AFTER FINISHING THE BOOK...

1. Compose a Letter to Jenna...
   Write a letter of encouragement and advice to Jenna Boller. She has had to deal with many new issues in the book RULES OF THE ROAD. Include in your letter possible ideas you can share with her for dealing with:
   
   ALCOHOLISM (with her father it was "tough love" at the end).
   ALZHEIMER'S (how both she and Faith dealt with their grandmother).
   ASSERTIVENESS (learning to speak up and stand up for what is right).
   
   
   
2. Find and listen to sound effects in the story...
   The author cleverly uses "sound effects" to help the reader "hear" the story.
   Find these examples:
   
   Reread p. 154 "knock on door" - "knock came louder"
   
   • What does a knocking in the middle of the night like this usually signify?
     
   • Why is someone knocking at the door?
     
   Reread top of p. 169 "Whack"
   
   • What makes this noise?
     
   • What is a "banister"?
     
   • Why is Mrs. Gladstone making this gesture?
     
   • What does this show about her?
     
   Reread bottom of p. 175 "strong rat-a-tat"
   
   • Who is knocking?
     
   • What opens?
     
   • Make this loud "rat-a-tat" noise with your knuckles on a table or desk. Does this word describe the sound accurately?
     
   • What happens next in this scene?
     
   Now with a fellow reading partner, find more examples of "sound effects" in this novel. LIST THEM. How do these "noises" make the story more real? Discuss with the class or a fellow reader other sounds you heard while reading this realistic fiction book.
   
   
   
3. Learn about shoes and the job...
   Jenna had to learn a lot to be successful in the shoe business. Reread bottom of p. 59. LIST some things Jenna learned to help her better understand the shoe business.
   
   Explain (with examples from the story) how she became a really good shoe salesperson.
   Who helped to teach her what she needed to learn?
   Notice how the author matches people, their personalities, and their lifestyles with the shoes they wear. Go back into the story and LIST some of the people and find out what kind of shoes they wore:
   
   • Harry Bender - Italian handsewn leather cowboy boots
     
   • Carol Boller - White comfortable nurse shoes
     
   • Jenna -
     
   • Mrs. Gladstone -
     
   • Others -
     
   Every occupation has inside knowledge one needs to know in order to be successful. Think of a job you have, for example: mowing lawns, household chores, school related tasks, sports, baby sitting, fast food business, etc. LIST some of the important things you need to know and understand for your job.
   
   
   
4. Hunt Headlines!
   The author uses Jenna's voice in a clever HEADLINE FORMAT. In this way Jenna announces to herself and to the world a summary of what is happening in her life.
   Find these examples listed below (and others you may locate). Reread them and explain what they mean in the story context.
   
   (p. 11 top) DRUNKEN DAD DISGRACES DAUGHTER
   (p. 38 top) TRUSTED TEEN TAKES TEXAS BY STORM
   (p. 173) DEFEATED TEEN DEPARTS DALLAS
   (p. 190) TERRIFIED TEEN HAS DRUNK FATHER ARRESTED
   (p. 191) CLEAN TEEN FACES WORLD - VOWS TO FIGHT ON
   
   Find more examples of this writing technique and list the headlines in your journal.
   Print some of these headlines in LARGE FONT on a piece of poster paper. Show them to the class or a small group and use them as a way to review the story.
   Make a newspaper page using one or more of the headlines. Below the headline write an accompanying story with details from the book. Add pictures or graphics to make it look like a real newspaper. How about a shoe store advertisement?
   
   
5. Notice the cars.
   Cars play an interesting and intriguing role throughout this story, from the title and cover picture to the very end.
   
   SKIM through the chapters and find references to cars.
   LIST references to cars, tell who owns them, and describe them:
   (some examples below)
   
   • (p. 22 top, p 28 bottom) Mom's 12-year-old Honda Civic
   • (p. 22, 28, 60) Mrs. Gladstone's White Cadillac
     
   • (p. 12) Dad's broken-down Dodge
     
   • (p. 108) Dad's love for lots of new cars - "always red"
     
   • (p. 188) Dad's little gray Saturn
     
   • (p. 193) Jenna' s own red Chevy Cavalier
     
   TRACE the idea of owning a "red car" thoughout the story.
   
   • (p. 8) Jenna's big plan at the end of the summer.
     
   • (p. 61) Jenna sees a license plate. What does it say?
     
   • (p. 108) Where did Jenna get her love for red cars?
     
   • (p. 193) Jenna's wish comes true.
     
   MAKE A COLLAGE POSTER with car pictures.
   
   • Find suitable pictures you can cut out of magazines, newspapers, or computer graphics.
     
   • Draw and color a car picture that fits a description of one in the book.
     
   • Label the cars and tell who they would belong to in the story and how they relate to the story line.
     
   • Put the book title and author information on your poster and present it to the class.
     
   
   
6. Write about a theme from the book.
   Choose a theme from this book to explore further. Write about what the theme means in the book and what it means to you in your own life. Use your reader's response journal and the book itself to find examples to give your writing substance.
   
   Suggested themes:
   Learning to do a new job well.
   Learning to drive a car.
   Being away from home.
   Stepping up to the plate / standing up for what is right and just.
   Relating to people of various ages and stages (older, younger, family members, bosses, etc.).
   Dealing with issues (such as Alzheimer's, alcoholism, prejudice, loyalty, friendship).
   Being responsible.
   Buying shoes.
   Making a difference in the world.
   
   
   
7. Work with words.
   The author uses quality descriptive vocabulary throughout the book.
   Find the words listed below in a passage from Chapter 25. Reread the pages noticing the "words in context."
   Make a word chart and fill it in with a "synonym" or "definition" to show meaning.
   

   Location	Vocabulary in Context	Means...
   p. 175 line 9 line 11 line 18 p. 176 line 6 line 12 line 23 line 25 p. 177 line 22 p. 179 line 7 line 14 line 21 line 27	brusquely perception din bun investments droning emphatic podium unequivocally audible charisma merger

   Locate another short passage from the book and identify 10 or 12 new or interesting vocabulary words like the ones in the list above. Make a list of them and give to a fellow reader. After you exchange lists, go back and reread the passage and identify the meaning of the words from context.
   
   
8. Find comfort in food.
   Find the passage on p. 18 where Jenna cooks her speciality.
   
   Describe it.
   Who taught her how?
   Locate the place in the story where later on she shares this same food with Mrs. Gladstone.
   What is her reaction?
   Make Jenna's specialty and treat your class.
   What other food references can you find in this story?
   List them.
   
   Write a short article or prepare a short speech about the importance of food and how food can bring comfort. Give examples from this book and from others you may have read. Make sure you read Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer, to see the power of food.