Families who loved Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the realization that adults are flawed, or when they need to see that their personal skills have professional value. This story follows sixteen year old Jenna, a shoe sales prodigy who escapes her difficult home life by driving a formidable elderly businesswoman across the country. It is a brilliant bridge for teens who feel stuck between the responsibilities of adulthood and the emotional wounds of childhood. Bauer masterfully handles the heavy reality of a parent's alcoholism without letting it drown the story's humor and momentum. Through her relationship with Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna learns that integrity and hard work are the ultimate 'rules of the road.' This is a sophisticated choice for 12 to 17 year olds who enjoy realistic fiction about self discovery, career ambitions, and unconventional mentorship.