Rules

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Catherine is a 12 year old girl with an eight year old autistic brother named David. Catherine has lots of rules for David to follow.............always knock, no toys in the fish tank, you can hug mom but not the guy at the video store, chew with your mouth closed, sometimes people laugh when they like you but sometimes they laugh to hurt you.
Catherine is struggling with wanting to protect and teach David and wanting David to be normal. Her parents' time revolves solely around David and his needs. Catherine is feeling left out and misunderstood.
As Catherine is in the waiting room of David's OT, she meets Jason. Jason is in a wheelchair and unable to speak. He uses word cards to have a conversation. Jason and Catherine become friends as she makes new word cards that are more applicable and useful to a teenage boy. Catherine loves art and hopes to become a breath taking artist one day. Her art and compassion help bridge the gap between Jason and the rest of the world.
By the end Jason is crushing on Catherine and she shows her human and immature side when she worries what others will think of her for being friends with him outside of the the OT waiting room.
I totally loved this quick read. By the end I was desperate for a sequel so I could find out more about Jason and David as they grew up. I like Catherine and felt like she was appropriate for her age.........although I wish she were a little older for the dancing/dating parts.
Rating 4.5
Rating G