Whether the young woman is a waitress, or an amateur historian, or a shoe salesperson, all these characters are attempting to come one step closer to realizing a goal. Each courageous young female, setting off on a perilous journey in search of some missing piece that will help her better form a complete picture of herself, attempts to reach beyond herself to find answers in a world full of questions. Those connections may be to family, to friends, or to the past. All of Joan Bauer's novels center on the characters trying to forge connections.
Rules of the Road is a treat that will utterly delight readers.Have you ever felt as though you were disconnected from the rest of the world, left dangling with more questions than answers in a particular situation? If so, you will immediately connect to the characters in the novels of Joan Bauer. Gladstone's sleazy son, Elden, "Shoe Rodent," but Jenna summons courage from Harry's memory and saves the day for quality shoes. Trouble looms in the form of a company takeover by Mrs. When Harry dies suddenly, Jenna realizes that she wishes he had been her father.
Gladstone as well as her old friend, "World's Best Shoe Salesman" Harry Bender. 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. 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.
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. Jenna Boller is too tall for a sophomore and she's not much good in school. 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. Funny young adult writers are a rare treasure, and Joan Bauer is one of the funniest.
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