Review: Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
"Meet Jenna Boller, star employee at Gladstone s 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 crowd - for all the wrong reasons. But that doesn t stop Madeline Gladstone, the president of Gladstone's 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 mother's 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 road - and the rules of life. "

     The hardcover edition of this young adult novel is 201 pages long and has 28 chapters.
    I wasn't expecting this book to be so emotionally heavy. Family issues were addressed and the characters were so real and quirky. Jenna's voice is so hilarious, always witty and wise, though not so much that you don't believe she's a teen. The journey Mrs. Gladstone and Jenna go on isn't just about a roadtrip or even a business trip; it's more about the two of them helping each other gain the confidence to stand up to their respective families's problems. Although for most of the story there's only elderly people and a witty teen, this book moved quickly and the plot was motivating. Unexpected turns in events kept me glued to the page and Jenna's coming to terms with her past and finding a solution for the future never failed to entertain. Jenna's unique talent of shoe selling is interesting and makes her really stand out as a character against the sea of her whiny peers in comtemporary novels. But, for most of the book, Jenna seems a little distant.  But I would definitely say pick this up if you're looking for a lighter version of a Sarah Dessen novel.
 Level of Romance: Holy cow! A whopping none! Like I said, this is about a girl figuring out her family, she hasn't got time to figure out a boy too!
Rating: 4 out of 5