Rules

This book is called rules. It's not a very common title and because of that the author, Cynthia Lord, comes right out and says why. It is called that because the main character ( Catherine) is suffering the regular stress of being a twelve year old girl. As if that isn't enough her younger brother David has autism. This means that he sort of has problems with everything. So Catherine has "helped" him by giving him an ever growing list of rules that it is essential he follows. Then when her best friend goes to California with her dad for the summer, and a new girl moves in next door tons of problems come up in her life and just won't budge. Basically this book is about Catherine's life as she tries to make friends with Krisit ( the new girl), fend for her little brother from the bully Ryan, and keep up a friendship with a boy who can't talk and doesn't know sign language. So while this is all going on Catherine's sticking to her set of rules.
There are plenty of times where I have felt a pang or a wave of sadness creeps over me because of what happens. I feel like it is so easy to slide into Catherine and feel exactly what she would feel. This is a book that has amazing talent. It really allows you to see all the sides of the story, feel what everyone's feeling, and down right get sucked up. I think that I would rate it an eight. I would rate it that because it's a good plot and wonderful talent, but it can be slow. Thus numerous times boring. Even though I hope you read this book. Rules.