Bibliography
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439443822
Plot Summary
Living with her autistic brother David, 12-year-old Catherine struggles to find order and balance in her life. While she loves David, she is embarrassed by his behavior. She makes rules to help him function more normally. Her longing to live a normal life so that she can receive as much attention from her parents as her brother does as well as make friends without being hindered by her brother's behavior is further complicated by her growing friendship with Jason, a paraplegic.
Critical Analysis
Cynthia Lord sheds light on the family dynamic created by a family member with a disability. Narrated by Catherine, readers are able to experience what it is like to grow up with an autistic brother. They are able to enter Catherine's topsy-turvy world filled with conflicting feelings about loving David but at the same time being embarrassed, impatient, and resentful of him. Catherine's concern for her brother is shown in the rules she makes for her brother, "so if my someday-he'll-wake-up-a regular-brother wish doesn't ever come true, at least he'll know how the world works, and I won't have to keep explaining things." At the same time, her wish to fit in with everybody else is hindered by her brothers abnormal behavior and the amount of attention he needs. Making "real friends" is not as easy for Catherine and unexpectedly becoming friends with Jason only makes the matter more complicated. Ultimately, Jason helps Catherine admit that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to free herself from what she fears others will think: "You're a good friend, and I've been--Weak." Entirely convincing, her emotions come across vividly through her thoughts and actions. Readers will relate to the universal themes of being/feeling different and finding acceptance.
Review Excerpt(s)
Publishers Weekly - "A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' points of view."
School Library Journal - "A lovely warm read, and a great discussion starter."
Kirkus Reviews - "Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences."
Booklist - "The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships."
Connections
*Students can be invited to write about an experience they had about feeling like they were different and not accepted by somebody else.
*Students can write about something that happened in the story through another person's point of view, such as Catherine's mother, father, or friend Jason.
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