Rules of the Road explores nontraditional family relationships and clearly depicts both its positive and negative aspects. Bauer writes from the first person point of view which helps the reader get inside Jenna Boiler's skin and experience her joys, pains, triumphs, and tragedies. Bauer's use of humor lightens the story line and further develops the protagonist's character. Using a comparison between the rules of the road and the rules of life throughout the book is a strategy that helps Jenna and the reader understand that our choices have consequences.

Though the tone of the book is sympathetic and sometimes serious, Bauer offers enough humor in the story to make it entertaining for the reader. There is an immediacy about the story line that conveys truth and honesty to the reader. Jenna is a teenager. She longs for adventure and finds it in a cross country trip...