Rules

Rules

Lord, Cynthia. Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic, 2006. ISBN 9780439443838

Summary:

Growing up presents challenges for every young adult. Imagine often feeling as though you’re all alone, and you live in a world where everyone dotes over your brother who has autism. You feel pushed to the side and not a real priority to anyone, even yourself. You want to fit in, but always feel pushed out. This is Catherine’s story. Learn how this young girl comes to cope with her brother’s circumstances by creating rules for his life that are reflections of hers. See how she finds her true self in this mixed up world and becomes comfortable with her situation and the relationships, including the unexpected ones that support her.

Analysis:

Cynthia Lord’s debut novel is completely captivating. All young teen readers, especially girls, can relate to Catherine’s story and her deep desire to “fit in.” Catherine is a very believable and likeable character. Young readers can easily connect with her. Lord has the ability to create a setting that feels like home, even if it isn’t. She submerges the reader into this small town neighborhood where you feel like you live next door. The plot continually builds to a point where the reader is left inferring whether or not Catherine will reach out to her new found friend, Jason. Catherine struggles deeply with what’s right and whether or not that outweighs fitting in.

In the end, Catherine’s decision is compelling and touching, which will lead readers to realize that there are all kinds of “normal.” Readers are left with the realization that “normal” is unique to each individual and what matters most is that we are true to ourselves.

Lord’s incorporation of Arnold Lobel’s created childhood favorites of Frog and Toad is ingenious, since many, if not all-young readers can connect this this popular, early reading series about friendship. The friendships made and the relationships fostered in this novel show true compassion and empathy, which is something many teachers strive to cultivate in their classrooms. By sharing this novel with middle grade students, teachers are able to directly model and show how to be compassionate towards others and to look at things from someone else’s point of view – something that can be difficult to teach.

Be sure to check out the interview and activities found at the end of the novel. Cynthia Lord’s novel is a work of art, and one that should be shared with all young adult readers. Make that a rule!

Awards and Review Excerpts:

- 2007 Newbery Honor Award

- 2007 Schneider Family Book Award

- 2008 Buckeye Children’s Book Award

- 2008 Great Stone Face Book Award

- An ALA Notable Children’s Book

From Publishers Weekly: “A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others’ points of view.”

From School Library Journal: “A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.”

From Booklist: “A heartwarming first novel.”

From Children’s Literature: “This novel will help any preteen coping with their own or a loved one’s disability through teaching that it does not matter what’s on the outside, but what’s inside that truly counts.” – Danielle Travis

Connections:

Collect and share other works authored by Cynthia Lord, such as:

- A Handful of Stars ISBN 9780545700276

- Half a Chance ISBN 9780545035330

- Touch Blue ISBN 9780545035316

Visit Cynthia Lord’s website - http://www.cynthialord.com

Create your own list of rules for life. Share them with others to see how your rules compare. Based on your reading are there other rules that might be important to Catherine and David?

Learn more about autism. Invite someone who works with children with autism to come speak. Here are a few Internet sources:

- https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

- http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

- http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/

Learn more about being paraplegic and tools and technology used to assist those with disabilities, such as the word card book, utilized by Jason in Lord’s novel. Investigate the many ways we can communicate with others.

Research and share Arnold Lobel’s popular Frog and Toad stories, such as:

- The Adventures of Frog and Toad ISBN 9780760771044

- Frog and Toad Are Friends ISBN 9780760781487

- Frog and Toad Together ISBN 9780060239596

Discuss why his stories are so popular. What can we learn about relationships and others from Frog and Toad?

Visit http://www.carolhurst.com/authors/alobel.html for more information on Arnold Lobel.

*Image borrowed from www.barnesandnoble.com

Be sure to add this debut novel to your reading diet… Make it a rule!

~ Mandy :)