Nancy Werlin

In the novel The Rules Of Survival by Nancy Werlin, a boy named Matthew writes a letter to his little sister Emmy detailing their abuse from their mother and how they survived it all. One theme that is often visited is the idea of freedom. Although it seems like freedom might come for Matthew, Callie, and Emmy when their abusive mother is away, the only time they truly feel free from the confines of Nikki’s powerful grip is when she is locked up in jail. To these children, imprisonment is a…