Book Review 17

Bibliography

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

Plot Summary

Catherine lives with a brother who has autism, which dominates family life and causes her to have deal with moments most other twelve year olds don’t. In an attempt to help her brother, David, and save her embarrassment, she makes rules for him to try to help him fit into the every day world. Catherine meets Jason, who has a disability, and begins forming a friendship with him that surprises her. When Kristi moves into the neighborhood, Catherine longs for a “normal” friendship with her as well, but she finds out that different is okay, and not all situations can be remedied by making more rules.

Critical Analysis

This book undoubtedly deserves the Newbery Honor Book Award it was given and should be considered a must read for adolescents and adults alike. Lord’s own experiences with an autistic child add a level of realism and authenticity to this novel that make it both funny and heartbreaking to read. More than any other emotion, hope permeates through every page as the protagonist, Catherine, matures and understands that normal may not exist for everyone, but that doesn’t mean life can’t be good.

Within a quick 200 pages, Lord tells many stories. The focus is obviously on Catherine and life with her autistic brother, David. She effortlessly shows the feelings of Catherine as her family navigates around his needs and condition leaving Catherine to sometimes feel displaced. Within the pages we also see Catherine trying to develop normal friendships with the typical girl next door, Kristi, and the boy at the therapy office David goes to, Jason. These friendships have distinct differences since Jason is bound to a wheelchair and unable to speak. Catherine’s enjoyment of her friendship with Jason does not ease her uneasiness that it doesn’t fit into her plan for normalcy. However, her realization that “she’s scared” of what people might think of her, not Jason, reveals a truth about human nature that is sobering for an adult or adolescent.

Set in any present time town, Rules is a book that deals with very specific issues, such as autism, but still manages to appeal to the masses because of the universal emotions and lessons found on every page. This is a credit to Lord’s exceptional writing. Lord’s decision to title each chapter one of Catherine’s rules for David demonstrates a style that is both unique and offers insight into who Catherine is and who she is becoming. Though her rules are supposedly meant to protect her more vulnerable brother, Lord uses them to seamlessly reveal Catherine’s weaknesses and fears and show how she is attempting to both fit into society and protect herself from it. Sometimes the rules show Catherine’s maturity or frustration, such as “solving one problem can create another” and “pantless brothers are not my problem.” This style of writing makes the book easily accessible, easy to read, and meaningful all at the same time.

Lord respects her characters and not only develops Catherine but also makes David and Jason three dimensional. Readers get to know these characters beyond their disabilities, and though their differences and others’ problems dealing with them play a role in the novel, characters get to know David and Jason as people, not stereotypes of autism and disability. Lord accomplishes this intentionally, making sure the book does not revolve around Catherine only but includes glimpses of the emotions David and Jason experience in their everyday lives.

Rules is not decidedly a girl or boy book, a task that is not always easy to accomplish in adolescent writing. The subject matter and Lord’s writing style open this book to any audience regardless of age, gender, or culture. The theme can be applied to someone living with an autistic sibling or simply trying to find their identity during an uncertain time. The friendships that develop and deteriorate throughout the pages offer an abundance of lessons, and anyone can connect to the need to fit in.

Review Excerpts

"A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' points of view." Publisher’s Weekly
"A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter." School Library Journal

Connections

*Have students read The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars and compare the sisters in the story and how they handle their mentally challenged brothers. Students should compare and contrast Sara and Catherine and share what they discovered with the class or their literature circle group.
*Have students research autism to find out its causes, symptoms, and what the life of someone with autism is like.