Book Review: RULES

Lord, Cynthia. (2006). Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439443822

Plot Summary 

Rules is about a 12 year old girl named Catherine who is helping her autistic brother, David go through life’s journey with particular rules she has created for him that he should follow. She really just wants to live a normal life, but finds out the true meaning of normal as she befriends Jason, a boy with his own disabilities and figures out who her “true” friends are.  

Critical Analysis 

In Rules Lord writes a real life story children from all over can relate to. Children can relate to the characters in the story:  Catherine a 12 year old artistic individual who looks after her autistic brother David, David who is autistic and lives life following rules, Catherine’s mom who works from home, Catherine’s dad is constantly working and never on time, Jason, Catherine’s new friend who is wheelchair bound and doesn’t speak, Kristin, new neighbor Catherine wants to make friends with. The characters are the age of the readers which help make the plot seem capable of happening.  Friendships evolve with people we would not normally make relationships with but through sharing the same interests helps create unexpected friendships. Catherine comes to terms with the fact that there are different types of normalcy, you just have to find your own. The chapters are broken down into rules, which help the readers get the gist of the chapter: “Don’t run down the clinic hallways”, “At someone’s house, you have to follow their rules,” “Some people think they know who you are, when really they don’t. It helps the story flow easily and keeps the readers engaged from beginning to end.  

Review Excerpt (s)

-Booklist (February15, 2006) “The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: A heartwarming first novel.”

-Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2006) “Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences.”

-School Library Journal (April 1, 2006) “Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.”

*Schneider Family Book Award, 2007

*Newbery Honor, 2007

*Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2008

 Connections

A story map (characters, setting, theme, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) could be used to organize the story. As students read the story they can fill in the map. This activity can be done with the following books and can be used to prepare students to activate prior knowledge on autistic individuals: 

Lears, Laurie (1998) Ian’s walk: a story about autism. ISBN 9780807534816

Bates, Helen. (2016) A girl like Tilly:  growing up with autism. ISBN 9781785921636