The Rules of Survival by Werlin

There are some books that stay with you long after you've closed them. They shape how you see the world and how you deal with people. Rules of Survival is one of those books. Matthew is the oldest of three kids. His days are spent guarding himself and his two younger sisters from their deepest enemy: his emotionally deranged mother. Only Murdock, Matthew's mother's ex-boyfriend, can help the kids out of the hell that is their life. The writing is great and Matthew's first-person narration is heart-rending. This book is a must for any kid who feels like they're the only thing standing between their family and destruction. Sadly, I know a lot of kids who fit that description.