Families who loved Rules by Cynthia Lord often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
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.