What grade level is Rules?

Rules is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What curricula assign Rules?

Rules appears on reading lists for Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award, Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Rules banned in schools?

Rules does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Rules explore?

Central themes in Rules include disability, friendship, acceptance. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Rules

Name: Rules
Availability: InStock
Author: Cynthia Lord
ISBN: 9780545036405

by Cynthia Lord

Rules by Cynthia Lord is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 3 curriculum references and 3 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Rules is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range: Grades 4–7
Age range: Ages 9–12
First published: 2006
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780545036405

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About this book

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on disability and friendship; cited across 3 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

disability · friendship · acceptance

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Rules→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Rules?: Rules is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What curricula assign Rules?: Rules appears on reading lists for Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award, Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Rules banned in schools?: Rules does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does Rules explore?: Central themes in Rules include disability, friendship, acceptance. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure: Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band: Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: Cited in 3 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.