Title: Rules
Illustrator: N/A
Readability Score: 4.5
Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Realistic
Theme: finding acceptance in the least expected way
Primary and secondary characters: Cathrine is the primary character. The secondary characters are David, her parents, Jason, Jason's parents, and Kristi.
Awards: Newbery Honor Book, Schneider Family Book Award
Publishing company: Scholastic Inc.
Date of publication: 2006
ISBN number: 978-0-545-03640-5
Summary: This book is about a 12 year old girl who just seeks a normal life. Her younger brother is autistic and she feels like her life revolves around making sure that he is protected. She wants to be sure that nobody teases him or gets him into anything in which he doesn't understand. Her parents also spend their time with their lives or make sure that her brother, David, has the best life that he can have. Cathrine feels as if her life and her problems are not a priority. When her neighbor moves away, she is excited to hear that a new, younger neighbor that is her age is moving in next door. She hopes they can be the best of friends and that nothing will stand in the way of that. Not constantly watching David, not Ryan, the teasing boy that pretends to be David's friend, or her parents, who she feels like hold her back. One day she meets a boy named Jason at David's OT appointment. Jason is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair to get around and a communication board to speak to others. At first, Cathrine is unsure of their friendship, because she feels uncomfortable at the stares and whispers she receives from strangers. She speaks of her new friend Kristi to Jason and Jason of Kristi, but fails to mention his wheelchair or the fact that he can't speak. She is afraid she will be judged. Her friendship with Jason becomes the most important thing at the end of the book as we are left wondering what happened after Kristi discovers the truth about Jason.
I loved this book and I couldn't put it down. It's humor really touched on so many topics on so many levels. The topic that stands out to me is special eduation. This book can teach students just because a student has autism or is non-verbal that is doesn't mean that he or she isn't capable of living their life. Students need to realize the opportunities that are out there for other students who are like this. I like how it talks about the uses of OT and SLP in the book because many students work with those therapists in those situations. It also uses assistive technology devices such as communication boards and different types of wheelchairs. It also teaches on the theme of acceptance, which ties everything in at the end. Students should learn to accept one another from different races, backgrounds, special education needs, communication needs, and etc.
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