A great novel that I have read quite a few times. The main character Catherine is an appealing and relatable character who tries to balance her love for her special needs brother with her resentment of his special needs. She has believable growth through the story and comes to understand that her embarrassment is for herself rather than for her brother. It is an interesting story that sees Catherine realize that real friends will not judge her for her circumstances. ( )

"Rules" has both a Newberry award and a Schneider Family Book award. The book follows Caroline, a 12-year-old with a brother, David, who has a disability. She tries to teach David the "rules" of society and how he should act to keep him from embarrassing her and himself. Caroline eventually makes a new friend and must navigate the struggles of her new relationship while dealing with the stigma surrounding her brother's disability.
This book could be used to bring awareness and understanding to disabilities and could be used to educate students on how to appropriately interact with students with disabilities.
"Rules" highlights the disabled community and the struggles they and their families face, as well as the struggles students, experience while trying to fit in with their peers ( )

This book was so touching… about a middle school girl who had a brother with autism and her daily struggles. She makes friends with a boy in a wheel chair and she learns about true friendship! ( )

This book would be good for Middle school or beyond. This book talks about the main character Catherine who struggles to find a balance in life. She feels torn between taking care of her brother who has autism and wanting to be a normal kid playing with her friends. This book takes us on a journey of Catherine's perspective on he brother David who has Autism and her friend Jason who is non-verbal. It shows her perspective on what she thinks is "normal". By the end she has come to celebrate differences between her friends and brother. This book would be good to talk about inclusivity as well as perspectives of people who have a disability and what life looks like for them. ( )

Newbery Honor Book! Winner of many other book awards!