RULES
By Cynthia Lord
Scholastic, 2006
Oh, I am so very behind in everything: the laundry, the groceries, the housework, the correspondence, the blog … everything. I won’t even tell you how many days it has been since I spent quality time with my work-in-progress. And I have jet-lag. How to cope? I decided the best way was a good book and a comfy place to sit. Cynthia Lord’s Newbery Honor book, RULES, has been in my TO READ pile for far too long anyway.
You all don’t need me to tell you this—I am sure you know it already—RULES is a very good book. Top notch. A must-read. It is the story of a girl defining herself in the midst of transitions (her best friend is away for the summer and a potential new friend has just moved in next door) and family dynamics (her brother is autistic and her parents are distracted by him and by life) and new roles (she has befriended a boy her age who uses a wheelchair and cannot speak). I loved getting to know Catherine, feeling proud of her decisions, and accepting her faults.
As I had hoped, reading a book like this took my focus away from the small details of my life (laundry, housework, blogs) and onto the bigger details (my children, my humanity, my love of story). Thank you Cynthia Lord!
Now, go and read RULES. It is important.