Lord draws on her own experience as a basis for her books. This is particularly true for Because of the Rabbit (2019). Lord lives in Maine, where Because of the Rabbit and several of her other novels, such as Touch Blue (2010) and A Handful of Stars (2015), are set. The characters in Because of the Rabbit are largely based on her own life experiences, with Lord imparting much of herself in the character of Emma. Lord has an older sibling, a sister who she remembers as “my first friend” (“Cynthia Lord, Children’s Book Author, About Me.” Cynthialord.com). Lord felt left behind when her sister started having other interests and friends; she revives these emotions and gives them to Emma, who experiences the “left behind” feeling with her brother Owen.

Though Lord doesn’t label Jack with a diagnosis in Because of the Rabbit, she implies that he is on the autism spectrum. Lord also explores autism in her award-winning book Rules (2006). Lord’s understanding of children with autism stems from her experience of having a son with autism. Like Jack, Lord’s son loves animals and animal facts, but also finds animals overwhelming in person.