Aaron has no freedom and has been manipulated by the state and foster families since he was a young boy. Tess discovers that it isn’t luck but letting others choose their destiny and giving them the freedom to do so is what matters. The color blue symbolizes luck and freedom. The author does a marvelous job creating the setting. The writing in this novel is beautiful and succinct, drawing the senses into what it smells and feels like living in a fishing village on an island. When Aaron threatens to run away and find his birth Mom, Tess concocts a plan to get her to the island to hear Aaron play his trumpet in a talent show. Eben, the bully, blurts out this truth to Aaron in a malicious and mean-spirited way. He distrusts them when he hears that the islanders have taken on several foster kids to increase their numbers which will save the island’s school from closing. This is the setup for the story where Aaron has to learn to live with his third foster family. Her heart sags everyone knows it’s unlucky to ride a boat with a red-head. But then she spots Aaron and his red hair that shines out of the crowd like a beacon. She stands on the pier waiting for her new foster brother, Aaron, to step off the ferry at Bethsaida island thinking about luck. “Touch blue and your wish will come true.” The family in the book owns a lobster fishing business and so much of the story takes place fishing, which is a large part of Tess's life. This is a sweet and thoughtful presentation of the issues in being placed in foster care and I felt that it was totally age-appropriate for 9 to 12-year-olds in middle school. There is the island bully, the nosy old lady, and the rest of the family to fill out the characters. Aaron, a 13-year-old boy who is a talented musician arrives but misses his mother who is unable to take care of him. Tess and her family are excited to gain a new member and Tess and sister Libby looks forward to a new sibling. This seems to be a great idea and a win-win. Tess is afraid of losing all that she knows and so when the town decides to up the school population by providing foster care for children, several families become foster parents.

Should that happen, 11-year-old Tess and her family will have to move to the mainland. The story is about an Island town that is losing population and the state has threatened to close the school. So I am not sure why I was rather resistive to starting this book, but once I was beyond the first few pages I was completely enamored with it. A tranquil, slower pace of life and more wildlife. I always try to find books in that setting as I have a romantic picture of the state in mind.

The setting of the book is Maine, a state I have never been to but would love to go for sure.

Rules by cynthia lord setting