Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Best Foot Forward
	Author:	Bauer, Joan
	Date Published:	2005
	Genre:	Real Life
	Grade Level:	7 - 10
	Booktalker:	Marilyn Bunker

Booktalk:
Jenna Boller is back from her life-altering trip to Texas, dripping with instant maturity. She’s got a new job as assistant to Madeline Gladstone, Director of Quality Control for Gladstone Shoes. She made a lot of money over the summer by driving Mrs. Gladstone to Texas and back. So she had rewarded herself with a red car. She still attends Al-Anon meetings; she still visits her Grandmother at the nursing home. It will be the start of her junior year, and she will still be selling shoes for Gladstones. One day a young boy comes to the store and tries to steal a pair of shoes, Mrs. Gladstone then hires Tanner Cobb and Jenna ends up as his mentor. Jenna reallly likes to be in control, but her world is becoming increasingly complicated, especially when she discovers someone is using unethical labor tactics to cut costs and produce brand name shoes that are nothing but junk. But balancing all these responsibilities with the angst of junior year and her needy family isn’t easy, especially since her protégé happens to be a shoplifter. Jenna finds it difficult to trust Tanner, although his street smarts might be just what she needs when the going gets tough—filling so many shoes is a tall order! But Jenna’s sense of humor keeps her grounded and putting her Best Foot Forward!!!!