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 warmed my heart and simply made me tear up at even the most common things
November 19, 2008
I was shocked to see that anyone didn't like this book, to each his/her own.
I think this book does a remarkable job at putting those akward feelings about a "different" person in your life into words.
Catherine's brother is autistic and she loves him, feels bad when people stare at him, feels guilty when she yells at him and wishes that he could just argue back like a "normal" brother. There are a lot of kids out there who feel this way about a disabled family member and I think this helps sort out those feelings.
In this book Catherine helps David to fit in or be comfortable by giving him rules. Rules help David. Jason believes that Catherine's rules are her scapegoat for acceptance.
I also think this book is terrific for the parents, it exposes the guilt, concern and pressure that a parent of a child with special needs might be feeling.
I cried about Catherine's honesty, I was simply touched. Even Catherine's friendship to Jason is so very real to me. As for classrooms, I think that this is a great book for discussion. Differences - WE GOTTA HAVE 'EM. I read this book for a book club for 9-11 year old girls and their mothers.
Terrible
November 19, 2008
My opinion of this book was not very good. It was extremely slow getting to the climax of the book. It took 200 pages just to get to the dance. They started talking about the dance in the middle of the book, like on page 75-100. I did not think that there was a real point to the book other than to tell you that it is hard to have a sibling with a disability. The book was also pretty boring. I can normally read a book speedily, but this book took longer because it didn't really engage me in the story. Also nothing really happened other then the main events. The whole book was basically Catherine goes to OT, next day she plays with Kristi, next day she makes words for Jason, goes and swims at pond with Kristi, makes posters for dance, then goes to Jason's party then to the dance. Even the main events were briefly described. I would probably not recommend buying or reading this book.
insteresting
November 2, 2008
This book wasn't terrible but far away from good. It was reptive and quite frankly boring. I've heard lot's of people loved it but I just couldn't get into it. This book did make you think a little bit,but I think this book either strikes you the wronge way or the right way. I do not reccomend this book.
Excellent!
October 31, 2008
"No toys in the fish tank."
"Chew with your mouth closed."
"Not everything worth keeping has to be useful."
"Sometimes people laugh when they like you. But sometimes they laugh to hurt you."
These are just some of the rules Catherine has created for the day her brother is miraculously cured from autism. Catherine lives her life taking care of her younger brother and trying to keep him from embarrassing her. When she becomes friends with Jason, a boy that can't talk and must use a wheelchair, she gains a new perspective on life and on her brother.
I LOVED this book! I felt for Catherine, for David, and for Jason. I could see all perspectives. That is why the book is so amazing. Catherine has normal feelings, even if she knows they are wrong on some level. The book shows that even if someone is different, they still have normal, everyday feelings, just like the rest of us. They shouldn't be treated differently. I like the realization that Catherine makes at the end of the book about David and about Jason. And about herself and who she wants to be.
You must read this book!!!
A Book Review for Rules by A. Hoffman
September 19, 2008
I really enjoyed the book Rules. I think it is an honest look at how siblings feel about one another especially if one sibling has a disability. I think this book is a great read for young children because it delivers a great message that having an autistic brother can be hard, yet the reader leaves with a sense of the love Catherine feels for her brother. I recommend this book to my 5th grade students. So far they all have enjoyed reading the book. Some background knowledge may be needed as the book doesn't fully explain autism and there may be some misconceptions about why David acts the way he does.
