RULES by Cynthia Lord

A.R. Book Level: 3.9
A.R. Points: 4.0
Pages: 200

This is one of my favorite pieces of realistic fiction in the library.  Catherine is a girl who is living a double life.  Outside of her house, she’s a regular girl who wants to fit in and make friends with the new neighbor next door.  At home, though, she’s the sister of her autistic brother David who needs LOTS of patience.  Catherine tries to help David by teaching him the “rules” of everyday life that most people already know.  When she makes friends with Jason, a boy in a wheelchair who needs help communicating, the two sides of her life start to get mixed up and complicated.  This book is funny, heartwarming, and sweet, and it captures what it’s like to want to do the right thing and to be popular at the same time.  Readers who liked R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will LOVE this!