Rules (Scholastic Gold)

Rules, a realistic fiction novel written by Cynthia Lord describes a young teen living with her autistic brother and the struggles she faces while trying to have an adventurous summer with a new friend and having to deal with the stigma attached to her brother. The main character, Catherine, matures throughout the book with how she deals with her brother, David, and how she begins to accept his disabilities. At first, she is very embarrassed by David and his actions in public, but through meeting a special friend, Jason, at occupational therapy (OT), she realizes how instead of getting annoyed with David’s behaviors, she should learn to accept them and view things more positively. From the beginning of the book it is clear how insecure Catherine feels about having a brother with autism. She takes care of him a lot, but is incredibly strict with him by trying to make set rules for everything he does. David does learn these rules, but as the book continues, it seems that the rules are more “helpful” for Catherine’s feelings then for David himself. We first see Catherine’s self consciousness appear when she has a new next door neighbor, a girl her age named Kristi. All Catherine wants is a friend for the summer since her best friend is not home. She hopes she can hide David from Kristi, fearing that he would scare her off and she would not want to be Catherine’s friend. However, when Kristi does meet David, she is not immediately scared off. An ongoing issue throughout the book is how frustrated Catherine gets that she was to babysit and help David more than (she feels) her parents do. Instead of viewing her time with David as special sibling bonding time, she views it as a burden, continuously thinking about what she could be doing if she did not have to be with her brother. The only time we see Catherine genuinely excited about being with David is when she goes with her mom to take David to OT. Catherine made a new friend there, Jason, who is a boy about her age in a wheelchair and is nonverbal. They communicate through Jason’s communications book, where Catherine takes it upon herself to draw and create new words to fill up Jason’s book. She surprises him each week with a set of new words to learn so they have a better way of talking and getting to know each other. Immediately, they form a close connection, each making the other jump out of their comfort zone in some way or another. Instead of viewing and treating Jason the way she treats David, Catherine truly treats him like her friend. When Jason said he wants to run, Catherine has the idea to take him outside in the parking lot, and run while pushing him, so he could get the rush and feeling of freedom. Jason invites Catherine to his birthday party, where she decides to spend all her savings to buy him a used guitar so he could practice making music. At his party, Jason decides to ask Catherine to the community dance that night, and when she hesitates and makes excuses, not only does he call her out but also he asks why she is embarrassed of him. This is the moment when Catherine finally puts into perspective how she treats Jason and David, and how she should. She realizes that just like her, they are normal people who deserve getting treated fairly. After apologizing and asking Jason to the dance, she explains to him that she realized it was never about being embarrassed of him, it was her own insecurity of how people would view her. Lord does a fantastic job with introducing the reader into the mind of two boys with disabilities, but also, the perspectives of family members and friends who are very relevant in these kids’ lives. Rules was Cynthia Lord’s first novel, and has won two awards: the 2007 Newberry Honor Book award and the Schneider Family Book Award. She then went on to write three more young adult books. I feel as if this book if very eye opening but also heart warming to any reader. Even though it is meant for ages 8-12, I still found myself, a 20-year-old college student, laughing, crying, and truly connecting to all the characters in this novel. I think everyone should read this to get incite into families with children that have special needs, but also, to, like Catherine, discover how to treat people with disabilities. Without being too simple or too intense of a story, Lord creates characters and a plotline that every age can enjoy and understand.

We create rules as a way to manage our time, personalities, and behaviors. We make rules in order to control our lives and give order to the world around us. Rules let us agree on a common way of acting, of certain expectations being met, and of certain boundaries not being crossed. Rules tell us how to live. Following rules and finding our place in the world is central to Cynthia Lord’s Rules , a powerful young adult novel about a fifth grade girl, Catherine, and her autistic brother, David. Along the way they befriend a non-verbal, wheelchair-bound boy named Jason, who, despite his physical limitations, helps set Catherine free of her self-imposed and restrictive “rules.” After all, rules are meant to be broken. Catherine wishes her brother’s autism would simply disappear, that he’d just wake up “normal” one day. But in case that doesn’t happen, she’s compiling a list of rules so “at least he’ll know how the world works, and I won’t have to keep explaining things.” Catherine gives voice to the siblings of special needs individuals everywhere when she notes: “Everyone expects a tiny bit from him and a huge lot from me.” Later, Catherine talks honestly with her father. “I have to matter, too. As much as work and your garden, and even as much as David. I need you, too.” Catherine ponders the nature of her brother’s disability. As the father of a son with autism I found her insights packed an emotional wallop. (Note: Cynthia Lord is the mother of boy with autism.) “How can his outside look so normal and his inside be so broken? Like an apple, red perfect on the outside, but mushy brown at the first bite.” Catherine struggles with being both embarrassed by her brother and protective of him in equal measure. She hates when people treat her brother “like he’s invisible. It makes me mad, because it’s mean and it makes me invisible, too.” Two of Catherine’s most simple rules are the most profound. There are flaws in all of us—not just those with special needs. And We all try to do the best we can to fit in, but things don’t always end up the way we intend. There are quite a few laughs here, and a few weepy emotional moments, too. Some of the most profound highlight the differences in Catherine and David’s mental capacities. At one point both kids get a chance to make a wish. Catherine says: I wish everyone had the same chances. Because it stinks a big one that they don’t. What about you? David wishes for grape soda. Cynthia Lord plays it straight in Rules, and doesn’t overdo it on the sentimentality. The result is an engaging read filled with light and love. A couple of Lord’s rules are bound to stick with you after the novel’s close: Sometimes you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got. And Looking closer can make something beautiful. -30-

Very nice. The storyline itself was great and the book came without any creases or imperfections.

This is a beautiful book. There aren't any car chases or magic wands, but there IS plenty of plot and tension and characters who come alive and make you laugh and cry. Every single word in this book is perfect. Without any sense of being "messagy," Rules gives a great sense of the value of the human spirit and love and friendship and siblinghood. I read it, and then I turned around and immediately read it all over again.

I read this book as part of a homework assignment. I was pleasantly surprised to find it a wonderful read. It gave some insight into living with an autistic sibling. A must read!

Great book for school

Great book Loved the concept and it was nice and meaningful

It was a surprise gift for my daughter on her birthday. But was disappointed as the book was pre used and also someone's name written on it. Really sad with this purchase. Also the quality of pages is not good. Kindly improve the paper quality.