Rules For Life [Paperback]

Darlene Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

My mother might be dead, but she was still my mother. I knew that, even if my dad seemed to have forgotten.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Izzy's mother died two years ago. Since then, she and her father have become best friends. When he tells her that he is going to marry his girlfriend, the 16-year-old's world is shaken. He says he wants to be a "real" family again, but Izzy feels that they already are. In fact, as far as she is concerned, she still has a mother: "Okay, we can't exactly go shopping, but I don't like shopping anyway." Through conversations with the people Izzy works with in a retirement home and her boyfriend, and a crisis with her troubled brother that brings her closer to her new stepmother, the teen comes to terms with her changing world. She has filled a little red notebook with her mother's various rules to live by: "…I liked knowing my mother's rules, even the weird ones that I didn't get." She has sustained a certain balance in her life relying on them, and they have kept her mother at hand. She comes to realize, however, that the old rules cannot always apply. This book is written in easy, sometimes frank language. It would be accessible to reluctant readers, yet has a moving and sophisticated story line.–Elizabeth Fernandez, Brunswick Middle School, Greenwich, CT

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

My mother might be dead, but she was still my mother. I knew that, even if my dad seemed to have forgotten.

Product Details

• Paperback: 163 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551433508
• ISBN-13: 978-1551433509
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,039,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow-Very moving book, June 16, 2006

By 

Frank Rankin (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules For Life (Paperback)

I found this story to be extremely moving, with wonderful characters, completely believable plot, told from the point of view of a 16 year old girl, Izzy. It begins with a lot of humor, but takes a very realistic turn toward drama and suspense, with unexpected results. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, it doesn't.

I highly recommend this book to people of all ages, not merely young adults. I'm in my 50's, and enjoyed it immensely.

I hope another one follows.


Frank

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story, April 4, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rules For Life (Paperback)

Darlene Ryan's "Rules for Life" was a very touching novel. I enjoyed it very much. Izzy goes through many everyday problems that ordinary people are faced with and that is what makes the novel so remarkable. Izzy matures throughout the story and realizes that family involves more than blood and that rules are not always permanent. She learns that her family may have been complete before, but can still be complete with added members. "Rules for Life" was a touching, often funny story of love and acceptance.