As much as he fears her manic highs and lows, his greater concern as he grows older is for the safety of his sisters. Giggling and yelling 'Cookie thief,' she holds a knife to his throat, cutting him just a little bit to teach him not to steal. One of Matt's early memories involves getting up during the night to sneak a cookie back to bed and being caught by his mother. Narrated by 17-year-old Matt as a letter to his youngest sister, Emmy,The Rules of Survival is his effort to come to terms with the vicious treatment he and his two sisters suffered at the hands of Nikki, their beautiful and unpredictable mother. Werlin tackles the topic of child abuse with grace and insight. Teens will empathize with these siblings and the secrets they keep in this psychological horror story.- Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA The characters captivate readers from the beginning, and short, terse chapters move the plot along with an intensity that will appeal to seasoned Werlin fans and reluctant readers alike. When Nikki's ex-boyfriend Murdoch befriends the children, they want to believe that a more normal future is possible, but are afraid of being disappointed by an adult yet again. Compounding the problem are the adults in their lives-their father and their aunt-who recognize Nikki's instability but find it easier to look the other way. He and Callie shield Emmy as much as possible from Nikki's volatile moods.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin