Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. How can Lucy succeed when all of her ancestors have tried and failed? But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old evil?

Inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair," this spellbinding novel combines suspense, fantasy, and romance for an intense and masterfully original tale.

"Werlin reinforces her reputation as a master of the YA thriller...brilliant." - Booklist starred review on The Rules of Survival

"Mesmerizing." - Publishers Weekly starred review on Double Helix

NANCY WERLIN was born in Massachusetts, where she still lives. In writing for teenagers, she always strives to combine the emotional intensity of a coming-of-age story with the page-turning tension of a suspense thriller. Nancy's books have won numerous awards and accolades, including the Edgar award for The Killer's Cousin, which was also named one of the "100 Best of the Best for the 21st Century" by the American Library Association. Her most recent book, The Rules of Survival, was a National Book Award Finalist. Visit her web site at www.nancywerlin.com