Lord, C. (2008). Rules. New York: Scholastic.  Cynthia Lord has created a book from the perspective of Catherine, a teenager girl that has a brother with autism.  The strain of David's disability is particularly difficult for Catherine.  She is burdened by the brunt of the responsibility for him and feels unseen by her parents.  Catherine has created a list of Rules for David because he does not understand social cues on his own. Every chapter starts with a Rule.  These rules show David how to interact with the world and allow Catherine a way to remind him of the rules.  He does not always follow her set out rules one being, "No toys in the fish tank", toys wind up in the fish tank quite frequently.  Catherine not only has rules for David to abide by but herself as well.  She is a good artist and draws what she sees.  She longs for a close friend and is excited about the possibilities of the new neighbor girl moving in next door. Catherine goes with David and her Mom to his occupational therapy.   There she becomes friends with Jason, a boy that is wheelchair bound and can't talk but has words that he points to communicate with the world. Catherine starts to draw words and pictures for Jason to be included in his wordbook.  Even though she enjoys her friendship with Jason, she is still embarrassed by his disability with her new neighbor, Kristi.  Kristi is seems to have the ideal surroundings and impeccable style, she also has befriended Ryan, the obnoxious boy from the bus.  Ryan is rude and unkind to David.  As Jason and Catherine's friendship develops, they both look forward to seeing each other every week.  Kristi has heard about Jason but does not know he is disabled.  She wants Catherine to invite Jason to the dance so that Ryan and Kristi can go together. She is protective of Jason and his limitations and does not want him or her subjected to Ryan's cruel words. Catherine struggles with being viewed as different because of how David acts in public.  She is frustrated that she dos not have her parents’ attention as David’s care monopolize their time.  Catherine decides not to tell Jason about the dance but eventually Jason finds out and his feelings are wounded.  Catherine wants to make it up to Jason but not sure how to and still have a "normal" life. Rules is an excellent and sympathetic book that gives the reader, Catherine’s perspective of  the struggles in her family. It opens the reader’s eyes to a world they might have not experienced before.  The author, Cynthia Lord is a mother to an autistic son and used the book to help explore some of her own feelings with having member with autism.  Rules was Cynthia Lord's first novel and she received a Newbery Honor Award in 2007. She has since written other novels and authors the Hot Rod Hamster and Shelter Pet Squad Series.  There are discussion guide for  Rules and her other books along with a writing rules download for middle- grade authors on the teachers link at her website.