The Trouble with Rules

by Leslie Bulion

For Nadine Rostraver, fourth grade means peer pressure and new social rules she hadn't anticipated. For one thing, girls aren't supposed to hang out with boys anymore. So where does that leave Nadine and her best friend Nick? Then Summer Crawford arrives at Upper Springville Elementary and Nadine's life goes from bad to worse! Nadine loses her job as the art editor on the class newspaper, The Springville Spark, and gets in some serious trouble with her teacher, Mr. Allen. But Summer is a free spirit who marches to her own beat. Slowly, Nadine realizes that life can be a lot more fun if you call your own tune. Together Nadine, Nick, and Summer decide breaking the rules is sometimes the best thing you can do. Especially when the rules don't allow you to be yourself.

Genres: Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

March 1, 2015 (Peachtree)

Funnny and challenging anatomy riddles in a variety of poetic forms with a hint of Shakespeare!
www.lesliebulion.com

Reviews

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is there a point where boys and girls must stop being friends? In Nadine's school there is and now she and her best friend act like they don't care anything about each other while they're at school though home is a different story. Living two lives is stressful and when a new student refuses to follow the unwritten rule at school, everything about Nadine's life turns upside down. Suddenly she's in trouble with her teacher and she and her best friend aren't even speaking anymore. Will things ever return to normal?

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I did like most of the book and enjoy the resolution of this self-imposed "rule" of "boys and girls don't mix." Several scenes are unrealistic, especially where Mr. Allen, a caring and intelligent teacher, takes a single-sided story (from a grown-up, but obviously not one who would bother check the facts) at face value and did not give Nadie a chance to explain herself. It wasn't as if he was in a hurry, was distracted by his own issues, etc. It was simply a convenient way for Nadie to start her suffering. (p.25)

And is this a bit too "old" or too poetic for someone who's only in 4th grade and not portrayed as poetic: "The steady drizzy outside made the day feel wintery raw." And she is not the literary one -- she's the artistic one. There are quite a few of these poetic imageries but they do not constitute the mood of the whole book, either. -- Sunday broke blue-sky bright and dry. Our house had its delicious Sunday morning coffee smell, with a hint of cinnamon today.

p. 36 - the process of "IM'ing" seems not up-to-date. Press Send each time? Hmm...

[Susan Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decent story for uppper elementary kids about the perils of peer pressure. Nadie's best friend is a boy. And up until now that's never been an issue. But suddenly in fourth grade, the rules have changed and girls and boys can't be friends any longer. So Nadie and Nick still walk to and from school together, but they split up in the morning for the last few blocks so no one will see them arriving together. And after school they meet a few blocks away and walk home the rest of the way. But during the school day, they barely talk. This system is working out pretty well for them until a new girl in their classroom decides not to follow the rules...

This one will really make kids think.

[Molly Harnish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trouble With Rules is a good MG book about peer pressure and friendship. The word that comes to mind is cute. Summer could have been a little more influential in the story, as the book jacket suggested. And I find it really hard to believe that Mr. Allen wouldn't even listen to Nadie before he punished her for uncharacteristic behavior. Also, since when are fourth graders as (sometimes) mature as Nadie? The ending summed it all up, though. It was my favorite kind of ending. So, bottom line: if you're looking for a light read that ends with happy ever after, or a gift for a third, fourth or fifth grader, then pick up this book.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the children characters, but Mr. Allen, the teacher, is portrayed unrealistically. A teacher that creative and caring would not have accepted Nadie's uncharacteristically bad behavior at face value. It bothered me that Bulion did not redeem Mr. Allen by having him realize that he misjudged Nadie and apologize. Other than that, it's a nice little book with a well developed protagonist who demonstrates the universal theme, "It's important to be yourself despite what others expect."

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

4th grade up and most likely a good fit for girls. I don't see boys liking this, unless it was a read-aloud via the teacher.
The story tackles the issue of boys and girls being friends once they reach fourth grade. There is some humor, some really gross moments (hence why a boy would like it as a read aloud) and a happy resolution.
Young readers who like reading about relationships and conflict solving would like this book.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story for 4th grade and up - basically looking at whether or not boys and girsl can be friends as they get older and how to deal with that. Likeable characters, good story - fun for 4th grade or higher.

[Tamara Knapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my first children's books. I was very interested in the originality of the family structures. Great protagonist - "Nadie", and nice to see the boy/girl division addressed w/a unique flair. The ending had some last-minute "add-ins", but they were smooth and applauded the miracle of birth!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. It is on the Children's Sequoyah List in Oklahoma for 2010. I would recommend this book to any student having a hard time with friends, dealing with changes in school, or to someone who is new in a different place.

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for grades 3-5, when kids are struggling to find a way to hold onto childhood friends and childhood ways in the midst of growing up and growing apart (gender-wise).

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun! A new take on an old problem. Inventive characters greta male & female role models. My kids loved and related to the kids in this book.

[Tara Zimmerman]

2011 Sequoyah book

[Heather Thaler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started slow, but turned into a good book.

[Heather Shuck]

Sequoyah nominee: 2010-2011 (Children's)
Reading Counts Reading Level: 3.7
Lexile: 650
School Library Journal Age Recommendation: Grades 3-5

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about friendship. Teacher unrealistic character.

[Judy Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this little book about changes and friendships in elementary school.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadie's best friend is a boy! The trouble is, fourth grade girls can't be friends with boys. When the new girl comes, Nadie senses trouble, but she learns that some rules are better broken.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started this book on Friday or Thursday and I'm loving The Trouble with Rules! This is a book that would make you want to keep reading it.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool