BibliographyLord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0439443822.
Plot Summary
Catherine is a twelve year old girl who is growing up with a brother who has autism. Catherine struggles to accept the fact that David will never be "normal" , her feelings of embarrassment, and her desire to have friends. Her best friend is away for the summer which leaves her with no one who understands her situation. A new neighbor is moving into the house across the street and Catherine hopes to kindle a new friendship. Although this friendship never really gets off the ground, her life begins to change when she meets Jason, a boy her age who is disabled and can only communicate with a picture communication board. ( http://www.pecs.com/) Ultimately, Catherine learns to accept the fact that David will always be David and that friends come in all shapes and sizes.
Critical Analysis
Cynthia Lord has written a wonderful book about a young girl who is struggling to deal with growing up with a brother who has autism. The story accurately describes Catherine's feelings, and the struggles the family deals with. Although David, Catherine's brother, is not the main character his voice shines through. His communication efforts may not be recognizable to readers who are not familiar with autism but those who are will understand immediately. Catherine has spent years teaching David the "rules" that will help avoid embarrassing behaviors. Each chapter is titled as one of these rules. David has learned some of these rules but does not always follow them. "No toys in the fish tank" is an example of one of the rules that Catherine has taught David. When he does put something in the fish tank he tells Catherine by stating this rule. He does not say, "Can you help me get my toy out of the fish tank?" which would be the typical request from a child. Another true to life illustration of autism is noted in this rule: "If it's too loud, cover your ears or ask the other person to be quiet." People with autism often have great difficulty screening out loud noises. Catherine has noticed these issues in David and has attempted to help him overcome these problems by teaching him rules. These rules are the titles of the chapters throughout the novel. Although the rules are meant for David, they often have a dual meaning: one for David and another for Catherine. Catherine's character is realistic and likable. She is portrayed as a responsible caretaker who loves her brother and also as a child struggling to fit in and have her own life and friends. She and David have developed a very loving, special relationship that others do not often understand. She has helped David to communicate by using words from the story of Toad and Frog. David can be soothed by their dialogue from this story. This in itself is one of the most poignant parts of the novel. Kristi, the new neighbor and Ryan the mean boy down the street are typical children who do not attempt to truly understand Catherine and her brother David. Readers will wish that Ryan would go jump in a lake and feel the pain that Catherine feels as he abuses David. Even so, this is a truly accurate portrait of how others often treat people with disabilities. It is often painful to read. At times, like all of those who are affected with autism she wishes that the development disability will just disappear. While Catherine is helping David get buckled in to the seat belt she is thinking:"I click the belt across me and open my sketchbook to the back pages. That's where I keep all the rules I'm teaching David so if my some-day-he'll -wake-up-a regular-brother wish doesn't ever come true, at least he'll know how the world work, and I won't have to keep explaining things."
The main problem in this story is Catherine's need to fit in and have friends. She wants and wishes for "normal" in her family life and learns that normal is not necessarily what she thinks. She and her mother take David to the clinic for occupation therapy each week. Although she is able to stay home by herself, she likes to spend the alone time in the waiting room with her mom. This quiet time is not often achieved with David around. The hour is spend reading and taking walks outside in the beautiful Maine setting. It is during this visit to the clinic that Catherine meets Jason. Jason is a boy about her age that can not speak and is in a wheelchair. Catherine discovers that although Jason is physically disabled, his mind is sharp and untouched. He communicates by using a communication board. She offers to create cards for him to add to his collection. She realized that the therapist and his mother treat him as a "child", not the teenager he really is. She creates cards such as "stinks a big one" to help him communicate his feelings better. Catherine is not comfortable discussing her friendship with anyone except her mother and she attempts to hide who Jason is from Kristi. She thinks that Kristi and Ryan might think she is "weird" for having a friend like Jason. He attempt to hide the relationship backfires when Jason asks her to attend the community center dance with him. She wants to go but knows that Kristi and Ryan will be there. She learns a hard lesson when Jason realizes how she is feeling. She finally admits to Jason that she was scared of what Kristi might think of her for being his friend. In the end, she understands that the rules she make for David can often apply to her as well.
Rules contains several themes throughout the novel. The most prominent one is Catherine's struggle to fit in with friends. This is a universal theme -especially during adolescence. Even those teenagers without disabled siblings struggle with feelings of embarrassment and not fitting in. Another theme illustrated is the problems faced by those families affected with a child who has a disability. Even adults have a difficult time understanding when they have not had to deal with a disability.
I really enjoyed Rules by Cynthia Lord. As a mother of a child with autism, I can relate to how Catherine feels. Prior to my son's diagnosis, I knew something was wrong, and felt embarrassed about how he acted. I have been told that I should spank him to make him behave, not to bring him back to a daycare setting (as Catherine's mother was told about David) and had many people give me parenting advice that was not solicited. This book has put in to words the feelings that my older son has felt as well. This is an excellent book about growing up and learning how accept others for who they are and to accept yourself as a person who is truly remarkable.
Review Excerpts
Booklist
No toys in the fish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. A heartwarming first novel.
Kirkus
Catherine is an appealing and believable character, acutely self-conscious and torn between her love for her brother and her resentment of his special needs. Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences
Connections
John Newbery Medal Honor Book 2007
Notable Children's Books, 2007 ; ALSC American Library Association
Author's Website: http://www.cynthialord.com/index.htm
Discussion Guide 1. : http://www.cynthialord.com/pdf/rules_discuss.pdf
Discussion Guide 2: : http://www.lesliepreddy.com/yhba/08-09/Intermediate/Rules-Reiff.pdf
David's Favorite Book: http://books.google.com/books?id=DkuaAtb5KdMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=frog+and+toad#PPP1,M1
Here is a great site that tells all about autism.
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