House Rules by Jodi Picoult

House Rules is about a single mother (Emma) with two sons, one of whom has Asperger's syndrom (Jacob), which is a form of Autism. You find yourself immediately sympathetic towards this family, and it draws you in from the very first chapter. Jodi Picoult is known for writing about controversial issues, and this story does not disappoint. It is engaging, and very entertaining for readers of all types.

Emma deals with many daily struggles. Jacob is a senior in high school, but in many ways he behaves like a child. In other ways, like a genious. He knows many facts, can take apart electronics and fix them, and most recently has become involed in solving crime scenes. On the other hand, Jacob will throw tantrums when his food and clothing are not the right color for that day of the week, when someone crumples paper, etc. and he has trouble communicating and looking people in the eye. His mother works out of the home, and she does all she can to provide Jacob with the medicine and routine that he needs.

When Jacob is accused of murder, his mother hires a lawyer although she cannot afford one. The story goes throughout his trial, showing many viewpoints of the story, including viewpoints from his younger brother who feels ignored by his mother beause of Jacob's condition. Lively courtroom scenes are involed, as well as a bit of romance. Although the end is somewhat predictable, it doesn't take away from the story, you may not be able to put it down at all!