Wavy's life is filled with rules. Do you think some of these rules hurt her? Which are which, and do you think the rules change over the course of the novel?

From the first moment we meet Wavy, her life is filled with rules. Most are her mother's rules, but some are hers. Do you think that some of these rules help her? Do you think some of these rules hurt her? Which are which, and do you think the rules change over the course of the novel?

The rules were so helter-skelter that most of them messed her upl She really did try to do as she was told even though it was, in my opinion, wrong.

I must say that this was one of the best books I've ever read. I'm sure it will be talked about for years to come. I hope that due to the subject matter, people will come to be more flexible in their opinions. It is not always black and white.

Rules seemed to do nothing but harm Waverly. Her mother's rules about germs (on top of the lack of love and true parenting) harmed Wavy. The rules of the school teacher were insane. It was obvious that Wavy had an eating disorder, and the teacher repeatedly put her name on the board for not eating? The rules meant to protect children from sexual predators do not help Wavy. The rules do seem to change some because Wavy has learned that she can take pressure off of herself by speaking a few words out loud, and she is intelligent enough to research how to protest.

I definitely think in Wavy's case the rules were not in her favor. That to me, was the point of the book. A society needs rules, yet rules in an absolute sense can be disastrous if we turn blindly from an individual situation. Rules in Wavy's life were an excuse for the adults in charge to hide behind. Her mother's rules were riddled with her own mental illness. Her teacher's rules excused them from understanding Wavy's behavior and meeting her in that space so that they could help her grow from there. The law's rules destroyed the only true family she had, her life with Kellen and her brother. Rules are important and necessary, however, this book was a wonderful reminder to really listen to why rules are broken. What is the intention of the rule? What is the intention of the person who broke the rule? Both are worth considering, particularly when it affects the course of someone's life.

The rules were her only way to gain some control. She followed them though they were heinous. Her mother's rules were horrible, but in her mother's twisted way, I think she was trying to protect Wavy. Her failing was that she couldn't even take care of herself and when she tried to keep her daughter safe, she ended up harming her. The rules robbed Wavy of her voice, her ability to eat, and made her feel dirty and unworthy of being touched. Her teachers were no better. They overlooked or excused her behavior. The only one who tried to understand her was Kellen, which is why in the end, she allowed him to touch her and see her eat. It wasn't until she started making her own rules that she could be free.

I don't believe the rules always were good for her, but I do think some were for her protection.

The rules 'offered' by her mother were destructive. No touching and stringent eating rules. They made Wavy quite dysfunctional, at least until she was able to be with Kellen and have a more loving normal life.