Rules is a book I read a little while ago and loved it! I am determined to re-read it again because it was so good! You’ll feel the same way after you get a chance to pick it up yourself.
Rules is written by Cynthia Lord and received the Schneider Family Book Award, along with the Newberry Honor. This book is written from the perspective of twelve-year old Catherine who “just wants a normal life.”
Catherine’s brother, David, has autism and her entire family revolves around his disability. Due to this, she feels she’ll never have a “normal” life.
But unexpected things happen one summer for Catherine and she meets a new and interesting friend named Jason, along with Kristi—a friend she has always wished for. So many things change for Catherine!
Let’s go back for a minute. I’d like to tell you about the amazing sister Catherine is to her brother, David. She tries to form a bond with him. A relationship that she can be grateful about instead of resentful. You’ll be warmed from head to toe as you see this relationship unfold.
Catherine comes up with her own set of rules for David to follow:
In the back of the book there is a Q & A with Cynthia Lord.
She is asked why she wrote this book in the first place. She answers by telling the reader that she has two children of her own, including a son has autism. When Cynthia’s daughter was around 10 years old, she asked her mother why there were no books written about families like hers?
Cynthia didn’t know how to answer her, but went on a search to find those very books. What she did find were mostly sad books. Cynthia understood that sadness is a part of living with a child who has a disability but it doesn’t have to be the whole part.
In the author’s words it can be, “funny, inspiring, heartwarming, disappointing, frustrating—everything that it is to love anyone and to live in any family.”
Thus, the idea of this book came about.
You’ll thoroughly enjoy this story and find yourself laughing and understanding.
