Super Short Summary

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin is a young-adult novel set in south Boston a few years into the future, following three young siblings—Matthew, Callie, and Emmy—as they endure and ultimately seek to escape the abusive behavior of their unstable mother, Nikki. Fourteen-year-old Matthew takes it upon himself to protect his younger sisters, and they find hope in Murdoch, a kind neighbor who briefly dates Nikki. The story is framed as a letter written by a 17-year-old Matthew to his sister Emmy. The book deals with themes of child abuse, neglect, psychological trauma, and stalking.