Rules- Cynthia Lord

I usually try to read the Newbery winner as well as the Honor books, but sometimes it takes awhile before I get to them all. Rules , Newbery honor book, was recommended to me by the Junior Autism teacher at my school, and I can understand why. It strikes me as a very honest book; one that shows the difficulties of having a younger autistic brother from the perspective of a twelve-year old. Since David’s needs are greater than Catherine’s, she sometimes feels that she is shunted aside in favour of her brother. She finds herself torn at times, between her need to be able to live her own “normal” life and the one in which David needs to be always considered first. When she meets Ryan, a young man in a wheel chair, who uses a book of words to communicate, she is drawn into a friendship with him. But this presents another conundrum, as her new neighbour, Kristi, with whom she wants to be friends, suggests she invite Ryan to the school dance. Conflicted about her relationnship with Ryan, and her need for acceptance, she eventually is able to make some difficult but courageous decisions. I like Catherine and you can’t help but like David, and you come to have a better understanding of the changes an autistic child can make in a family. It reminds me of Beverly Brenna’s Wild Orchid, shortlisted for the Snow Willow award in 2006 and a very astute look at an older girl with Asperger’s Syndrome. I highly recommend these for all libraries, although Wild Orchid might be most appropriate for your Young Adult section.