"A funny, fast-paced book about tan ordinary girl with extraordinary ambitions."
-The New York Times Book Review
"This is a laugh-out loud story... is a delight. Skillful plot development and strong characterization are real strengths here."
-School Library Journal
Rules of the Road is centered around Jenna Boller, a young adult 16 years of age who is a star employee at Gladstone's Shoe Store in Chicago. Joan stands a "gawky" 5'11, and is the kind of girl that just stands out in the crowd. She spends much of her time at Gladstone's and feels that Gladstone's is the one place where she feel like she actually succeeds and is welcomed. Jenna is continually trying to learn from her co-workers and the clients who step into Gladstone's.
"I walked quickly back on the sales floor, made eye contact with each of y customers so they'd know I cared. Every movement counts when you're selling shoes, especially when the store fills up with customers. You look at people calmly; you let them know you'll take care of them-you're not panicked even though people are holding up shoes and barking sizes at you all at once. I just remember what Murray told me: People want to know someones for them."(pg. 1-2)
The ambition and hard-work that Jenna portrays within the first two chapters of the novel display the dedication, effort, and time that she dedicates to her job. Within the first couple of chapters you really gain an understanding of who Jenna is. Jenna comes from a broken family, no attention paid to the children, her father absent majority of the time and struggles with alcohol addiction. Jenna and her father as described in the beginning of the novel have an estranged relationship. Her father who seems to be constantly drunk, and unable to provide for his family, where Jenna feels that she must provide for herself and in return is focused on her job performance at Gladstone's where she is a very dependent hardworking employee.
Jenna is then faced with the decision of a "on the road" adventure when the head of Gladstone's Shoes Madeline Gladstone- hires the teen for a specific duty, that just might change her life and the life of the company.
It has me wondering and anxiously reading ahead, "What will Jenna decide to do, and what will she encounter along the way?"
4 comments:
I have never heard of this book, but I must say that it sounds very interesting!! A few things that you might want to add to your next blog might be what you liked or disliked about the next chapters. You could also add in a section about why you chose this book or why it looked appealing to you. Overall good job and it looks like you have a very interesting book that your reading!
This sounds like a book I could get into. I wonder what the new position they have in mind for the young girl? I really enjoy books with a good twist or fun adventure. Could this be a good book for a young person who is working a job for the first time? Nice blog!
I think this book sounds extremely interesting! I enjoy reading books that are motivating and how people have succeeded. Did you find this book challenging to read? I think this sounds like a great book to suggest to marketing and business high school students
This book really sounds intriguing and what you have written so far hit home with me. Her job description sounds word for word what I have been through the last three years working in the women’s department at JC Penney’s. I would like to hear what you personally thought of the book and how it relates to your life. Other than that it sounds like a great book!
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