Rules
Books | Juvenile Fiction / Family / Siblings
4.1
(983)
Cynthia Lord
Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from a peach is not a funny-looking apple to keep your pants on in public---in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?
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More Details:
Author
Cynthia Lord
Pages
Publisher
Turtleback
Published Date
2008-09
ISBN
1417829567 9781417829569
Ratings
Google: 4.5
Community ReviewsSee all
"Rules is told by Catherine, who just wants a normal life. Which is impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. Catherine is trying to teach David the rules to in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?<br/><br/>I've been meaning to read this for many years after subbing for a 5th learning support teacher who was going to read it with her kids, and I loved it! This book is a great way to teach kids that everyone is different and you should be ashamed or embraced about who you are or who your family is. Catherine goes from wanting David to fit into her rules she made to help him, to learning to be yourself.<br/><br/>I had a really hard time with Catherine's parents in this book though. Her mom tries her best, but puts a lot of pressure on Catherine to watch her brother. But her dad absolutely drove me crazy the very little bit he was referenced in the book. I know how crazy life can be and things pop up, but I also worked in an Autism Support classroom for a year and now how much routine and structure they need to help them be successful: so when Catherine's dad was constantly late to take David to the video store, when he told David he would get hum at 5:00, that made me upset.<br/><br/>Overall a great teen book to help teach students to love who they are and not conform to what others think you should be. Also a great book to read to children to show them how everyone is different. Quick read as well, I finished this in a day."
"I read this book in fourth grade, and it is such a heart warming story. This book brings awareness to autism which is totally awesome and important!"
J
Jasmine
"The story is awesome and I recommend on reading it is a really great book, hope you like it
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J A
Jenifer Arias