Rules

Lord, Cynthia. Rules. New York: Scholastic Press, 2006. 0439443830

Plot Summary: Twelve year old Catherine is embarrassed of her younger Brother David, who is autistic. She makes many rules for him, some to better David’s life, but most to ease her own embarrassment. Catherine meets a young boy, Jason, who is wheelchair bound, a a bond grows between them as she introduces him to new words. Throughout the story, Catherine learns many valuable lessons about herself, her brother, and life in general.

Critical Analysis: Rules by Cynthia Lord is a touching and painfully honest book. The main characters in the book include Catherine; Catherine’s brother, David, who is autistic; and Jason, bound to a wheelchair. Many cultural areas are covered in this book, specifically in the spectrum of special needs. Each character is honestly portrayed. The author does not leave out details of the children’s’ abilities to spare the reader the specifics. Catherine assigns rules to her younger brother David, including “Sometimes people laugh when they like you, but sometimes they laugh to hurt you” and “Keep your pants on in public.” The reader learns, through the assigned rules, that most are assigned to hinder Catherine from becoming embarrassed through her brother’s actions and behaviors. In this story, a variety of cultures are discussed, and the reader see the children interacting with children with different abilities, for better of for worse. Cultural markers in this story include, Jason’s use of word cards, and the descriptions of David and Jason’s habits, understandings and actions. The story is well-written, truthful, and told from the heart, as the author has had abundant experiences with children with special needs, including family members.

Reviews:

Booklist: No toys in the fish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. A heartwarming first novel.

Kirkus: When 12-year-old Catherine is embarrassed by her autistic younger brother's behavior, her mother reassures her that "real friends understand." But Catherine is not convinced, and she is desperate to make a friend of the new girl next door. She doesn't like it when others laugh at David or ignore him; she writes down the rules so he will know what to do. Catherine is also uncomfortable about her growing friendship with 14-year-old Jason, a paraplegic. Jason uses a book of word cards to communicate, and Catherine enjoys making him new cards with more expressive words. Still, when he suggests that they go to a community-center dance, she refuses at first. Only when Jason sees through her excuse does she realize that her embarrassment is for herself. Catherine is an appealing and believable character, acutely self-conscious and torn between her love for her brother and her resentment of his special needs. Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences.

Awards:

Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2008 Winner Grades 6-8 Ohio

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2008 Winner Vermont

Great Stone Face Award, 2008 Winner New Hampshire

John Newbery Medal, 2007 Honor Book United States

Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2008 Winner Grade 6-8 Kentucky

Maine Student Book Award, 2007-2008 Winner Maine

Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2010 Honor Bok Massachusetts

Mitten Award, 2006 Winner Michigan

Schneider Family Book Award, 2007 Winner Middle School United States

Skipping Stones Honor Award, 2007 Winner Multicultural and International Awareness Books United States

Voice of Youth Award, 2009-2010 Third Place United States

Connections: Share this book with older children to help them learn how to appreciate their peers with special needs. This book would make a great read-aloud. Cooperate with a special needs classroom and pair each student with a “special needs” buddy.

Check out the following titles also about children with special needs….

Betancourt, Jeanne. My name is Brain Brian. New York: Scholastic, 1993.

Draper, Sharon M.. Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Erskine, Kathryn. Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd). New York: Philomel Books, 2010.

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza loses control. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.

Palacio, R. J.. Wonder. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.