Cody and the Rules of Life

Reviewed by: Phyllis Fuchs - Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 29, 2018

Review

Cody and the Rules of Life is the third in a series for middle-grade readers of about seven to ten years old who are ready to move on from beginning books and early readers. Plentiful black on white illustrations in pen and watercolor are clear, detailed and well positioned to highlight the generous sized type. Cody's teacher has rules for everything which may be why Cody frequently shares some of the rules of life as she observes them throughout the book such as "in this life, time makes up its own rules". Readers who have already read and enjoyed the first two stories about Cody, her appealing family and friends at home and at school will enjoy this third story in which Cody is made to trade her favorite toy reluctantly and in which her brother's prized new bicycle is stolen. What are the rules about honesty? Here theme and plot are at odds. Cody's best friend at school forced Cody to make the disagreeable trade but that action is not dealt with in the story. Wanting her toy badly, is it all right if Cody takes it back without saying how it comes to be missing? The story suggests that sometimes lying is negotiable. Entertaining as the book is, serious issues do need to be examined carefully, not dismissed in favor of an all is well, cheerful ending as in this book. Disappointing.

Overall Book Score: fair