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Rules of the Road #2
Best Foot Forward
The must-read sequel to the beloved Rules of the Road, from award-winning author Joan Bauer.
Jenna Boller is dripping with newfound maturity after her life-altering summer on the road. She has a job she loves at Gladstone Shoes, a best friend who makes her laugh, and a dysfunctional family she's learning how to handle. Jenna feels ready for anything—until Tanner Cobb, a guy with a past, a police record, and dangerously good looks, walks into her life. Suddenly Jenna's surrounded by crises, including a shoe empire on the verge of crumbling. Tanner's street smarts seem to be what Jenna needs, but can she trust him enough when the going gets tough?
Jenna Boller is dripping with newfound maturity after her life-altering summer on the road. She has a job she loves at Gladstone Shoes, a best friend who makes her laugh, and a dysfunctional family she's learning how to handle. Jenna feels ready for anything—until Tanner Cobb, a guy with a past, a police record, and dangerously good looks, walks into her life. Suddenly Jenna's surrounded by crises, including a shoe empire on the verge of crumbling. Tanner's street smarts seem to be what Jenna needs, but can she trust him enough when the going gets tough?
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2005
31 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
Joan Bauer
26 books886 followersFrom: http://www.joanbauer.com/jbbio.html
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
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November 2, 2011
Hooooh, gosh. This is a veeeery tough book to rate. I almost gave it 5 stars--but there was one major problem (I say problem, more like...distraction).
Tanner, throughout the first part of the book, is constantly accosted by girlfriends--constantly. Jenna doesn't really get out much. The most romantic she gets is holding a guy's foot to measure it.
Given those two, guess who I thought would end up together?
And guess. Who. Didn't.
Yep, that's my one complaint with this book, right there. Which should tell you that it was a very, very good book indeed. So in my head, the Doughnut guy didn't exist past the scratch-accident. Because it's a better ending for me, that way. I am sad to say goodbye to Jenna and her friends--I love Mrs. G almost as much as the women I know in real life. Like Jenna, the woman that's 70 years old and needs a hip replacement is one that I truly look up to.
**Best Food Forward, rated ages 14+ (yeah...14+ is right), rated 4.7/5 stars.
Well done, Mrs. Bauer.
Tanner, throughout the first part of the book, is constantly accosted by girlfriends--constantly. Jenna doesn't really get out much. The most romantic she gets is holding a guy's foot to measure it.
Given those two, guess who I thought would end up together?
And guess. Who. Didn't.
Yep, that's my one complaint with this book, right there. Which should tell you that it was a very, very good book indeed. So in my head, the Doughnut guy didn't exist past the scratch-accident. Because it's a better ending for me, that way. I am sad to say goodbye to Jenna and her friends--I love Mrs. G almost as much as the women I know in real life. Like Jenna, the woman that's 70 years old and needs a hip replacement is one that I truly look up to.
**Best Food Forward, rated ages 14+ (yeah...14+ is right), rated 4.7/5 stars.
Well done, Mrs. Bauer.
January 11, 2014
Until I read a review for Best Foot Forward, I never realized it was a sequel. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book greatly. There were so many dynamic and head spinning parts in this story outfitted with a wrenching and writhing plotline that went very well with the dramatic events that continued to happen, especially towards the end of the story. Although a quick read with only 192 pages, this was a refreshing and exciting read. Would definitely reccommend.
March 1, 2018
Nobody, NOBODY, writes sad-happy inspirational books like Joan Bauer. Sure, there might be a few that say she’s too over the top-“We walked together, striding purposefully, and burst into the light of the sales floor.” But there is a valid reason for that bolt of a “Ta-dah!” Bauer’s characters face tough, real life situations and find a way to survive, find a purpose, some joy, and maybe even a way to thrive and that deserves a few “over the top”moments. Best Foot Forward picks up where Rules of the Road left off and places Jenna Boller back in Gladstone’s Shoes selling footwear after learning so much during her summer of driving the company’s CEO to Texas and back to deal with changes in the company’s structure and corporate philosophy. Murray is still there, and now so is Tanner, an attractive, young ex-con who is getting a second chance after shoplifting from the store. Jenna must learn to forgive and to teach him not only to sell shoes, but to make better choices in life and to succeed when life keeps telling him how worthless he is. Along with that dose of reality, Jenna is still trying to reconcile herself to the facts that her dad is an alcoholic and a terrible father but she can still love him and become successful in spite of those truths. Thrown into all this stark reality are lessons on over-commitment, dating, and taking time for some fun even when things look bleak. This book is very highly recommended to readers from grade 5 through adult who enjoy reality-based fiction, an uplifted heart, or who need a little reminder that we should all put our best foot forward as well as look for the good in everything and everyone. Well done, Joan!!!!
Note: This book stands alone or can be read in conjunction with Rules of the Road.
Note 2: While an excellent choice for students who might deal with an alcoholic and/or abusive parent, teachers and care-givers should be wise about when or if to put it into their hands.
Note: This book stands alone or can be read in conjunction with Rules of the Road.
Note 2: While an excellent choice for students who might deal with an alcoholic and/or abusive parent, teachers and care-givers should be wise about when or if to put it into their hands.
January 9, 2013
I somehow missed the fact that this was a sequel to another book ("Rules of the Road"). I still found it quite enjoyable, and will look for the first book to read as a "pre-quel". Some of the characters and sidelines aren't developed fully, and Jenna's struggle with her (absentee) alcoholic father seem almost tacked on. That doesn't stop the core of the story from being interesting, though, as she works on discovering herself happily fulfilled in her role in the shoe business. This is Bauer's strong suit: making characters in what are essentially mundane circumstances seem both real and, at the same time, engaging.
This is no "Hunger Games", for sure. Realistic fiction asks us to stop long enough to look around at the everyday people around us and realize that they, too, face challenges and battles that still take fortitude and integrity to overcome. If we can look and listen to these stories, they can be every bit as moving as stories filled with higher drama and outrageous peril. I'd especially recommend this story to young people who, for whatever reason, find themselves taking on adult responsibilities. It won't provide them with the escape of a great fantasy or romance novel, but it can help them understand that, as Jenna explains to a new girl at an Al-Anon meeting near the end of the book, there ARE other people who understand, and that even when things seem tough and hopeless, "all kinds of things can turn around."
This is no "Hunger Games", for sure. Realistic fiction asks us to stop long enough to look around at the everyday people around us and realize that they, too, face challenges and battles that still take fortitude and integrity to overcome. If we can look and listen to these stories, they can be every bit as moving as stories filled with higher drama and outrageous peril. I'd especially recommend this story to young people who, for whatever reason, find themselves taking on adult responsibilities. It won't provide them with the escape of a great fantasy or romance novel, but it can help them understand that, as Jenna explains to a new girl at an Al-Anon meeting near the end of the book, there ARE other people who understand, and that even when things seem tough and hopeless, "all kinds of things can turn around."
June 1, 2013
I only gave this 3-stars because I thought it felt rushed. I felt Jenna, such a mature and astute observer did not seem--despite saying so--as attached to any of the other characters. Even Tanner, about whom she had doubts. Even Mrs. Gladstone.
It's as if she'd aged 10 years...
Nevertheless, Joan Bauer's writing is sharp and at times I felt both touched and blown away by her well-drawn characters. It's an okay sequel to "Rules of the Road," but I honestly didn't expect a sequel. There's something so competent about Jenna, I didn't worry about her at the end of that book, but felt uplifted by her succeeding.
In this book, maybe she's even more competent and maybe that's what makes the story less engaging. She very rarely lets anyone else down, just herself. And then she bounces back.
Maybe I'm just jealous that she gets to eat so many donuts.
It's as if she'd aged 10 years...
Nevertheless, Joan Bauer's writing is sharp and at times I felt both touched and blown away by her well-drawn characters. It's an okay sequel to "Rules of the Road," but I honestly didn't expect a sequel. There's something so competent about Jenna, I didn't worry about her at the end of that book, but felt uplifted by her succeeding.
In this book, maybe she's even more competent and maybe that's what makes the story less engaging. She very rarely lets anyone else down, just herself. And then she bounces back.
Maybe I'm just jealous that she gets to eat so many donuts.
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March 29, 2019The book I have recently read was BEST FOOT FORWARD by Joan Bauer. The setting of this takes place in a shoe store and in modern day timing. The characters are Jenna who loves her job at the shoe store and is also suffering from the guilt she has from when she was little with her dad.Tanner Cobb's who comes into Jenna's life. I found this book by asking the librarian for help to find different kinds of books.
This book is about how Jenna works at Gladstone's shoes and she's dealing with her dad. Tanner Cobb's come into her life and does something, and she wonders if she can even trust him. Then they get to know each other better. Also Mrs.Gladstone who owns Gladstone's shoes. Jenna drives her to and from work.
I wasn't sure how the book would have ended but when I finished it I was shocked and happy by the ending.My favorite part of this book would be when Tanner starts working at the shoe store and decides to say rude things to Jenna then Mrs.Gladstone makes him apologize to Jenna and clean up the mess he makes.
My personal opinion of this book would be that I really liked this book because what happened wasn't what I expected to happen. The connections I made with this book is that I found out that there is a lot of things that shoe stores have to do and know about. This is generally a really good book and is appropriate for most ages.
This book is about how Jenna works at Gladstone's shoes and she's dealing with her dad. Tanner Cobb's come into her life and does something, and she wonders if she can even trust him. Then they get to know each other better. Also Mrs.Gladstone who owns Gladstone's shoes. Jenna drives her to and from work.
I wasn't sure how the book would have ended but when I finished it I was shocked and happy by the ending.My favorite part of this book would be when Tanner starts working at the shoe store and decides to say rude things to Jenna then Mrs.Gladstone makes him apologize to Jenna and clean up the mess he makes.
My personal opinion of this book would be that I really liked this book because what happened wasn't what I expected to happen. The connections I made with this book is that I found out that there is a lot of things that shoe stores have to do and know about. This is generally a really good book and is appropriate for most ages.
January 8, 2025
We are moving, and I found this book on my bookshelf. I had absolutely no idea where it came from so decided to read it. It looked like a fast read and it was. I liked the characters, and appreciated how not everything turned out just right for the characters. Many showed resilience and strong character. Comment from Mrs. Gladstone, who is an older woman and the stores, owner: "The longer I'm alive, the more I'm interested in how people learn from their mistakes, not in the fact that they make them. I appreciated the advice Mrs. Gladstone gave to her new employees. "Observe customers to get an idea of how people react, understand people's patterns and how to respond to them, move quickly when you're working be creative in how you get the job done, and use your leadership ability to motivate others. Great advice for someone in retail! I really liked Jenna, a teenager, who showed maturity but they also showed how she was still a kid. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. No matter what you do, be willing to grow and do your best.
April 23, 2017
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Another great book by Joan Bauer. I love her teen books. It's left open ended so I wonder if there will be a sequel? Who knew the shoe business was so cut-throat?
Another great book by Joan Bauer. I love her teen books. It's left open ended so I wonder if there will be a sequel? Who knew the shoe business was so cut-throat?
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October 17, 2017loved it!
July 20, 2019
Conservative. Some good life and business lessons. All about integrity and second chances.
January 2, 2013
This is an author who handles complex subjects in a manner that doesn't over abuse feelings. She magically weaves the story line and balances humor and angst with the end result of hope.
Jenna Boller is the oldest child. She has a loving younger sister and very stable mother. Sadly though, her father is a knock down drag out alcoholic.
Finding a job selling shoes for Gladstone Shoe company enables her to learn valuable lessons. Bauer knows that people come into our lives when we most need them and thus she introduces the fiesty, elderly character of Mrs. Gladstone. When Mrs. Gladstone's near do well son manipulates the board of directors and buys up the leading shares of the company, his mother is no longer in charge.
Jenna is mentored by Mrs. Gladstone and grows to understand that dysfunction in families happens to many, not just Jenna.
Feeling guilty and taking responsibility for her father's alcoholism is a normal trait of a child of an alcoholic and through her relationship with Mrs. Gladstone Jenna begins to learn of forgiveness, of redemption and of the fact that we are not responsible for others. We are indeed only responsible for our own actions.
Highly recommended.
The author has first hand experience with the reality of the sad impact that an alcoholic father has on the family dynamic and on the individual level.
Jenna Boller is the oldest child. She has a loving younger sister and very stable mother. Sadly though, her father is a knock down drag out alcoholic.
Finding a job selling shoes for Gladstone Shoe company enables her to learn valuable lessons. Bauer knows that people come into our lives when we most need them and thus she introduces the fiesty, elderly character of Mrs. Gladstone. When Mrs. Gladstone's near do well son manipulates the board of directors and buys up the leading shares of the company, his mother is no longer in charge.
Jenna is mentored by Mrs. Gladstone and grows to understand that dysfunction in families happens to many, not just Jenna.
Feeling guilty and taking responsibility for her father's alcoholism is a normal trait of a child of an alcoholic and through her relationship with Mrs. Gladstone Jenna begins to learn of forgiveness, of redemption and of the fact that we are not responsible for others. We are indeed only responsible for our own actions.
Highly recommended.
The author has first hand experience with the reality of the sad impact that an alcoholic father has on the family dynamic and on the individual level.
January 7, 2013
Story takes place in a shoe store, I've never thought of this being a book setting but I rolled with it. Wow...I just want to say that first up. Wow. The setting is great and the characters are very interesting! I haven't read the first book to this yet Rules of the Road but this one is very good! Jenna has been with shoe company for a couple of years and a boy comes in a steals a pair of shoes. This is how it starts off, I'm thinking okay...what the heck? Anyway Tanner (shoe thief) comes back and returns the shoes and offers to work there to pay them off. The whole story is very good, it's about learning to forgive people for crimes and moving on with your life. Put you "Best Foot Foward" if you will, but there is also a problem with the quality of the shoes that are being shipped to the store. This book isn't all "teen love" and stuff, this one has a meaning behind it. Plus the ending was very interesting, I didn't expect it and I want a sequel to this! I'm a little sad there isn't one, I want to know more about Tanner, and Jenna (who btw, may or may-not be a couple at the end ;) I'll never tell!)
September 28, 2012
While the climax here is a little rushed, that's a small caveat to Bauer's excellent follow-up to the eminently likeable Rules of the Road. Jenna continues to be a sensible and wry narrator, and I adore how her love of shoes is connected--unusually for a YA narrator!--to selling them rather than buying them. Her concern for sturdiness, quality, and personal appeal carries through the book itself as she deals with the rehabilitation of a charming parolee Gladstone's hires and the continued slimy machinations of her boss's son. Contrary to the way the flap copy makes it sound, this isn't really a romance, although Jenna does get a quiet, pleasantly low-key flirtation--typically for her, what makes her swoon is that he "understands retail"--but it's not a focus. The focus is still on the pleasures of work, courage, taking a stand, and growing up, and Bauer, remarkably, makes it all sound terrifically fun.
January 12, 2017
I really didn't enjoy this book. I felt like there wasn't anything going own, it was mostly about selling the shoes and that was it. I expected that Jenna would fall in love with the bad boy Tanner but nothing happened. The only thing she did was taught him how to sell shoes. Then when they noticed the shoes changed and they were bad quality, I expected there to be a big mystery and they had to solve why the shoes had bad quality. They sorted had to solve it but it wasn't interesting. Since there brand was made in the American I think that it would've been interesting if maybe the husband of Mrs. Gladstone wasn't all the he made up to be. I think it also would've been better if maybe Jenna was struggling to overcome her dads alcohol addiction because there was no clear problem she had a to overcome. Overall I didn't really enjoy this book there was no action or a good plot.
December 17, 2009
I read this book completely by accident because of a mixed up entry in Goodreads (I thought I was getting a new book by one of my favorite authors, Jeanne Ray). Turns out, Jeanne Ray never wrote a book by this title--Joan Bauer did. And I have no regrets. It's a charming story I hope my daughters will read when they're 13-14 years old. Full of good solid morality and work ethic, written from a teenage girl's perspective with the didactics nicely packaged in a gel coating so it doesn't stick in your throat hardly at all. Plus you'll learn a bit about selling shoes.
March 28, 2016
Bauer turns hum-drum shoe-sales into nail-biting corporate intrigue. Tight plotting makes Best Foot Forward a page-turner without obvious use of cliffhangers in each chapter. She manages to take a competent, mature main character and keep her vulnerable, giving her room to grow without becoming too perfect. The secondary characters are just as fascinating, staying with you long after "The End." A lovely sequel with real sole.
August 21, 2014
It's been a while since I read "Rules of the Road," but it wasn't hard to get into sequel. It's a fast read and though it doesn't have the amazing sparkle, wisdom and general awesomeness of "Hope Was Here" (which I just re-read yesterday), it still gives plenty of good feelings, strong heroines fighting against corruption, and teens learning to stand up and make a difference. Good book.
September 13, 2014
Companion novel to Rules of the Road
I didn't like it as well as the first book, however if you are looking for a book for middle-school age girls, this has a strong female protagonist and deals with topics such as the effects of alcoholism on a family, resilience, business ethics, keeping promises, mercy and forgiveness. Several noteworthy one-liners and humor. Quick, easy read.
I didn't like it as well as the first book, however if you are looking for a book for middle-school age girls, this has a strong female protagonist and deals with topics such as the effects of alcoholism on a family, resilience, business ethics, keeping promises, mercy and forgiveness. Several noteworthy one-liners and humor. Quick, easy read.
November 16, 2015
Much the same as the first one in terms of wit, humour, and awesome, deep, characters. It was hilarious. It was moving. It was brilliantly written. It was fun :)
The love interest for Jenna was a great and realistic addition, and overall I just loved this book. So much wisdom and good morals; it reinforced what I needed reinforced ;)
The love interest for Jenna was a great and realistic addition, and overall I just loved this book. So much wisdom and good morals; it reinforced what I needed reinforced ;)
December 11, 2019
Jenna Boller is the most ambitious, focused and responsible teen ever. She devotes most of her time to her job at Gladstone Shoes which she excels at. She knows more about feet and shoes than anyone should need to know but that's what makes her so good at her job. So good in fact that when a new parolee, Tanner Cobb, gets hired Jenna takes him under her wing to show him the ropes. She's also the one Mrs. Gladstone turns to for help when dealing with the changes after her son takes over the family business. All of a sudden there's a problem with their best selling shoe, the Rollings Walkers. What's going on with the company that Mrs. Gladstone and her husband grew together for so many years? Refusing to sacrifice quality for profit Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna and the other employees stand up for what's right. Jenna's alcoholic father is still in her life although not very often, she would love to "cure his disease" but is coping with the problem in a healthy way because of al-anon meetings she attends.
Jenna's drive and determination come out as she teams with her boss in fighting corporate entities and as she mentors Tanner, who is looking at himself differently because of Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone's influence and tutoring. There might even be time for romance in Jenna's life, finally.
Jenna's drive and determination come out as she teams with her boss in fighting corporate entities and as she mentors Tanner, who is looking at himself differently because of Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone's influence and tutoring. There might even be time for romance in Jenna's life, finally.
April 13, 2018
Best Foot Forward. This book was just annoying. I only read halfway through it. Is it just me, or are the people that work at Gladestones is taking their job way to seriously? I mean come on. So what if the company changes? It’s called being in a company. Very stupid. It’s just annoying how the workers don’t want to change companies or wear the new shirts but that’s what happens in a buisness! I just got annoyed at the constant complaining and saying I’m not going to do this and blah blah blah. This story has no plot and centers around a girl who takes her job wayyyy to seriously. All around annoyed. I didn’t enjoy the first one as much so I have no idea why I picked this one up. The part I stopped as was when one guy was like I’m not wearing this shirt. Why? Because a new company was featured on it, not Gladstone’s. Yes, we get you’ve worked their for years but it’s a job! Who cares if the name changes it’s still the same! Jenna is a very annoying character to me and just complains about her dad the entire book. Tanner is the only good character. He is the only reason I continued to read it.
December 6, 2017
This book is a compelling story about a young girl named Jenna who has gone through many difficulties in her life so far and tells about how her friends get her through it. Mrs. Gladstone, who is her boss and also a very important role model for Jenna, helps her through her though times and gives her advice and insight: "Every car has a rear view mirror, but if you spend too much time looking there, you'll probably crash. You’ve got to look ahead to where you’re going much more than always checking back from where you came. Driving teachers you a lot about life…” (page 160) Mrs. Gladstone observed how Jenna is always thinking about her past and can never move on from it, so she has put in the effort to try and help her with words. Jenna is always looking up to Mrs. Gladstone and her words greatly impacted her and how she has been thinking. This passage has also impacted me. I can get lost in the past and forget to see what is going on right in front of my face. Mrs. Gladstone has not only inspired Jenna, but she inspired me, too.
March 21, 2019
Should have known it would take longer than that to stop the usurping son from ruining the family business's name for quick cash! Rolling along as an immediate continuation of the previous book, the victory at the end there now serves as a mere launching point for the REAL struggle. Now we're back to the nitty-gritty day-to-day of selling shoes (which manages to be way more fascinating than it should be), while also featuring Jenna's side position as a junior investigative reporter, helping root out rotten corporate business practices as Mrs. Gladstone's part-time Gal Friday.
She complains, at one point, about having to go back to school -- "I felt like I was living out one of those fantasy movies where the sharp adult gets zapped back into childhood and has to go back to school and relive what was not worth reliving" -- and honestly, she's right. We barely spare a word on her classes or homework; Jenna's life is her job, and it's awesome. She's going to have a killer career as an adult if she's already like this at 16.
She complains, at one point, about having to go back to school -- "I felt like I was living out one of those fantasy movies where the sharp adult gets zapped back into childhood and has to go back to school and relive what was not worth reliving" -- and honestly, she's right. We barely spare a word on her classes or homework; Jenna's life is her job, and it's awesome. She's going to have a killer career as an adult if she's already like this at 16.
April 26, 2023
This is the sequel to Rules of the Road, and we find Jenna back at Gladstone doing what she loves–measuring people’s feet and selling them shoes. She has to work with a very cute ex-con who learns that selling shoes isn’t all that different from stealing. You just have to follow standard procedures. Jenna also has a boyfriend of sorts–a donut salesman–but their romance doesn’t go anywhere. That’s ok, though, because there’s plenty else happening. The main conflict involves where Gladstone shoes are made, and how. Their “Made in America” factory in Maine is really just a cover for their sweatshop in Thailand, where little kids are overworked. All this gets dealt with in the last pages of the book, and it’s resolved pretty well. Oh, yes, and Jenna’s height–5'11"–is still being played up, as if she’s gigantically tall. Give me a break!
May 2, 2022
So, I realized only within the last few chapters that this was a sequel, which made a lot more sense and also makes me wish I had skipped picking this up at the book sale. (BUT I LOVE JOAN BAUER.) I'm thinking, though, that even if I had read Rules of the Road before this that I would feel the same way: it was just okay. The characters are fun, and Bauer slips in subtle life lessons as usual, but it just didn't have the oomph of Peeled or Stand Tall. It does, weirdly, feel like a proto-Peeled with Jenna's interest in journalism and the shady business practices that come to light, plus Jenna and Hildy feel a bit (ahem) interchangeable in personality.
January 30, 2023
Let’s start by saying I’m not one for audiobooks. In fact, I listen to them to fall asleep most nights. However, I started this one originally as a way to fall asleep but soon I realized after staying up late to listen to it and waking up early in the morning to listen to it that there was no way I was putting this one down. I finished the audiobook within 12 hours. Much like the first one it deserves a spot in your want to read list. The characters are so lovable and so real. There’s not really a good or evil side you’ll find it’s just simply humans against humans. This is a concept I love for multiple reasons, but you’ll have to read this book to find out what I mean by this.
August 3, 2024
4.75 - Maybe Joan Bauer isn’t the best author out there, but she can bring all the feels and simply shines in making believable and distinct character voices. A lot of her plot lines echo each other, but, like with Gary Schmidt’s books (some of my all-time favs), it works, because each story gets you invested and makes you care about the characters and their outcomes. I also appreciate that Joan Bauer writes clean YA literature which still handles topics of import like alcoholism, corruption, family dysfunction, homelessness, mental health, etc. There are few authors doing the same today, so it makes her works even more special.
June 26, 2022
Best Foot Forward picks up where Rules of the Road left off. Jenna Boller is working for Mrs. Gladstone once again. However, this time Goldstone Shoes has been bought out by Shoe Warehouse Corporation. Mrs. Gladstone is still on the Board of Directors and has a hand in quality control....or so she assumed.
When sales start dropping and the shoes do not live up to the high standards once expected of Gladstone Shoes, Jenna and her new employee, Tanner get to work to expose the mastermind behind the shoddy work.
When sales start dropping and the shoes do not live up to the high standards once expected of Gladstone Shoes, Jenna and her new employee, Tanner get to work to expose the mastermind behind the shoddy work.
June 18, 2017
A follow-up to Rules of the Road, I loved how it took the themes that Jenna learns from Rules of the Road, and takes them a step further into implementation in her life in this book. Life isn't perfect just because of her road trip, neither does it get easier, but she finds it possible, which by itself is a huge draw to the book. This book teaches readers to believe the best of people, and drives home the fact that sometimes the people around us change for good because we give them a chance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2018
Not a bad YA novel, but I question if it is suitable for senior elementary--could be I'm out of touch with what kids are reading, though. This book is second in the series and while I could have benefitted from reading the first one, first, it didn't impact the story not to have done so. Main character (16) works in a shoe store and deals with interesting work dynamics, co-workers and customers all while processing what it means to have a mostly absentee alcoholic dad.
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