"I was fifteen and a half when I started at Gladstones last year, sophomore year, the year of the Big Slump. I succeeded here. I made money here. I didnt feel big, awkward, and lost. My grandmother always says that everyone needs something in life they do pretty well. For me, its selling shoes."

Six-teen year old Jenna Boller sells shoes at Gladstone's Shoes.  She excels at her job and struggles with life issues. A mature teenager, Jenna is dealing with her father's alcoholism and her lack of popularity at school. When Madeline Gladstone, the owner of Gladstone's Shoes hires Jenna as her driver for the summer, the teen embarks upon a trip that alters her life forever. The two travel to Gladstone's Stores from Peoria, Illinois to Dallas, Texas.  While on the road with Ms. Gladstone, Jenna not only learns the rules of the road she learns the rules to living a better life!

"I appreciate promptness. Mrs. Gladstone walked slowly down a spiral wooden staircase like a queen. She stepped onto a fat oriental rug. Her gray eyes studies me."

The most dynamic feature of this novel is the intergenerational relationship of Ms. Gladstone and Jenna. Bauer balanced the roles superbly. Both characters contributed significantly to the relationship. Jenna relied on Ms. Gladstone's maturity for guidance and Ms. Gladstone highly respected Jenna's youth and vibrant energy.  Told in first person voice, Jenna's character speaks with a high level of maturity and compassion.  Bauer provides excellent descriptive details in the novel regarding the various cities featured. The tone of Bauers' story is an appreciative mixture of wit, wisdom, and emotion.

"Cars with bumper stickers zoomed by: "Native Texan," "Naturalized Texan," "Purebred Texan," Finally, I pulled onto the tree-lined streets of Highland Park, a rich Dallas suburb with big-time houses."

I highly recommend this wonderful novel to teenagers. It is absolutely a thrill to read!