Rules

I thought this was a great book, especially for kids 11-14. It helps broaden their vision on disabilities and their effects. So many people with autism or other disabilities (such as speech impediments, as addressed in this book) are stereotyped negatively. But really, they are not so different from us. Rules helps to give these types of characters a voice, showing how Catherine deals with the challenge of having an autistic brother and also how she handles her new friend Jason, who was born with a speech impediment and uses a wheelchair. Rules won the Newbery Honor Medal and with good reason. It is a book that helps bring its readers closer to the universe of disabilities, something that hadn't gotten a lot of attention before. It is important for children to read this book with an open mind and gain understanding into the importance of treating others with respect and love. Rules will help this and I think it should be required reading in, say, seventh grade.