Rules is a story of a girl's need to find "normal." This girl, Catherine, struggles constantly with her wanting to be accepted and viewed as anyone else and with her love for her autistic brother. She sets up extensive 'rules', for both him and herself, so she can try to make him more 'normal' to everyone around them. In the end, with the help of the friendship of Jason (a boy in a wheelchair) she learns that maybe what others think isn't THAT important after all. This is a fantastic book for children to learn that others who seem different are just people too. And that what the popular kids think really isn't that important. There is also insight into what it's like to live with an autistic sibling. Great writing by Cynthia Lord.

This book had some very positive messages. There was not a lot of action, but there were interesting events. My book club had many interesting discussions based on this book.

I am studying to be a teacher and I passes this book up to read in high school and now I wish I hadn't. This is a great book to read about family and how strong the bonds are between siblings even if one is autistic.