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Description edit
Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Catherine is a 12 year old girl that has a younger brother, David, with autism. Catherine has created rules for her brother to follow that are both practical and to help avoid awkward and embarrassing events (for her). Catherine met a young boy named Jason at the office where David receives... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Catherine: The main character of the book, a girl struggling growing up with a brother who has autism. She is having difficulty accepting the way world looks at people with disabilities.
- David: Catherine's little brother who loves to use words from Arnold Nobel's books.
- Kristi: Catherine's new next-door neighbor.
- Jason: Jason is a boy who has to sit in a wheel chair and has problems. Catherine and Jason become good friends.
- Ryan: Catherine's other neighbor.
- Mrs. Morehouse: Mrs.Morehouse is Jason's mother and she is always at the clinic with Jason for his check-ups.
- Melissa: Catherine's friend who left.
- Catherine: A creative girl with a brother.
- David: has autism
- Dad: Catherine's dad is positive.
Setting & Locations edit
- David's Doctor Office: this is where david goes to get help with his autism. david meets a good friend here.
- The House: this is where they have most of their family issues
- Jason's House: He has a birthday party
First Sentence edit
chew with ur mouth closed
Table of Contents edit
The chapters are all unnumbered but are named using one of Catherine's rules.
(1) Follow the rules.
(2) Don't run down the clinic hallway.
(3) If it's too loud, cover your ears or ask the other person to be quiet.
(4) Sometimes, you've gotta work with what you've got.
(5) If you don't have the words you need, borrow someone else's.
(6) Sometimes things work out, but don't count on it.
(7) Saying you'll do something means you have to do it--unless you have a very good excuse.
(8) If you can only choose one, pick carefully.
(9) At someone else's house, you have to follow their rules.
(10) If it fits in your mouth, it's food.
(11) Sometimes, people laugh when they like you. But sometimes, they laugh to hurt you.
(12) Open closet doors carefully. Sometimes things fall out.
(13) Sometimes people don't answer because they didn't hear you. Other times it's because they don't want to hear you.
(14) No toys in the fish tank.
(15) Solving one problem can create another.
(16) No dancing unless I'm alone in my room or it's pitch-black dark.
(17) Not everything worth keeping has to be useful.
(18) Pantless brothers are not my problem.
(19) Some people think they know who you are, when really they don't.
(20) Late doesn't mean not coming.
(21) A real conversation takes two people.
(22) If you need to borrow words, Arnold Lobel wrote some good ones.
Glossary edit
- Stinks a big one!!: pretty much means: "this sucks!"
Themes & Symbolism edit
- the fish tank: show how her brother always disobeys the rules, no matter how mant times he is told.it is shown on the cover, the toys always end up in there no matter what.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Newbery Honor Roll. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Cynthia Lord (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Scholastic
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 0439443822
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Scholastic
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 0439443822
Page Count: 208
Awards edit
- Newbery Honor Book (September 2007)
- Schneider Family Book Award (2007: Middle School Book)
- Mitten Award (Michigan Library Association)
- Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan)
- Maine Student Book Award
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award (Vermont)
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- Great Stone Face Award (New Hampshire)
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Wise Guys Teaching Resources: This is a link to our purchasable 63 page reading activity guide that accompanies the book. Enjoy!
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