Weird Rules to Follow

Synopsis:

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.

Reviews
“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, starred review

“Heartfelt and moving…Recommended.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Like a photo album but in text rather than in pictures…providing the reader with a layered, nuanced picture of Mia’s life.” — Booklist

“Simply put, Kim Spencer’s Weird Rules to Follow is a gem of a novel. With sensitive yet sharply written prose, it beautifully inhabits the preteen world of Mia Douglas, which bubbles over with friends, family and adolescent confusion. The town of Prince Rupert and its inhabitants come alive, giving readers the perfect backdrop for Mia’s evolving understanding of her Indigenous identity and how she is perceived by others. Like Margaret Simon, Meg Murry and Starr Carter, Mia Douglas is a fictional star whom young readers will love.” — Jen Sookfong Lee, author of The Conjoined

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

An Author's Note at the end of the book explains the author's use of terms like Native, Native Indian, and Indian to match the language used at the time period the book takes place.  The author explains that these terms are no longer appropriate and provides more information on this issue.

Additional Information
192 pages | 5.00" x 7.50"