Callie's Rules [Hardcover]

Naomi Zucker (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Callie’s Rules for Things to Do in Middle School:
·Have lots of pictures in your phone.
·Get a phone.
Callie Jones is excited about her first day of sixth grade, but from the moment she arrives and is greeted by dirty looks (apparently, you don’t ride your bike to middle school), she realizes that there are a set of unwritten rules that everyone seems to know–everyone except her. So Callie decides she’ll write a list of the rules, and she’ll never go wrong again.
At home, Callie’s close-knit family is making big Halloween plans, until the parents of snotty Valeri Van Dine convince the Town Council to cancel Halloween and replace it with Autumn Fest, a celebration of wholesome “American” values.
Callie doesn’t think their arguments make much sense, and the Council keeps making rules so they don’t have to listen. So Callie decides it’s time to make some rules of her own.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 4–6—When you're one of seven kids living in the only purple house in a conservative town with an artsy mom and all her "weirdo" sculptures on display every Halloween, it's tough to fit in. Yet, on the first day of middle school, bright, impetuous Calliope quickly sizes things up in pursuit of popularity. In this chatty, authentic first-person narrative, the icing on each chapter is a pithy list of "Callie's rules," such as, "Don't finish your work first." "Don't sit on the boy side of the cafeteria." When Sandy Van Dine, mother of the perfect and popular Valeri, petitions for Halloween to be banished and replaced by the politically correct and patriotic "Autumn Fest," Callie has to choose acceptance or Halloween. Abandoned by her best friend, and embarrassed by a counter petition that fails, Callie's rules become more perceptive: "There are always a lot more unpopular kids than popular ones. That's the way the popular kids feel they're special." Zucker shoots an ambitious arc for Callie's emotional and artistic growth, but nestles her in a warm, kind, and extraordinary family, which provides her with the courage to overcome peer anxiety, and the lawyerlike discernment to break the "dumb" rules while honoring the necessary ones (like reading the assigned book, not Jane Eyre). Readers will cheer on this emotionally complex, budding writer.—Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City
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Review

"Wait until you meet Callie and her family. They're warm and appealing, but mostly they're unusual. They stand up for what they believe in, no matter what! I loved them all, even the dragon!"
--Patricia Reilly Giff

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606840274
• ISBN-13: 978-1606840276
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,577,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong young voice, August 31, 2009

By 

Victoria Hanley "Seize the Story" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Callie's Rules (Hardcover)

Eleven-year-old Calliope Jones, "Callie" for short, has just started middle school. This creative child is trying to understand unwritten social rules that don't make much sense, rules like "girls don't go over to the boys' side of the cafeteria." Callie can't help being "different"--and each day of school seems to bring fresh embarrassment. Even her best friend calls her a "weirdo" and doesn't want to be seen with her.

Callie sets down her observations in writing, coming up with "Callie's Rules," such as "If you want to stay out of trouble, take a vow of silence."

I won't spoil the plot by telling you what happens; I'll just recommend this book. Anyone who has ever felt the pain of being mocked for who they are will find a friend in Callie and feel delight as she eventually discovers her courage. Callie learns that although it may be risky to speak up, it's even more risky to hide yourself away.

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 30, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Callie's Rules (Hardcover)

Callie has started middle school and it's turning out to be an interesting year for her. She comes from a family of seven children, including siblings Andromeda and Melpomene, and is considered to be a bit "odd" by her classmates.

She doesn't care, though; she's got her best friend, Alyce, and her list of rules to help her get by. She creates her list of rules about life based on what she herself thinks is true.

However, Callie soon learns that rules can be frustrating and confusing. She doesn't agree with all of them, especially the one that's going to change Halloween in her town.

Some citizens feel that the holiday has taken on a bad meaning and want to create a fall festival theme instead. Callie's family loves Halloween and make plans for it all year long.

Can Callie find the courage to speak up and justify her rules without compromising her true self? Does it really matter what others think of her?

This is a very enjoyable book about being accepted no matter what our differences are. Callie is a strong, independent young woman who tries not to let others influence her. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by: hoopsielv

5.0 out of 5 stars Callie's Rules - will rule your heart!, October 25, 2009

By 

Lea Wait (Maine USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Callie's Rules (Hardcover)

Callie wants to be liked by her peers, but who also wants to live life her own way, much like her artistic mother who makes strange sculptures called Weirdos. When a local woman declares Halloween a holiday celebrating Satan, and gets the town to substitute "Autumn Fest" and "American Values" for trick or treating and scary costumes, Callie finds ways ariound the rules, just as she tries to do at school. She's a wonderful role model for children - especially girls - who are learning to value conformity, and she's soon going to be in each of my granddaughters' personal libraries. Hurrah for Callie -- and for Naomi Zucker!