Rules

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the complicated social pressure to fit in or feeling 'second best' to a sibling's intensive needs. Rules offers a poignant look at twelve-year-old Catherine, who loves her autistic brother David but is also deeply embarrassed by his public behaviors. As she navigates a new friendship with a boy who uses a wheelchair and a neighbor she desperately wants to impress, Catherine must confront her own prejudices and the 'rules' she uses to protect herself. It is a masterful exploration of the guilt, love, and isolation that can come with being a neurotypical sibling in a family that revolves around disability. This story is perfect for middle schoolers developing their social identity and learning the true meaning of acceptance and empathy.