Rules

A Newbery Honor Book written by Cynthia Lord is a fiction book about Catherine a twelve-year-old girl who feels different because her brother David has autism. When she goes places with her brother, she feels that people are staring because David does not act like other kids. He raises his voice and says things that most people would not say out loud. Catherine just wishes that David would act like a regular brother. She helps David learn rules and goes to therapy with him where she meets a boy named Jason. Jason uses a wheelchair due to a physical deformity and cannot speak. Also, a girl named Kristi moves in next door and Catherine really wants to be her friend since her best friend Melissa is gone for the summer. Before long, Catherine is hanging out with Jason and drawing word cards for him as well as going to Kristi’s house. Yet, Catherine is afraid that David might destroy her friendship with Kristi. Kristi wants to double date with a boy she likes and asks Catherine to invite Jason who she saw as a sketch in her book. Catherine does not want to bring him because she feels that Jason’s disability will hurt their friendship. Jason hears about the dance and asks Catherine to go, but she is indecisive causing Jason to become upset. In short time, Catherine agrees to go the dance with Jason, and she realizes he is her true friend. This is a story of growing up and knowing the right thing to do. Teachers can use this story to teach students the value of accepting the difference in others.

Lord, C. (2008). Rules. Scholastic Press.