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Cynthia Lord
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Rules (Scholastic Gold) Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 2008

by Cynthia Lord (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,406 ratings
Teachers' pick
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  1. Vermont Golden Dome Book AwardWinner, 2008
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This Newbery Honor Book is a heartfelt and witty story about feeling different and finding acceptance -- beyond the rules.

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public" -- in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors.But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?Rules joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    670L
  6. Dimensions
    5 x 0.5 x 7.75 inches
  7. Publisher
    Scholastic Paperbacks
  8. Publication date
    September 1, 2008
  9. ISBN-10
    0439443830
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0439443838
  11. See all details
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Discover your new favorite modern Classic! Esperanza thought she'd always live a privileged life on her family's ranch in Mexico. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. A powerful story of a unique friendship between a troubled, oversized boy and the tiny, physically challenged genius who proves that courage comes in all sizes. This simple yet timeless story explores many themes, including bullying. The summer Hattie turns 12, her predictable small-town life is turned on end when her uncle returns home for the first time in over 10 years. Hattie has never met him- He's been institutionalized and his condition involves schizophrenia and autism. New York Times bestseller The False Prince thrills with wild twists and turns, danger and deceit, and the revelation of hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.In a discontented kingdom, civil war is brewing. What begins as an eagerly anticipated ocean crossing turns into a harrowing journey, where Charlotte gains a villainous enemy... and is put on trial for murder!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Rules:Newbery Honor bookSchneider Family Book AwardALA Notable Book Selection"Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak... A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter." -- School Library Journal"Middle-grade readers will... be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences." -- Kirkus Reviews"A rewarding that may well inspire readers to think about others' points of view." -- Publishers Weekly"This is an absorbing tale about valuing people even when it's difficult. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"The emotions in this fast-paced novel ring true." -- The Horn Book

About the Author

Cynthia Lord is the award-winning author of Rules, a Newbery Honor Book and a Schneider Family Book Award winner, as well as the critically acclaimed Half a Chance, A Handful of Stars, and Because of the Rabbit. She made her picture-book debut with Hot Rod Hamster, which won several awards, including the Parents' Choice Award, and is the author of the Shelter Pet Squad chapter book series. She lives in Maine with her family. Visit her at cynthialord.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 1, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0439443830
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439443838
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 670L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.5 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,406 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Cynthia Lord

Cynthia Lord

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Children's book writer, seaglass collector, daydreamer, and the mother of two teenagers.

You can find discussion guides for my books, interviews, links, goofy childhood photos, and more at my website:

www.cynthialord.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
3,406 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Awel wa7ed
5.0 out of 5 stars Very illustrative
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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The book is engaging and relatable, and the illustrations are colorful and fun. What I appreciated most was how the book tackled complex social situations in a way that was easy for my child to understand. It sparked great conversations about empathy, kindness, and the importance of following rules to keep everyone safe. The best part? My daughter now excitedly reminds me to follow rules like looking both ways before crossing the street! A great read for kids and parents alike
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Annette
5.0 out of 5 stars she realizes how instead of getting annoyed with David’s behaviors
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2016
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Rules, a realistic fiction novel written by Cynthia Lord describes a young teen living with her autistic brother and the struggles she faces while trying to have an adventurous summer with a new friend and having to deal with the stigma attached to her brother. The main character, Catherine, matures throughout the book with how she deals with her brother, David, and how she begins to accept his disabilities. At first, she is very embarrassed by David and his actions in public, but through meeting a special friend, Jason, at occupational therapy (OT), she realizes how instead of getting annoyed with David’s behaviors, she should learn to accept them and view things more positively. From the beginning of the book it is clear how insecure Catherine feels about having a brother with autism. She takes care of him a lot, but is incredibly strict with him by trying to make set rules for everything he does. David does learn these rules, but as the book continues, it seems that the rules are more “helpful” for Catherine’s feelings then for David himself. We first see Catherine’s self consciousness appear when she has a new next door neighbor, a girl her age named Kristi. All Catherine wants is a friend for the summer since her best friend is not home. She hopes she can hide David from Kristi, fearing that he would scare her off and she would not want to be Catherine’s friend. However, when Kristi does meet David, she is not immediately scared off. An ongoing issue throughout the book is how frustrated Catherine gets that she was to babysit and help David more than (she feels) her parents do. Instead of viewing her time with David as special sibling bonding time, she views it as a burden, continuously thinking about what she could be doing if she did not have to be with her brother. The only time we see Catherine genuinely excited about being with David is when she goes with her mom to take David to OT. Catherine made a new friend there, Jason, who is a boy about her age in a wheelchair and is nonverbal. They communicate through Jason’s communications book, where Catherine takes it upon herself to draw and create new words to fill up Jason’s book. She surprises him each week with a set of new words to learn so they have a better way of talking and getting to know each other. Immediately, they form a close connection, each making the other jump out of their comfort zone in some way or another. Instead of viewing and treating Jason the way she treats David, Catherine truly treats him like her friend. When Jason said he wants to run, Catherine has the idea to take him outside in the parking lot, and run while pushing him, so he could get the rush and feeling of freedom. Jason invites Catherine to his birthday party, where she decides to spend all her savings to buy him a used guitar so he could practice making music. At his party, Jason decides to ask Catherine to the community dance that night, and when she hesitates and makes excuses, not only does he call her out but also he asks why she is embarrassed of him. This is the moment when Catherine finally puts into perspective how she treats Jason and David, and how she should. She realizes that just like her, they are normal people who deserve getting treated fairly. After apologizing and asking Jason to the dance, she explains to him that she realized it was never about being embarrassed of him, it was her own insecurity of how people would view her.

Lord does a fantastic job with introducing the reader into the mind of two boys with disabilities, but also, the perspectives of family members and friends who are very relevant in these kids’ lives. Rules was Cynthia Lord’s first novel, and has won two awards: the 2007 Newberry Honor Book award and the Schneider Family Book Award. She then went on to write three more young adult books. I feel as if this book if very eye opening but also heart warming to any reader. Even though it is meant for ages 8-12, I still found myself, a 20-year-old college student, laughing, crying, and truly connecting to all the characters in this novel. I think everyone should read this to get incite into families with children that have special needs, but also, to, like Catherine, discover how to treat people with disabilities. Without being too simple or too intense of a story, Lord creates characters and a plotline that every age can enjoy and understand.
62 people found this helpful
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dcbooklover
4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous YA Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2011
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This was a great young adult book with surprisingly difficult themes. It centers on a young teen, Catherine, whose brother David is autistic. Catherine is uncomfortable with her brother because being with him in public is difficult and sometimes embarrassing and infringes on Catherine's ability to live a "normal" life. Things become even more complicated when Catherine meets a wheel-chair-bound boy, Jason, while attending occupational therapy with her brother. Catherine is a great character and her struggles to deal with her brother's autism, the impact of his illness on her family, and her interactions with other challenged kids (like Jason) were incredibly realistic and interesting and, in some ways, heartbreaking. The way that Catherine's relationship with Jason develops was one of my favorite parts of the book, particularly how they are able to bond and begin understanding each other better through Catherine's art. Because of her interactions with Jason, who is physically challenged but mentally fully cognizant, Catherine gets some insight into how it feels to be on the other side of a difficult situation, which helps give her some perspective on her own brother. I also thought it was terrific that she finally was able to express some of her frustrations over her family situation to her father. Overall, some very adult themes presented in an appropriate way for young adults. Reading this book led to a great discussion with my 10-year-old niece, always a bonus.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute Story
Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great story, would recommend for people who liked Out of my Mind and Fish in a Tree.
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Ayush
1.0 out of 5 stars Duplicate photocopy on newspaper quality paper
Reviewed in India on December 24, 2023
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Duplicate photocopy on newspaper quality paper
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Katrina
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2021
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Brilliant book, helps to understand autism
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Australia on May 16, 2017
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Great book Loved the concept and it was nice and meaningful
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NikD
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read
Reviewed in Italy on May 6, 2015
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I read this book as part of a homework assignment. I was pleasantly surprised to find it a wonderful read. It gave some insight into living with an autistic sibling. A must read!
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