Cover of Rules

Rules

by Cynthia Lord

Among the most widely assigned — 7 curriculum lists · 6 states

On reading-award lists:Maine Student Book AwardVermont Golden Dome Book AwardGreat Stone Face Book AwardGreat Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association)+3 more

Rules by Cynthia Lord is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 7 curriculum references and 6 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.

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

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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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.

Similar grade-level books

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

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 7 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

disability · friendship · acceptance

Where this book is assigned

Show 1 more award or assignment

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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, Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association), and 4 others. 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

How we classify

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 7 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 6 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.

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