Rules for Life

by Darlene Ryan

When her mother died two years earlier, Izzy thought the world would change in some identifiable way, but it didn't. It didn't even slow down. Along with constantly watching her brother, Jason, to ensure he didn't repeat his involvement with drugs, Izzy has managed to get through school and the rest of her life using her mother's endless "rules" as guidance, even making up some of her own as she goes along. When her father starts dating again and then decides to get married, Izzy is unprepared. She is convinced she will hate this intruder in her ordered life and is certain that their family is complete as it is. When her father's new girlfriend becomes pregnant, and her health is threatened, Izzy finds that there might just be room in her family for Anne. And while trying to save her brother and stay true to the "rules," Izzy realizes that family involves more than blood and that rules aren't always absolute. A touching, often funny, story of love and acceptance, Rules for Life is a reminder that while we can't choose the family we are born with, we can choose the people we take along for the ride.

Genres: Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Darlene Ryan also writes under the names Sofie Kelly and Sofie Ryan.

Reviews

[Bobbi-Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story where a teen needs to deal with changes and issues in her family. I think teens going through changes in family dynamics would benefit from reading this. I was able to connect and cry at points.

Fav Quote:
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck , its a duck -- or a chicken with a good acting coach.

[Dorian Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The only thing that i didn't like is the cover. :) People always say not to judge a book buy it's cover, but i ALWAYS do! I will pick up a REALLY stupid and poorly written book with a nice cover than a amazing book with a cover of a paperbag. I also kinda wished that this book was longer. As the main character grows up the author skips weeks, days, etc. without even telling you and you have to assume that time have passed by. But, if you look at the book as a whole it really was good. Some people may not like it, because there was ALWAYS something wrong about to happen, there was never like a really happy moment, except for trhe first 3 pages. It was highyl dramatic, but a quick and exciting read. I personally liked it. KUDOS! :)

[eRin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isabelle is sixteen, has a dead mother, a close relationship with her father, and surprised at how everything is about to change. Her father's getting married to Anne, a woman Isabelle's only met once or twice. Isabelle's brother is an addict who seems to be getting his act together, but she's not so sure. Then Anne breaks the news that Isabelle's already guessed: she's pregnant. Totally against the marriage and a new half-sibling, Isabelle can only find comfort in her perfect boyfriend, Rafe, and her friends at the nursing home.

I'd give this two-and-a-half stars. It's not as if it's bad, but it's just not much more than okay. Decent story and short, but nothing really new or original.

[Mikiko T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book of a broken family learning to come back together
After the loss of her mother, Lizzy tries to keep her family together. Following all the rules her mother left. It all seems to come down on her when she finds out her father plans to remarry to a lady she has never even met. Having problems with her brother as well,because he is on drugs and can't find a job. Her stepmother who is trying to befriend Lizzy so they can be a "real family" turned out to be pregnant. Hopefully this baby can bring them all together. A sad and happy end to this book, the baby turns out to be stillborn and the families promise to stick together.

[TheSaint · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out with a bang. A suspected parental bang, actually. And that can only mean that Izzy's quiet life with her dad is going to change abruptly. And it does -- starting off with a baby and marriage, in that order.
Does Izzy manage to accept circumstances with grace and fortitude? Not exactly. But when those pesky circumstances change, Izzy does rise to the occasion, and makes the best of a bad situation.

I liked that the author created characters were comfortable inter-generationally. Also, there's really only one ending for a story like this and of course that happened, but the twists it took to get there were welcome.

[Cleedord Cedant · Rating 1 out of 5]

i think that this book it's about a little girl talking about her experience.
they tittle on the book is ruler for life .
ruler of life mean when we love someone you don't feel like it.

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I personally liked it alot.

[Ghslibrary]

I really liked this book! Read it in one day!

After Izzy's mother died, the last thing she expected was for her father to fall in love again AND for her new step mom to be pregnant. This may sound a little to contrived for a problem family "we worked it all out" sort of story, but this book doesn't read that way at all. The characters are flawed but likable and interesting and the ending is kind of unexpected. Definitely a worthwhile read.


August 2018.