The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin



For those of you who liked “A Boy Called It”, it’s likely you’ll like this book.  Matthew was the big brother in a family with a very, scary, unpredictable mother.  He never knew if she’d come home loving or vicious.  What he did know was that it was up to him to protect his younger sisters.  Sometimes the task felt nearly impossible.  Although his dad was kind of around, he didn’t seem to have the emotional strength to raise the kids himself.

Then one day Matthew runs into an interesting man named Murdoch McIlvane.  He sees him stand up to father who is about to abuse his son in the store.  It is this observation of Murdoch and later a connection with him that enables Matthew to think about getting away from his mother.  Everyday, though, his mother seems crazier and crazier.  Even driving with her in the car is not safe.

The question is, will he be able to get he and his sisters out before someone gets seriously hurt?  What adult or adults could help him?