shoes after school. It is something she is really good at. She would rather see someone in a pair of quality shoes than the shabby things sold at bargain chain stores. When Mrs. Gladstone, the owner of the store asks Jenna to drive her across the country to visit her other stores will she get more than she bargained for? Along the way Jenna learns some old truths and meets new and old friends. Will this help Jenna in other parts of her life?
spring_lilac's review against another edition
3.0
Jenna is asked by Mrs. Gladstone, the owner of the shoe store chain she works for, to drive her to Texas for a shareholders meeting. They stop at different Gladstone's Shoes stores along the way and Jenna offers more to Mrs. Gladstone than just being her driver - she "scouts" how the stores are doing, she helps when Mrs. Gladstone needs medical assistance, and she give Mrs. Gladstone the inner strength she needs to fight the impending takeover of the business. This trip is more than Jenna helping Mrs. Gladstone, though, Jenna also learns more about herself on this journey - about her strengths, about how to deal with her family's issues, and about what she can do for the company she likes working for.
This was a nice book about the journey of a young lady overcoming her childhood and her family to find her inner strength and purpose. It was fun watching the relationship between Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone unfold.
This was a nice book about the journey of a young lady overcoming her childhood and her family to find her inner strength and purpose. It was fun watching the relationship between Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone unfold.
suzylibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Great story - the main character had a bit more spunk and insight than a typical 17 year old might but it wasn't unbelievable. Nice conclusion.