Rules ~ Cynthia Lord
You know those stories where the characters are SO real and the emotions are SO raw that you actually feel yourself squirm with discomfort, get hot with anger, or smile from relief? That’s what every single page of Rules is like, and because of it, the book is impossible to put down.
Middle school protagonist, Catherine, craves a simple and “normal” life. She wants to get time to herself to draw, she wants attention from her parents, she wants to go places in public without attracting stares and whispers, and, most importantly, she wants to fit in. All of these things feel impossible to Catherine because everywhere she goes, so does her little brother, David.
David has autism, and his behavior is often erratic and unpredictably emotional. Because David doesn’t pick up on the social cues from the people around him, Catherine desperately tries to make David “normal” by teaching him the rules of life. Unfortunately for Catherine, David has a mind of his own, and doesn’t like to listen to her rules.
When Kristi, a girl Catherine’s age moves in next door, and Catherine makes friends with Jason, a boy in a wheelchair, Catherine has to face her own fears and shame head-on. Will she go with her gut, or will she allow the opinions of others to dictate her life?
This is an excellent read for any middle schooler who struggles to be themselves in the face of judgement from those around them.
Buy it here!
Maturity: 1/4
This novel is ideal for age 9+. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story and explores the stigmas surrounding people with disabilities.
Pages: 200
Lexile: 670L
Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.
If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!
Happy Reading!
♥ Kara & Riley
