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Weird Rules to Follow
★ “Readers will be left with a rich image of Mia’s world and the family and people that surround her as well as a strong sense of how culture and class impact people’s experiences. A touching exploration of identity and culture.”― Kirkus Reviews Mia knows her family is very different than her best friend's. In the 1980s, the coastal fishing town of Prince Rupert is booming. There is plenty of sockeye salmon in the nearby ocean, which means the fishermen are happy and there is plenty of work at the cannery. Eleven-year-old Mia and her best friend, Lara, have known each other since kindergarten. Like most tweens, they like to hang out and compare notes on their crushes and dream about their futures. But even though they both live in the same cul-de-sac, Mia’s life is very different from her non-Indigenous, middle-class neighbor. Lara lives with her mom, her dad and her little brother in a big house, with two cars in the drive and a view of the ocean. Mia lives in a shabby wartime house that is full of relatives―her churchgoing grandmother, binge-drinking mother and a rotating number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Even though their differences never seemed to matter to the two friends, Mia begins to notice how adults treat her differently, just because she is Indigenous. Teachers, shopkeepers, even Lara’s parents―they all seem to have decided who Mia is without getting to know her first.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
16 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 5, 2022
I loved this novel. Spencer's first-person narration builds empathy for Mia as she tackles issues of friendship and identity. Mia narrates her experience with family alcoholism, money challenges, Tsimshian culture, and self-discovery. Her clear understanding of herself and her world is sure to appeal to sensitive middle grade readers. The prose is so lyrical that this almost feels like a novel-in-verse, with all the insight and self-assurance that such books bring to the table. An abrupt ending is not enough to overshadow the well-balanced gentleness and grit of Spencer's bildungsroman.
I received an e-ARC of this book from Orca Book Publishers through Netgalley.
I received an e-ARC of this book from Orca Book Publishers through Netgalley.
January 2, 2023
First book of the New Year! This MG novel does not have a straightforward story but is rather a collection of snapshots of events in Mia's life. I feel that it is very realistic and sincere in its portrayal. This is a quiet book but one that will be impactful to my students. Personally, there were definite feelings of nostalgia as I grew up in the 80's and with personal experience being from an immigrant family, I couldn't help but feel for Mia as she grows-up and begins to recognize the shifts in attitude and behaviour from the people in her community.
December 31, 2022
This is a sort of memoir, along with it being a fictionalized story of two girls growing up int he same community, but who face different rules, as the title says.
One girl is indigenous, and the other is white, and the girl who is white follows a different set of rules than the indigenous girl. Lara does things that do not cause a fuss, but if Mia does them, it is a horrible thing.
They play together, until they drift apart, in high school, while Mia notice the different rules that she follows, but does nothing more than that.
It is a quiet sort of book, and yet there are volumes said about how unfair it all is.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
One girl is indigenous, and the other is white, and the girl who is white follows a different set of rules than the indigenous girl. Lara does things that do not cause a fuss, but if Mia does them, it is a horrible thing.
They play together, until they drift apart, in high school, while Mia notice the different rules that she follows, but does nothing more than that.
It is a quiet sort of book, and yet there are volumes said about how unfair it all is.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
August 2, 2024
Vibes vibes vibes
November 12, 2024
4.5
Short read. Lots of 80s childhood to connect to - especially the music and clothes. The shame that Mia feels is also familiar, though it isn’t my shame that it reflects. I see this in my indigenous students every day. And this is 40 years after this book was set 😏 we’ve gotta do better.
Short read. Lots of 80s childhood to connect to - especially the music and clothes. The shame that Mia feels is also familiar, though it isn’t my shame that it reflects. I see this in my indigenous students every day. And this is 40 years after this book was set 😏 we’ve gotta do better.
October 13, 2022
Set in the 1980s in Prince Rupert, this middle school novel deals with timeless issues all students can relate to - changing friendships, family issues, poverty, identity, etc. The main character, Mia, is a First Nations girl struggling to find her place in her family and in school. Told in first-person, the reader is shown glimpses of Mia's life in diary-like snippets.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
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January 8, 2023A middle-grade book that is brimming with sensitivity. Set in the 1980s in Prince Rupert. Even though Mia and her best friend Lara live on the same cul-de-sac, Mia's life is very different from her non-Indigenous, middle-class neighbor. Mia begins to notice how adults treat her differently, just because she is Indigenous.
Told in first person diary-like snippets, this quietly beautiful novel fully inhabits Mia's life. It's funny & heart felt.
Told in first person diary-like snippets, this quietly beautiful novel fully inhabits Mia's life. It's funny & heart felt.
September 5, 2023
I loved this book, I spent a good deal of my childhood in Burns Lake BC in the 80's and 90's and it really brought back memories of that area. I didn't understand the gap and discrimination that indigenous people were subjected to when I was young but it was obvious that treatment was unfair and harsh judgements made. This is an incredible glimpse into Mia's culture and life, it would make an excellent movie/series. Everyone should read this book!!!
April 30, 2024
I really liked this book and it was a great quick read. The style of writing puts you into Mia's shoes very easily with vivid imagery and her inner monologue.
If anything I found the ending to be too soon and wanted more, which I guess isn't a bad thing.
I think it was very smart of the book to indirectly refer to allude to a lot of difficult topics. This much nuance is rare in books for this age group and I think kids will appreciate not being talked down to or lectured.
If anything I found the ending to be too soon and wanted more, which I guess isn't a bad thing.
I think it was very smart of the book to indirectly refer to allude to a lot of difficult topics. This much nuance is rare in books for this age group and I think kids will appreciate not being talked down to or lectured.
November 5, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this important book. It was released October 18, 2022, by Orca Book Publishers.
Weird Rules to Follow is based on the author's experience growing up in Northern British Columbia. It reads like a series of vignettes narrated by Mia, a half Tsimshian, half white girl, about the events of her life. These episodes, spanning a number of years, focus on both life within her family, and on her relationship with her best friend, Lara, a white girl who lives nearby. They include basketball tournaments, Christmas at Disneyland, berry picking, canning salmon, riding bikes around the neighbourhood, dance recitals, and school.
The title of this book refers to the different kinds of rules that govern the two girls lives. The consequences are profound. Mia notes that Lara has rules and then wishes she had more of them. In this instance it's about family rules that focus on the child's future. Yet in the general community, when there are rules, they are either not applied equally, or rules are different based on culture and class. Where white students might receive sympathy and support, Indigenous ones receive punishment and scorn.
Mia and her mother live with her grandmother, a reclusive uncle, and a foster girl named Mary, on a cul-de-sac in the community of Prince Rupert. It's a small neglected house often filled with relatives. Lara and her family live in a large modern home full of modern amenities. The difference between the two lifestyles is a critical component of the book. Yet while Lara might have more materially, Mia is surrounded by extended family, love, and a way of knowing and experiencing the world that Lara misses out on. It's obvious that Mia's mother does her best for her no matter what. "Yes I got a new bike and it’s really cool, but I knew we couldn’t afford it. The bike came at a cost." This is because Mia needed braces. Her mother, even though she worked two jobs, couldn't afford to pay the family portion of them and get Mia a new bike. In the end, Mia had to choose what she wanted more. She chose the bike.
One important thing I appreciated about this book is seeing issues from different sides. When Mia's mother wins $1000 at bingo, Lara's mother frowns and points out how much she lost before she won. When Mia tells her mother about this, her mom "rolls her eyes and says, "I know how gambling works! But it's entertainment - I do it because it's fun."
Some parts of this book made me laugh out loud. When Mia agrees to get a perm for picture day, it doesn't end up the way she anticipated. "I look like my mom and aunties. I'd fit right in at bingo." After she tries to fix it, she ends up looking like, "a dead ringer for Michael Jackson on the cover of his Thriller album." At other times the humour is found in little quips like this one, "Grandma doesn’t watch basketball, probably because she’s Christian."
Sometimes I almost wept. Mia doesn't really fit in anywhere. She's either too Indigenous or too white. Microaggressions are commonplace. They arise from both outside and inside the Indigenous community. When Lara's bike is stolen, her father automatically assumes it was an Indian who took it. Mia's half-Indigenous older cousin says that his Indigenous mother told him, “not to marry an Indian”. In the Ts’msyen town of Kitkatla, (referred to as out there or out home) where her family originates, she’s considered an outsider. When she's bullied by a group of girls, her mom takes them back to Prince Rupert. The most stark example of one of these aggressions is when Mia starts high school. Lara gets a locker on the main floor in the midst of where the rest of the white students are. Mia's locker is situated in the dingy basement with other indigenous learners. Upon reflection, this is much more than a micro aggression. It's an example of systemic racism in action. Mia and Lara's relationship suffers because of this and other experiences as they grow older.
While this book is recommended for readers aged 11 to 13, I would recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in understanding what it means to grow up Indigenous in this province. It's a must read for all teachers who work with First Nation learners.
Weird Rules to Follow is based on the author's experience growing up in Northern British Columbia. It reads like a series of vignettes narrated by Mia, a half Tsimshian, half white girl, about the events of her life. These episodes, spanning a number of years, focus on both life within her family, and on her relationship with her best friend, Lara, a white girl who lives nearby. They include basketball tournaments, Christmas at Disneyland, berry picking, canning salmon, riding bikes around the neighbourhood, dance recitals, and school.
The title of this book refers to the different kinds of rules that govern the two girls lives. The consequences are profound. Mia notes that Lara has rules and then wishes she had more of them. In this instance it's about family rules that focus on the child's future. Yet in the general community, when there are rules, they are either not applied equally, or rules are different based on culture and class. Where white students might receive sympathy and support, Indigenous ones receive punishment and scorn.
Mia and her mother live with her grandmother, a reclusive uncle, and a foster girl named Mary, on a cul-de-sac in the community of Prince Rupert. It's a small neglected house often filled with relatives. Lara and her family live in a large modern home full of modern amenities. The difference between the two lifestyles is a critical component of the book. Yet while Lara might have more materially, Mia is surrounded by extended family, love, and a way of knowing and experiencing the world that Lara misses out on. It's obvious that Mia's mother does her best for her no matter what. "Yes I got a new bike and it’s really cool, but I knew we couldn’t afford it. The bike came at a cost." This is because Mia needed braces. Her mother, even though she worked two jobs, couldn't afford to pay the family portion of them and get Mia a new bike. In the end, Mia had to choose what she wanted more. She chose the bike.
One important thing I appreciated about this book is seeing issues from different sides. When Mia's mother wins $1000 at bingo, Lara's mother frowns and points out how much she lost before she won. When Mia tells her mother about this, her mom "rolls her eyes and says, "I know how gambling works! But it's entertainment - I do it because it's fun."
Some parts of this book made me laugh out loud. When Mia agrees to get a perm for picture day, it doesn't end up the way she anticipated. "I look like my mom and aunties. I'd fit right in at bingo." After she tries to fix it, she ends up looking like, "a dead ringer for Michael Jackson on the cover of his Thriller album." At other times the humour is found in little quips like this one, "Grandma doesn’t watch basketball, probably because she’s Christian."
Sometimes I almost wept. Mia doesn't really fit in anywhere. She's either too Indigenous or too white. Microaggressions are commonplace. They arise from both outside and inside the Indigenous community. When Lara's bike is stolen, her father automatically assumes it was an Indian who took it. Mia's half-Indigenous older cousin says that his Indigenous mother told him, “not to marry an Indian”. In the Ts’msyen town of Kitkatla, (referred to as out there or out home) where her family originates, she’s considered an outsider. When she's bullied by a group of girls, her mom takes them back to Prince Rupert. The most stark example of one of these aggressions is when Mia starts high school. Lara gets a locker on the main floor in the midst of where the rest of the white students are. Mia's locker is situated in the dingy basement with other indigenous learners. Upon reflection, this is much more than a micro aggression. It's an example of systemic racism in action. Mia and Lara's relationship suffers because of this and other experiences as they grow older.
While this book is recommended for readers aged 11 to 13, I would recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in understanding what it means to grow up Indigenous in this province. It's a must read for all teachers who work with First Nation learners.
April 30, 2025
This was aimed at kids but I loved this.
It was so heartbreaking yet heartwarming to read about the experience growing up as an Indian American in the 80s from the perspective of a child.
I sometimes felt like I was Emilia, the writing was so capturing and vibrant.
I recommend for you to read, for yourself, to your kids your friends or your family. This book could literally be for anyone. And it’s so good 😭 4 ⭐
It was so heartbreaking yet heartwarming to read about the experience growing up as an Indian American in the 80s from the perspective of a child.
I sometimes felt like I was Emilia, the writing was so capturing and vibrant.
I recommend for you to read, for yourself, to your kids your friends or your family. This book could literally be for anyone. And it’s so good 😭 4 ⭐
October 22, 2022
Weird Rules to Follow, by Kim Spencer, is a semi-autobiographical story of a pre-teenaged girl growing up in Prince Rupert, British Colombia. Mia is a Tsimshian First Nation indigenous girl who lives with her grandmother, her alcoholic mother and an ever-changing group of relatives who need a place to live for a period of time. Her best friend Lara lives on the same cul-de-sac and the two have been friends since kindergarten. Though living so close, their homes are very different. Mia’s home is a shabby home while Lara’s house has an ocean view and looks like it could exist in the pages of a magazine. Lara has a mother, father and little brother and has two cars. The book is written in short, easy-to-read vignettes, told by Mia, during several years of Mia’s life. Mia’s family would be considered poor although Mia never feels that way. They are rich in extended family and shared experiences. Occasionally, Mia’s family goes on a fun road trip with a relative who owns a car. This is generally a pile-in affair – overstuffed automobile and overstuffed motel room Her family is close and share whatever they have. As Mia grows older, though, she begins to realize that she is treated differently by many people than her friend Lara is. There are prejudice and pre-conceived notions about indigenous people.
Spencer’s writing style is smooth and easy. Mia’s voice is very authentic, and the reader feels they are living life beside her. The book is wonderful for middle-grade readers and addresses many important topics in a non-threatening manner – prejudice, poverty, alcoholism, Canadian Indian boarding schools. Mia’s sense of self is quietly proud and this helps carry her through puberty and changing friendships. This self-assurance is another important issue for pre-teen and teenaged young people. Spencer has written a marvelous, meaningful and enjoyable book. Thank you to NetGalley, Kim Spencer, and Orca Book Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Spencer’s writing style is smooth and easy. Mia’s voice is very authentic, and the reader feels they are living life beside her. The book is wonderful for middle-grade readers and addresses many important topics in a non-threatening manner – prejudice, poverty, alcoholism, Canadian Indian boarding schools. Mia’s sense of self is quietly proud and this helps carry her through puberty and changing friendships. This self-assurance is another important issue for pre-teen and teenaged young people. Spencer has written a marvelous, meaningful and enjoyable book. Thank you to NetGalley, Kim Spencer, and Orca Book Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 6, 2023
Middle school appropriate. The writing style felt like you were there and in that moment yourself—it felt authentic and real. Each chapter focuses on a different slice of life moment so the whole thing felt like a lighter and easier read but also a bit aimless. The last chapter brought it all back together but also felt abrupt. I think this was intentional to generate a feeling of loss, which it accomplishes.
May 25, 2023
i love good little ya books!!!!! glad i had to read this one
December 15, 2022
I can definitely see how middle-graders can relate to this diary-style of writing, and it's hopefully an empathy-building read during school years that could use it. As an adult reading it, the snippets were tough for me to constantly transition between, but I see the value for its intended age group.
May 8, 2024
This was a sweet book we all enjoyed reading out loud. Now I want to make a mixed tape with all the songs referenced!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gA...
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gA...
December 12, 2022
I feel bad saying I didn't like this. Based on the synopsis I was expecting one thing and got another.
Even though I struggled with it, I think middle schoolers should read this to learn about how to treat others.
Even though I struggled with it, I think middle schoolers should read this to learn about how to treat others.
September 12, 2022
this book was sooo good and a very quick and real read. if you’ve followed my reviews, you know how much i absolutely love middle grade books, and i find they often touch on real issues in such a sophisticated and yet simple way. this book really drew me in from the beginning and i finished it so quick.
this book is told in vignettes seen from amelia’s (mia’s) perspective in the 80’s and mostly focuses on her experiences with her indigenous identity and how it differs from those of her white best friend lara. it is also based on the authors perosnal experiences growing up at the time.
weird rules to follow touches on many heavier topics such as alcoholism, and the canadian indian residential school system. i think this is very good book for schools to have and should be included in curriculum and i can see myself recommending it to all my own friends from home who have started teaching their own classrooms this year.
☆ thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review ☆
this book is told in vignettes seen from amelia’s (mia’s) perspective in the 80’s and mostly focuses on her experiences with her indigenous identity and how it differs from those of her white best friend lara. it is also based on the authors perosnal experiences growing up at the time.
weird rules to follow touches on many heavier topics such as alcoholism, and the canadian indian residential school system. i think this is very good book for schools to have and should be included in curriculum and i can see myself recommending it to all my own friends from home who have started teaching their own classrooms this year.
☆ thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review ☆
December 11, 2022
Meh. It felt very disjointed though it did remind me of a short story (Recitatif by Toni Morrison). I'd recommend it to YA and older middle grade readers.
October 17, 2023
This book doesn't read like a narrative, but more like a series of vignettes about growing up 'Indian' in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada in the 1980s. This was before the time of Truth and Reconciliation and the use of the term First Nations to identify indigenous people in Canada. The author based Mia's story on her own childhood. Though the story isn't perfectly linear, it does follow the central theme of Mia's growing awareness that her life is very different than those of her white neighbors and classmates, and that she is actually treated differently as well. She experiences discrimination for her ethnicity from white people and also is scorned by some indigenous classmates for hanging out with white people too much, since her best friend is white. Her family's struggles with alcohol, and their difficulties in conforming with societal expectations also play a big role here. A really interesting, understated look into a small piece of Canada's cultural history. My one complaint is that I wish it went on a little longer.
October 10, 2022
Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer is a middle grade collection of short vignettes that whisk readers away to the not so distant past, where a bicycle with a banana seat and room on the handlebars was the star of summer.
This beautiful novel transports readers to 1980s Prince Rupert, where Mia and her best friend Lara are neighbors. Despite sharing a neighborhood, their lives are quite different: Mia lives with her mother and grandmother in a home always open to their other relatives, whenever they need a place to stay, while Lara lives with her mother, father, and little brother in a large home, where every room looks like its lifted from the pages of a magazine. As Mia, who is indigenous, grows up through these short vignettes, she begins to see how she is treated differently than Lara and their other classmates.

The writing in this collection is atmospheric, viscerally rooting the reader in the setting’s distinct place and time. The setting is a character unto itself, as Mia ages and her understanding of her area changes and grows with her. From neighborhoods to the dance studio to the places her family travels take her, Mia’s world is presented in a relatable and engaging way.
This collection of connected stories show bits of daily life and notable moments in Mia’s life. Each vignette tells its own story, but the connected nature of the community, characters, and events ties the narrative together in just the right way. The length of the vignettes makes this an excellent choice for young readers, including those who can be intimidated by long chapters or texts. This is an excellent choice for those readers, especially, as each story can be read in one sitting and leave the reader satisfied.
Spencer has mastered the middle grade perspective and voice, which lets the heart of her stories shine. Mia is an endearing and intriguing character, which makes reading this collection of stories following her such a wonderful experience.
Weird Rules to Follow is sure to delight middle grade readers and their grownups with its heart and humor.
Weird Rules to Follow will be available October 18, 2022.
Thank you to author Kim Spencer, Orca Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinion in this review.
This beautiful novel transports readers to 1980s Prince Rupert, where Mia and her best friend Lara are neighbors. Despite sharing a neighborhood, their lives are quite different: Mia lives with her mother and grandmother in a home always open to their other relatives, whenever they need a place to stay, while Lara lives with her mother, father, and little brother in a large home, where every room looks like its lifted from the pages of a magazine. As Mia, who is indigenous, grows up through these short vignettes, she begins to see how she is treated differently than Lara and their other classmates.

The writing in this collection is atmospheric, viscerally rooting the reader in the setting’s distinct place and time. The setting is a character unto itself, as Mia ages and her understanding of her area changes and grows with her. From neighborhoods to the dance studio to the places her family travels take her, Mia’s world is presented in a relatable and engaging way.
This collection of connected stories show bits of daily life and notable moments in Mia’s life. Each vignette tells its own story, but the connected nature of the community, characters, and events ties the narrative together in just the right way. The length of the vignettes makes this an excellent choice for young readers, including those who can be intimidated by long chapters or texts. This is an excellent choice for those readers, especially, as each story can be read in one sitting and leave the reader satisfied.
Spencer has mastered the middle grade perspective and voice, which lets the heart of her stories shine. Mia is an endearing and intriguing character, which makes reading this collection of stories following her such a wonderful experience.
Weird Rules to Follow is sure to delight middle grade readers and their grownups with its heart and humor.
Weird Rules to Follow will be available October 18, 2022.
Thank you to author Kim Spencer, Orca Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy such that I could share my honest opinion in this review.
Read
March 22, 2023A Weird Story to Follow, but that is not a negative comment. It is quite a different format and, I admit that caused me some distress. However, it is a series of very interesting stories! I am quite happy to have stuck with the book. Lots of material for discussion in a reading group. We all have weird stories in our past.
September 4, 2022
I recieved a free eARC so I could read and review this book. Thank you for the opportunity.
Mia is a first nations girl, growing up in Canada in the 1980's, trying to juggle her native heritage and culture and just fitting in. Her struggles and efforts and day to day life are relatable, The differences in her life experience from her best friend, Lara, who is white and more financially privileged are also clear cut, and definitely offer a chance for the reader to reflect on their own life experiences, how they compare, and, in particular, why they're different. This is a wonderful, sweet book that well deserves a place in classrooms and school libraries, and would be a useful book for class study, not just in the interest of DEI, but because it is a good book that contemporary students will find engaging, want to read, and learn from.
Mia is a first nations girl, growing up in Canada in the 1980's, trying to juggle her native heritage and culture and just fitting in. Her struggles and efforts and day to day life are relatable, The differences in her life experience from her best friend, Lara, who is white and more financially privileged are also clear cut, and definitely offer a chance for the reader to reflect on their own life experiences, how they compare, and, in particular, why they're different. This is a wonderful, sweet book that well deserves a place in classrooms and school libraries, and would be a useful book for class study, not just in the interest of DEI, but because it is a good book that contemporary students will find engaging, want to read, and learn from.
October 1, 2023
This book is a fictional story but is based on the writer's personal experiences growing up in an around Prince Rupert, BC. This is not a place I have ever been, but with the book being set in 1985, and Mia being about 10 when it starts, much of it felt familiar to me, being about that age in 1985 and growing up in BC.
While that part of the book was great for me, a kind of time capsule that I think will also be good for kids to see how Mia's upbringing, school experiences, and friendships are similar but also different, there are cultural elements that were well done too. Even seeing how Mia talks about residential schools in a very different way than we did this week at school, and the language used to describe Indigenous peoples, shows some of the differences in our society. Kim Spencer brings this up in her Afterword and Author's Notes at the end.
With the character being about ten and seeing a picture of a girl doubling on a bike, you might think this is a light, fluffy book, but there are many themes around parents drinking, and religion that some ten year old kids aren't used to seeing in their books. Teachers or librarians offering this book should be aware and prepared for interesting and important conversations. I really enjoyed this realistic feeling look at an Indigenous girl's path from elementary to high school in the mid-1980's.
4.5 stars
While that part of the book was great for me, a kind of time capsule that I think will also be good for kids to see how Mia's upbringing, school experiences, and friendships are similar but also different, there are cultural elements that were well done too. Even seeing how Mia talks about residential schools in a very different way than we did this week at school, and the language used to describe Indigenous peoples, shows some of the differences in our society. Kim Spencer brings this up in her Afterword and Author's Notes at the end.
With the character being about ten and seeing a picture of a girl doubling on a bike, you might think this is a light, fluffy book, but there are many themes around parents drinking, and religion that some ten year old kids aren't used to seeing in their books. Teachers or librarians offering this book should be aware and prepared for interesting and important conversations. I really enjoyed this realistic feeling look at an Indigenous girl's path from elementary to high school in the mid-1980's.
4.5 stars
August 31, 2022
For Mia, it seems like there's different unspoken rules for everyone around her, depending on their families-- and it would be nice if there was a written rule book to keep track. Based on Spencer's life as a Tsm'syen pre-teen in the 1980's, her writing has a Jacqueline Woodson-like quality to it, saying so much with so little in diary-like vignettes over a three year period. I felt like I was right there in the small coastal town of Prince Rupert with Mia and her family.
March 8, 2023
I really appreciate this book. It’s a collection of memories, is semi-autobiographical, and doesn’t really have a plot line. I’m not sure of the intended audience, but I would say it is appropriate for Gr. 9+.
April 5, 2023
A heart-felt, autobiographical story that follows Kim’s experiences growing up in Prince Rupert. However, the setting in the book is the 1980s. Her narrative reflects her experiences and family, but also includes the discrimination she faced.
Kim Spencer also includes references to the horrific experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who were sent to Indian Residential Schools between 1831-1996. The ramifications of their treatment in those schools continues to affect Indigenous communities to this day.
Kim Spencer also includes references to the horrific experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who were sent to Indian Residential Schools between 1831-1996. The ramifications of their treatment in those schools continues to affect Indigenous communities to this day.
August 21, 2022
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
WEIRD RULES TO FOLLOW is Mia's growing up story. The readers follow her from sixth grade to eigth grade-- during her seasons at the reservation, summers with her best friend, Lana, and all the other mundane things that are a part of growing up.
This book touches on quite a few heavy topics: alcoholism, racism, the 'Canadian Indian residential school system', the growth and end of friendship, underage drinking, and puberty. WEIRD RULES is a biopic of the author's own experiences growing up as an indigenous person-- events and relationships in the book heavily influenced by her own life.
Real and relatable, WEIRD RULES is a perfect middle to early high school grade read. It provides and unique and important view that will spark important conversations.
WEIRD RULES TO FOLLOW is Mia's growing up story. The readers follow her from sixth grade to eigth grade-- during her seasons at the reservation, summers with her best friend, Lana, and all the other mundane things that are a part of growing up.
This book touches on quite a few heavy topics: alcoholism, racism, the 'Canadian Indian residential school system', the growth and end of friendship, underage drinking, and puberty. WEIRD RULES is a biopic of the author's own experiences growing up as an indigenous person-- events and relationships in the book heavily influenced by her own life.
Real and relatable, WEIRD RULES is a perfect middle to early high school grade read. It provides and unique and important view that will spark important conversations.
June 20, 2023
Being from Prince Rupert and just a little older than the author, this reminded me so much of my childhood. It also reminded me of the way that some of my indigenous friends were treated, simply for being indigenous. Captured the small town's feel and shenanigans that went on. The grad class had painted that swurvy crosswalk from the Empress to the Belmont (not my grad class, but i clearly remember). Thank you for taking me down memory lane and so eloquently writing about your experiences as a young indigenous person!
January 21, 2023
Written by an indigenous woman and based on her middle school years growing up in B.C. Canada, this book brought me back to 7th grade. It takes place in the 80s. Mia lives with her Mom and Grandma and various other relatives on and off. Her Mom is an alcoholic. Mia has a best friend, Lara who lives four houses down. The book deals with family dysfunction, racism and the ups and downs of friendship as well as economic disparity between indigenous people and others in society. Throw in dealing with teachers, the first day of junior high at a bigger school and 6th grade crushes and you’ve got a page turner.
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