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bookworm123456789's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
moonxantarctica's review
3.0
i would actually rate this a 3.5 bc i liked the story, but some of the events felt too on the nose for the overall theme. also jenna knows way too much about feet
4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
2008:
Joan Bauer has a way of making everything seem interesting, even selling shoes for a living. Jenna is a very likable character who has real problems and great people around her who help her figure things out for herself. There were SO many great characters in this book. The sad shocker wasn't quite as sad to me as the one in Hope Was Here, but it was still hard. Overall it was a great casual read or a great read to help someone deal with alcoholism in the family.
2020:
Enjoyed it again, but not quite as much.
Joan Bauer has a way of making everything seem interesting, even selling shoes for a living. Jenna is a very likable character who has real problems and great people around her who help her figure things out for herself. There were SO many great characters in this book. The sad shocker wasn't quite as sad to me as the one in Hope Was Here, but it was still hard. Overall it was a great casual read or a great read to help someone deal with alcoholism in the family.
2020:
Enjoyed it again, but not quite as much.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still on my nostalgia tour through my middle school reads. I think one of the reasons that I became a librarian is all the books I read in the summers when I was still too young for a summer job, aside from baby sitting. I loved the library, it was my haven and escape.
Anyway, Rules of the Road was a great summer read when I first read it. Sixteen year old Jenna Boller works part-time in the Gladstone shoe store, and is a natural shoe salesperson, with great interpersonal instincts. She loves her job. Her family life is difficult because her father is an alcoholic, who refuses to change. When she is offered the job of driving Gladstone's owner, Madeline Gladstone for the summer, she jumps at the chance to escape her circumstances for a while.
Anyway, Rules of the Road was a great summer read when I first read it. Sixteen year old Jenna Boller works part-time in the Gladstone shoe store, and is a natural shoe salesperson, with great interpersonal instincts. She loves her job. Her family life is difficult because her father is an alcoholic, who refuses to change. When she is offered the job of driving Gladstone's owner, Madeline Gladstone for the summer, she jumps at the chance to escape her circumstances for a while.
liftyourheavyeyelids's review against another edition
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.
tisharehn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
meg_sm's review against another edition
5.0
Update: Can now confirm that I had excellent taste as a middle-grade reader, because this book is still totally awesome. Other than the heavy prevalence of land lines, this one aged VERY well in the 20 years since it was written. Especially the overtly anti-capitalist narrative featuring the family-owned shoe store taken over by profit-hungry corporate villains while a feisty teen takes the boardroom by storm, reminding them all what a moral compass is and why it belongs in business. Making millennials proud, Jenna.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the independent, quirky, intelligent main character. After I read this book, I passed by a shoe store and realized this book has changed the way I look at shoes!
joymaxineb's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
avery_09's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0