
Kristi wants to go on a double date with Catherine to a community center dance on Saturday. Kristi is interested in the local boy, Ryan (whom Catherine hates for ridiculing David). Meanwhile, Kristi comes over to Catherine's house, and Catherine is terrified that David will somehow ruin their blossoming friendship.Ĭatherine continues friendships with both Jason and Kristi. Soon, she is drawing many cards for him, each with personally meaningful words or phrases. On the other hand, Kristi is a fashionable, "cool" girl that Catherine is desperate to befriend.Ĭatherine, who loves drawing, draws a few word cards for Jason to put in his book, and this begins their friendship. Catherine is at first intimidated and fearful of Jason's disability. Instead, he uses a book of word cards, pointing to cards in sequence to communicate.


Jason, who attends occupational therapy, is confined to a wheelchair, is physically deformed, and is unable to speak. A new girl named Kristi moves in next door, and Catherine strikes up a unique friendship with Jason.

Two significant events happen early in the summer. Catherine attends David's occupational therapy sessions twice a week, along with their mother. To do so, Catherine has created numerous rules for David, such as "Say 'excuse me' after you burp" or "You can yell on the playground, but not during dinner." David has little sense of decorum or social conventions, and is easily upset by seemingly insignificant things. Rules is the story of a twelve-year-old girl named Catherine, who is torn between caring for her autistic brother David and finding her own place in life.Ĭatherine's day-to-day life during one summer vacation is usually occupied by caring for David and trying her best to keep him out of trouble.
