Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road
by Joan Bauer

Rules of the Road
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Book Summary Information

Author: Joan Bauer
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-06-02
ISBN: 014240425X
Number of pages: 208
Publisher: Speak
Product features:
  • ISBN13: 9780142404256
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Book Reviews of Rules of the Road

Book Review: Elisha Watson Book Report on Rules of the Road.
Summary: 5 Stars

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.

Summary of Rules of the Road

Meet Jenna Boller, star employee at Gladstone Shoe Store in Chicago. Standing a gawky 5'11' at 16 years old, Jenna is the kind of girl most likely to stand out in the crowdùfor all the wrong reasons. But that doesnÆt stop Madeline Gladstone, the president of GladstoneÆs Shoes 176 outlets in 37 states, from hiring Jenna to drive her cross country in a last ditch effort to stop Elden Gladstone from taking over his motherÆs company and turning a quality business into a shop-and-schlock empire. Now Jenna Boller shoe salesperson is about to become a shoe-store spy as she joins her crusty old employer for an eye-opening adventure that will teach them both the rules of the roadùand the rules of life. Joan Bauer lives in Darien, CT.


Funny young adult writers are a rare treasure, and Joan Bauer is one of the funniest. Critics and young readers rejoiced at her three previous novels--Squashed, Thwonk, and Sticks--and with Rules of the Road, she has written a story that is wise and touching as well as comical. Jenna Boller is too tall for a sophomore and she's not much good in school. Her sister Faith got all the looks in the family, but boy, can Jenna sell shoes! She's supremely happy at her after-school job at Gladstone's, where the big white sign over the door says "We're Not Just Selling Shoes, We're Selling Quality." When elderly Mrs. Madeline Gladstone, the crusty president of the company, chooses Jenna as her driver on a business trip to visit other Gladstone's stores, Jenna goes reluctantly--with trepidation at driving the huge Cadillac, and at the prospect of leaving her alcoholic father behind. But on the road, Jenna learns "great road truths" such as "Never eat at a place called Mom's, because it's a safe bet Mom's been dead for years." She also proves to be indispensable (possessing an eagle eye for shoddy quality and sloppy service), and soon learns to admire and love the irascible Mrs. Gladstone as well as her old friend, "World's Best Shoe Salesman" Harry Bender. When Harry dies suddenly, Jenna realizes that she wishes he had been her father. Trouble looms in the form of a company takeover by Mrs. Gladstone's sleazy son, Elden, "Shoe Rodent," but Jenna summons courage from Harry's memory and saves the day for quality shoes. Rules of the Road is a treat that will utterly delight readers. (Age 12 and older) --Patty Campbell

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