Weird Rules to Follow

Spencer, K. (2022). Weird Rules to Follow. Orca Book Publishers.

ISBN: 978-1459835580

Plot Summary:

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.

-Amazon

Analysis:

Kim Spencer, a Canadian born author from the Ts’msyen Nation tells the story of a young girl navigating her multicultural world. Mia is Native Indian and her best friend is Mexican-Hungarian. Her culture  is a source of pride, but sometimes confusion and embarrassment. Throughout the book she compares her life to her friends and she tries to understand and accept where she fits in her community. This is a story that is woven from the fabric of everyday life.  The scenes portrayed illustrate the ways that Mia is treated because of her family and heritage. But also, importantly you watch her come of age as a young woman. This is a thoughtful look at multiculturalism that young readers will easily identify with. A great read, and a window to a new perspective.

Book 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

“Easy to read but poetic and focused…This story, while fiction, rings true.” 

― The Horn Book

Connections:

This book is a good discussion starter for many social studies topics. Friendship, social norms and expectations, and family dynamics are all part of this story.

Awards:

2024 PNBA Book Award

2023 IODE Violet Downey Book Award

2023 Jean Little First-Novel Award

2023 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People

2023 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award 

*This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5361.