Rules

Title: Rules

Author: Cynthia Lord

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: Nine to Twelve Years Old

Characters: Catherine, David, Jason, Kristi

Plot: Catherine just wants a normal life. However, that is near to impossible because she has a younger brother who has autism. During the summer break, Catherine goes to Occupational Therapy with her brother David. There she overhears a mother getting upset at her son because he wanted a guitar. He is a boy named Jason who is bound to a wheelchair and has to use a book full of words to talk. The cards in his book are very plain and have no pictures on them. Catherine volunteers to make new word cards for Jason that have bright and colorful pictures on them. During the summer days, Catherine spends time making these word cards, baby sitting David, and wondering about the new neighbor. Recently, their neighbors moved out and Catherine was hoping that a girl her age would move in. It turns out that a girl her age does move in next door. Sadly, the first time the two girls meet, Catherine is thoroughly embarrassed. David made a scene, as usual, and the new girl, Kristi, did not yet know that he had autism. Catherine has been making rules for David as long as she can remember. He has his own rule book that includes rules such as, "No toys in the fish tank." One day, Jason invited Catherine to his birthday party. The only problem is that it was on the same day as a dance that Kristi had invited her to attend. As it ends up, Catherine makes it to Jason's party where she gives him the guitar he wanted. The two then go to the dance together where Kristi is informed that Jason is handicapped. Everyone has fun at the dance. Catherine then decides to accept David as he is, an autistic child.

Precautions: This is a safe book to teach older children to accept those who are physically or mentally handicapped. Some of the kids in this book are mean to one another but in the end they understand why it is not right to make fun of others. There are some divorced parents in this book but understand that this is morally wrong unless it is for unfaithfulness. The dance is just for fun, meaning that there is no romance involved. Overall, this is a clean, safe book for older children.

Ratings: This book is great for those who may have some handicapped individuals in their family or friends. Rules is a great book for indirectly emphasizing that God made us each special in our own way. I would highly recommend this for people who have a hard time understanding autism or other handicaps.