Weird Rules to Follow

Reach for this book when your child starts noticing that the rules of the world seem to apply differently to them than to their best friend. Whether it is why one house has more food or why one child gets the benefit of the doubt while the other is watched with suspicion, this story provides a gentle but honest framework for discussing class and race. Set in a 1980s fishing town, it follows Mia, an Indigenous girl, as she navigates her changing friendship with her more affluent friend Lara. It is a deeply relatable choice for middle schoolers facing the confusing shift from childhood play to social hierarchy. Parents will appreciate the nuance Spencer brings to heavy topics like systemic inequality and identity without losing the heart of a coming of age story. It is a quiet, powerful tool for building empathy and self-reflection in children aged 9 to 12.