RULES

Lord, C. (2006). Rules.New York, NY. Scholastic Press.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 4th-7th

Everyone’s life is run by rules. Everyone needs a friend in their life. Everyone has to deal with their family. But sometimes our lives get turned upside down, forcing us to ask the question: What is NORMAL?

Meet Catherine a typical teenager and big sister. She wants only what is best for her brother David, who has autism. He insists on following the rules. She keeps a list for him in her notebook to help him along.

RULES FOR DAVID

1. Chew with your mouth closed.

2. If someone says "hi", you say "hi" back.

3. No toys in the fish tank.



Sometimes the rules can help out in sticky situations.

1. You can yell on the playground, but not during dinner.

2. A boy can take his shirt off to swim, but not his shorts.

Sometimes rules can't fix everything...

1. Sometimes people laugh at you because they like you...

But sometimes they laugh to hurt you.

The rules even help David and Catherine see the good

in the not so good things.

1. looking closer can make something beautiful.

Sounds pretty normal, right? But a "Normal" life is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. Throughout the book Catherine meets the all-American girl named Kristie and a disabled boy names Jason. Friendships develop. These friendships force Catherine to answer the question: What is normal?

Go on a journey with the main character, Catherine, as she deals with friendship, honesty, acceptance, diversity and as she learns that sometimes the rule don't always apply!


Discussion Guide for RULES
http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/rules_discuss.pdf