Rules 大卫的规则 ISBN9780439443838

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. "No toys in thefish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shareswith her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understandhis world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtleand shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between lovefor her brother and impatience with the responsibilities andembarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radarand to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic,Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks bypointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawingskills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (whichprompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech.The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as aredepictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the sameunease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. Inthe end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really beexcuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. Aheartwarming first novel. Cindy Dobrez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rightsreserved

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings abouther younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him,she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected bytheir parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherinecreates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk atthe video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots moreare interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in nextdoor, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but isanxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets andbefriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of picturesto communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult,and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are lessimportant than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearingnarrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Herlove for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him.Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family thatrevolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, thissensitive story is about being different, feeling different, andfinding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussionstarter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, SouthPortland, ME
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100 Titles for Reading and Sharing List for 2006 -- New YorkPublic Library

A great read, with a nice rhythm. . . an important book thatsiblings of kids with special needs need to read. -- Kid Lit:Books and More For Kids and Teens

Appealing . . .entirely convincing. . . . A rewarding story thatmay well inspire readers to think about others' points of view. --Publishers Weekly

Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with bothhumor and heartbreak. -- Read On Wisconsin, September 2006Middle School Pick

Middle-grade readers will recognize her longing for acceptance andbe intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences. --Kirkus Reviews

This is a story that depicts the impact of a needy child on anentire family very realistically. -- Children's Literature -Joan Kindig, Ph.D.

This is an absorbing tale about valuing people even when it'sdifficult. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children'sBooks

[Catherine] begins to realize "normal" means different things todifferent people. And maybe normal is not so important after all.-- KidPost Book of the Week--The Washington Post(04/16/06)