Rules by Cynthia Lord Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Rules
Book Review: Touching (some spoilers)
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been reading tons of children's books set in the summertime for the three best books out there to read for June, July, and August for a children's bookclub that I run. I had read the first three chapters of four different books, none of which I liked enough, before I came to this one, and then I read the whole thing in one sitting!
The book is about a girl, Catherine, who has a younger brother (David) who has autism. It's hard for David to learn things on his own, so she helps him learn to behave and learn how the world works through different "rules", which head each chapter; "No toys in the fishtank", "Sometimes people laugh when they like you, but sometimes they laugh to hurt you", "If it's too loud, cover your ears or ask the other person to be quiet." When Catherine goes with David and her mom to the occupational therapists office, Catherine meets a boy her own age who is in a wheelchair and who can't speak, so in order to communicate he has to point to "word cards" that his mom has written out for him. While sitting in the waiting room during David's twice a week appointments, Catherine and the boy (Jason) form a friendship, but when Jason later asks her to a school dance she says no, because she's embarrassed at what the other kids will think of Jason, and of her for being with him. Catherine now has to choose between what she thinks is right, and what to do to "fit in".
There are a lot of reasons why I love this book, one of them being that there are so many things to talk about and discuss. "What would it be like to have to communicate using "word cards"? What words would you want to have?" The book is also very funny in some parts, but at others you get caught up in Catherine's emotions and feel her frustration and anger at the world around her, and her guilt for getting mad at her brother when she knows he can't help it. This was an incredibly touching novel that literally made me laugh and cry, and I hardly ever cry while reading unless a character dies or something equally depressing. I highly recommend this book to kids about 10 and up, and especially for book clubs!
Book Review: Wonderfully moving
Summary: 5 Stars
Cynthia Lord's 'Rules' is a wonderful book about 12-year old Catherine who has an 8-year old brother - David - with autism. As a father of an 8-year old with autism, I felt Ms. Lord did an amazingly accurate job of portraying this. So many of David's characteristics have appeared in my own son. Aside from that, the story between Catherine and her new-found friend Jason is incredibly heartwarming; Catherine is a well-drawn character, and she seems very real. In short, I loved this book; it's one I'm going to recommend to my family and friends.
Joel Arnold
Author of Bedtime Stories for the Apocalypse
Book Review: exquisite
Summary: 5 Stars
this book was one of the best books i have ever read!!!! It had great ,detailed characters who fit perfectly in this story. The books moral is, that people should not treat people with autism differently than anyone else.I personally think it's hard to do this but if you think about it, as if to say god forbid you had autism you wouldn't want anyone staring at you or ignoring you. So the author proves this point by having a character in the story who didn't like the kid with autism (David).by mary's son samBook Review: insteresting
Summary: 2 Stars
This book wasn't terrible but far away from good. It was reptive and quite frankly boring. I've heard lot's of people loved it but I just couldn't get into it. This book did make you think a little bit,but I think this book either strikes you the wronge way or the right way. I do not reccomend this book.Book Review: wonderful book, just short of a five-star rating
Summary: 4 Stars
In _Rules_, we see the struggles of our 12 y o protaganist: making friends, coping with her autistic brother, venturing into a friendship with a disabled teen. My favorite character is that teen, who most people regard as mentally disabled just because his body is disabled. It's worth reading the book just for that character, his courage, and his subtle humor.
The character development in other respects is just shy of top-notch. Our heroine is likeable and really grows by the end of the story, but she seem to be over-reacting to several events. I would have liked a little more insight into the autistic brother and a little more refinement of word choice and style. Also, I was a little uncomfortable about the "girl-friend/boy-friend" aspect of the conclusion not because of the boy's disability, but because I don't think (and many, many people will disagree with me here) that 12 year olds should have boyfriends.