The Rules of Survival | 
 enlarge | Author: Nancy Werlin
Publisher: Puffin
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $3.20
You Save: $4.79 (60%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 11063
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0142410713
EAN: 9780142410714
ASIN: 0142410713
Publication Date: March 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: New, Excellent Condition, may have Remainder Mark, Tight Binding, Pages are Clean and Unread! , Immediate Shipping, Email Notification, Professional Service, MILLIONS Served, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!
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Product Description
For Matt and his sisters, life with their cruel, vicious mother is a day-to-day struggle for survival. But then Matt witnesses Murdoch coming to a childs rescue in a convenience store, and for the first time, he feels a glimmer of hope. When, amazingly, Murdoch begins dating Matts mother, life is suddenly almost good. But the relief lasts only a short time. When Murdoch inevitably breaks up with their mother, Matt knows he needs to take action. But can he call upon his hero? Or will he have to take measures into his own hands? A heart-wrenching portrait of a family in crisis, this is Nancy Werlins most compulsively readable novel yet.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 The Rules of Sruvival October 6, 2008
Although I didn't quiet finish the book, I think "The Rule of Survival" is a good book. I was always wondering what would happen next. I was always wondering what the characters reactions would be. This book is a story about three children and an abusive mother. I can't wait until to find out the solution to the mean abusive mother. Also i think this book is very touching and heart warming story.
 just didn't like it...just like all the rest September 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've said in other reviews that i've almost stopped reading books for young adults, mainly because i find them either written at a third grade reading level or that the story is too predictable (or both.) I actually had some hope for this one. I really did.
But I just didn't like it. The story is basically made up of a boy, Max, telling his younger sister, Emmy, what happened to them when they lived with their abusive mother. I had a couple problems with this-
First, Max becomes randomly obbsessed with this man- Murdoch- after he sees the guy perform an act of vigilante justice, and becomes convinced that Murdoch will be able to save them. Well, I don't know. Maybe it was because Max lacked a father figure in his life, or something like that, but to me I thought Max thought a little too much about Murdoch. I kid you not, after four chapters it seems like Murdoch is a god. It was just a little too weird for me.
The mom, who had problems (but i can't really tell which kind), eventually went too far and then the rest of the book was made up of the kids trying to save the day, eventually saving Murdoch and themselves. Not only was this part a little unbeliable, it was also pretty boring. I guess the author thought, "hey! since Max worships Murdoch, i bet my readers do too!" But i really didn't care about Murdoch, and so I didn't really care either when Max was trying to save him.
Another thing: Max kept embellishing stupid stuff, saying things like, "Mom walked by. She had your dress in her hand, the dress with the little yellow duckies, the one you spilled ice cream on." The dress is never mentioned again, nor is it important to the rest of the book. Plus, since Max was "telling" this story to Emmy, he kept saying "Emmy this" and "Emmy that". "I didn't know what to do, Emmy. You remember that Christmas, Emmy." It got really annoying because the author stuck Emmy's name in practically every other line.
I don't like to waste my time on books like these, books that I'll eventually forget after i finally forget how annoying they are. Go ahead and read it if you think it's your cup of tea- but I don't recommend it.
 Audio 5CD unabridged August 14, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant but oh so terribly sad.
For children in a single-parent household with a mother who puts a knife to your throat for sneaking food without asking. A mother who dangles her youngest over a rock edge threathening to drop her into the sea. Violent mind games with her children. Her three children know what she is like and are on tender hooks all the time trying to please her.
I bought 5 copies of this to give to a DOCS worker (govt workers in Australia who go into families like this to try and help) to a female jail warden in a womens jail, to a policewoman and to others.
This story moved me so much. There are mothers out there like this. I feel for any child in this situation. We all should keep our ears to the ground and not be frigthened to report abuse to the authories.
Docs says nothing is too small verbal abuse of kids is ABUSE.(swearing and yelling 15 times a day is ABUSE.) But their waiting lists to investigate are so long. The rule here is if noone else complains within 28 days file is closed. So if you report, report again. Docs say even if you ring weekly its not too often and they don't mind. Children need help.
the rules of survival March 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The narrative is set in the form of a letter Matthew is writing to his younger sister Emmy about the events that led up to their emancipation from their abusive mom, Nikki.
Apparently, whatever's wrong with Nikki (my guess would be a personality disorder) has been there from the start, and growing up, she tormented her younger sister and behaved much the same way with people as she does with her children now (lying, making threats, physical violence, and psychological manipulation). Unlike some people with mental problems, Nikki apparently never has any kind of period where she is stable. Moreover, her moods can and do turn on a dime, going from happiness to psychotic rage in a second.
When Matt and his two sisters see a stranger defend a child against his abusive dad in a store, they hope to somehow befriend him (the stranger, Murdoch). Their mom finds out and beats them to it, but after she breaks up with Murdoch (and her crazy behavior escalates to the point where he gets a restraining order), he stays in touch with the kids and tries to help them find a safer home.
The characters were well-drawn, but compared to the mom, who appeared to be in a nonstop manic state, a bit colorless. Also, this book, unlike many about teens, lacked flowery metaphor, sophisticated philosophizing about life, and sassy dialogue that sounded like it was taken from primetime TV. This made the tone more authentic (so many teenage narrators sound like they've attended a liberal arts college, then grad school, plus a writer's workshop), but at times, I wanted a bit more description of the characters and how they felt. Also, much of the drama happened without the narrator present, so his descriptions were secondhand. Still, it is a powerful book about abuse.
I had to wonder, though, at the lack of other sympathetic companions in these kids' lives. Not necessarily ones who could help, but just friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, etc. - though they didn't appear to have any hobbies. Even abused kids come into contact with adults who care, although they may not be able to rescue them from their situation.
Did Callie's teacher, for example, never wonder why her highly intelligent student stopped washing her hair for weeks on end? Aren't teachers trained to see the warning signs of abuse nowadays?
I enjoyed this read January 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What a heartbreaker for these children. I enjoyed the book and stayed up late to finish it.
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