
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.
It does not shy away from the frustration and 'caregiver burnout' felt by siblings. The resolution is hopeful but grounded: David is still autistic, and Catherine's life is still complicated, but her perspective has shifted toward authentic acceptance.
A middle-schooler who feels 'invisible' at home or who is struggling with the social pressures of wanting to be popular while navigating friendships with people who are not part of the 'in' crowd.
Read the scenes involving Ryan, the neighborhood bully, to prepare for discussions about how to handle peers who use 'humor' to mask cruelty. No major triggers, can be read cold. A child expressing resentment toward a sibling with special needs or a child being caught in a lie because they were ashamed of their home life.
Younger readers (9-10) will focus on the rules and the fun of the guinea pigs and communication cards. Older readers (11-13) will resonate with the crushing weight of social reputation and the nuances of the blooming friendship between Catherine and Jason.
Rules offers a unique perspective by centering on the sibling experience, validating the messy, often-ignored feelings of a neurotypical child navigating life with a sibling who has special needs. """
Catherine is a 12-year-old artist who spends much of her life managing her brother David's autism through a list of 'rules' she has written for him. Her summer changes when she meets Jason, a non-verbal peer at David's occupational therapy clinic who uses a communication book, and Kristi, the cool new girl next door. Catherine struggles to bridge these two worlds, eventually realizing that her attempts to hide David and Jason are more about her own insecurities than their disabilities.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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