House Rules (novel)

House Rules is a 2010 novel by Jodi Picoult. Like every other book she writes it takes place in New England, there is an Ill Girl (er... boy in this case), a catastrophe leading to a court case, and a twist ending.


 * All Take and No Give: The second variant, with Emma as the Giver and Jacob as the Taker. Emma is, by default The Caretaker for Jacob because he is autistic, and goes way out of her way to attempt to do this duty to the best of her ability. Unfortunately, she has kept Jacob from developing any coping skills or gaining any other practical skills that would make him able to live on his own, such as driving, which you can't say he will definitely never be able to do because he's never even been given the chance to get his permit and try. Plus, Emma is more obviously abusive to Jacob later and then justifies her behavior in the narration to readers.
 * Asperger's Syndrome: Jacob.
 * Abusive Mother: Emma has neglected Theo in favor of being The Caretaker for Jacob and performing this duty to the point where Jacob is, for all purposes, codependent on her.
 * Because You Can Cope: Emma's reason for neglecting younger son, Theo.
 * Can't Get Away with Nuthin': Theo. A prime example of this is when his mother promises him that they'll go to the cinema, a rare treat for Theo, who's constantly passed over in favour of keeping Jacob's "meltdowns" to a minimum. He's excited when the day of the trip arrives...only for Jacob to find out that he's out of books, and is threatening to throw a fit if he doesn't get new ones. They end up at the library instead of the cinema. On realising that his mother hasn't even noticed how badly she's disappointed her younger son (again), the usually well-behaved Theo decides to throw a tantrum in the middle of the library. Then his mother starts screaming and crying herself, an event that shocks Theo and leaves him feeling guilty years later.
 * The Caretaker: Emma, of her autistic son Jacob.
 * A Degree in Useless: Oliver graduated with an English degree but was unable to find any related work, which led to him becoming a farrier's apprentice and later going to law school.
 * Disappeared Dad: The classy S o B's stated reason for abandoning his wife and two young children is that he can't handle his elder son's "Asperger's." (see below)
 * Fantasy Forbidding Mother: Emma to Jacob. She considers herself to be a good parent because she is The Caretaker for her autistic son and even indulges his interest in forensic analysis, but she makes sure that eighteen year old Jacob is unable to drive, even though he's been bugging her about it. Presumably he's wanted to acquire some other skills vital to being able to live on one's own, but she's stomped him down on those, too. Theo has gotten a share of this, too, but not nearly to the codependency-inducing level that Jacob has gotten it. Theo was unable to go to the cinema (a rare treat for him) and get his learner's permit because of Jacob's meltdowns.
 * Info Dump: Usually in the form of Jacob's mother talking about his condition.
 * Informed Functioning: We're told that Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome but everything that we're shown about him points more toward full-blown autism.
 * Insufferable Genius: Jacob in House Rules, even if his area of genius is limited. It's a trait of his autism. He openly states that his brother isn't as smart as him, and sees his lack of empathy as "the next step in evolution: I cannot take away your sadness, so why should I acknowledge it?"
 * Interestingly, when their grades at school, Jacob's are good but not exceptional, while Theo gets straight As.
 * Jacob is also bullied more openly than Theo is.
 * Jerkass: Jacob, who thinks he is the next step in evolution.
 * Helen Sharp, who says "Aspergers is the new selfish" or Rich, who tricks Jacob into an interrogation room by using doublespeak. Also Theo, Emma, for completely ignoring Theo's needs and telling Jacob that he can't have it both ways (though Jacob points out that neurotypicals do frequently), and Henry, for walking out because he can't deal with Jacob's A.S.
 * So...everyone except Oliver. Wow.
 * Man Child: Jacob. Even though he is eighteen, and one can understand why someone at that age wouldn't move out, especially because he's still in high school, he doesn't have a driver's license and is in absolutely no shape to live on his own. He isn't shown to know how to do basic household chores or financial things.
 * My Beloved Smother: Emma takes on the role of The Caretaker to Jacob Up to Eleven to the point where she becomes this. Emma goes way out of her way to make sure that Jacob's special needs are accommodated for. She makes sure that his routine is always followed and to calm him down when he's having a meltdown. Unfortunately, she does it to the point where Jacob has practically no coping skills whatsoever.
 * Shown Their Work: Picoult makes a point to tell the reader all about the research that she did for the book.
 * Strictly Formula
 * Why Did You Make Me Hit You?: Emma to Jacob; he doesn't give the guilt-trip verbally to Jacob, but she justifies herself to the reader in the narrative.