In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards-including 'whatever' (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)-enliven his speech. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own.

Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. 'No toys in the fish tank' is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, MEĬopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak.

Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic.

Rules by cynthia lord pdf