Step by Wicked Step by Anne Fine
Synopsis
This novel is really five stories within a story that are induced by a story,like a nesting puzzle.So,we have six stories in the book.There may be a lack of a principal plot here but it is of no consequence as the novel’s Richard Clayton Harwick,Claudia,Colin,Ralph,Pixie and Robbo. On a dark stormy night,five school children on a school trip stay in Harwick Hall. In a tower room they find a dusty green album with the title Richard Clayton Harwick – My Story.Read and Weed.His happy family days ended when his father passed away and his mother married Mr. Coldstone.Richard did not get along with his stepfather and he felt like a stranger in his own home.His mother did not seem to understand his feelings of dislike for his stepfather.His sister did not have any problems with Mr. Coldstone.When he could not take it anymore,Richard ran away to sea.He returnedto his estate home after his mother’s and sister’s death , but he did not stay on.

The five children feel a common link with Richard in that they are all from broken homes.Each one of them takes turn to tell their own story that has warmth and humour as well as sadness.They come from divorced families and have to deal with stepmothers,stepfathers,stepsiblings and half-siblings.Each of them deals with his or her own situation in his or her own way with an happy