Ronald E Holtman

Jack's Rules Ronald E Holtman

The Gardner family is homeless. Escaping from an abusive stepdad, Peter and Chessie are stuck living with their mom, Ruby, in a single room at the Salvation Army. But help-and hope-come fast, in the form of a safe house run by an old man named Jack. It's everything the family needs to get back on their feet. But for Peter, the strict rules and daily responsibilities are too much, and he refuses to let another man rule his life. Chessie, meanwhile, has her own problems, being poor, biracial, and the new kid-standing out when all she wants is to fit in. When Ruby loses her job, the family's fragile stability is put at risk, and both Peter and Chessie are forced to turn to the one stable influence in their chaotic lives-Jack. To survive, they'll have to come together, move past their traumas, and learn the biggest truth of all: when you have nothing, family is everything.