When Kristi invites Catherine and Jason to come to the summer dance with her and Ryan at the community center, Catherine struggles with what to do. When Catherine finally gets a chance to hang out with Kristi, Ryan, who is their age and ridicules David constantly, comes over and it becomes clear that Kristi likes him and wants to be his friend.Ĭatherine and Jason become closer and closer, while it seems like her friendship with Kristi isn’t progressing at all. Catherine enjoys making the cards as much as Jason enjoys receiving them, and they communicate more and more. She begins making him new speech cards of words that he might actually appreciate using to express his feelings and what he wants to say. Meanwhile, Catherine’s friendship with Jason is blossoming. They introduce themselves briefly, and Catherine learns that her name is Kristi, but David’s outburst cuts the encounter short it seems that beginning this friendship is tougher than she’d hoped.

Jason’s mother is offended when she realizes what Catherine is doing, but Jason likes the picture and Catherine gives it to him to keep.īack at home, Catherine is eager to meet her new neighbor, who never seems to be home. She decides to draw Jason, an older boy around fifteen who is in a wheelchair and uses cards to communicate.

As Catherine looks around for something to draw, she notices the people in the waiting room who are always there at the same time. She enjoys the time with Mom while David is in his session, and sometimes pulls out her sketchbook to draw.

David, who is autistic, doesn’t realize that he still has to go to OT before going to the video store, and Catherine braces herself for the screams that follow when he finds out.Ĭatherine likes going to the OT clinic with David and their mom. What a perfect time to make a perfect new friend! As Catherine dreams about the family who owns the furniture that’s being moved into the house next door, her eight year old brother David is counting down the minutes until five o’clock, when dad promised to take him to the video store. It’s the beginning of summer vacation, and Catherine’s best friend Melissa is visiting her dad in California. Catherine’s dream of growing up next door to a friend could be coming true, and she is beyond excited. Bowman, the old lady who lived next door, has sold her house to a woman and her daughter, who is also twelve years old. Twelve year old Catherine cannot believe her luck. Why do you think the author chose the title Rules?.What do you think the true definition of friendship is?.How does Catherine change and grow throughout the story?.What are the challenges that Catherine faces?.What are Catherine’s relationships like with the other characters?.

Rules by cynthia lord