Step By Wicked Step By Anne Fine

The novel that I have read last month is Step By Wicked Step, written by Anne Fine. The story start on a dark and stormy night. Five children and their teacher on a school trip arrive at an old mansion in a van. There is a blackout and the children have to spend the night in a dark tower room. There they discover  a secret room. In the hidden room, they find an old diary. The diary belonged to Richard Clayton Hardwick, a boy who lived a hundred years ago. The diary contains Richard’s sad story. After his father died, his mother remarried a wicked man who mistreated him. Richard ran away to sea and returned to Harwick Hall to learn that his mother had died broken-hearted. His sister had entered a loveless marriage and died during childbirth. His account ends without revealing his decision to stay or to leave. Richard’s story leads the rest of the children to tell their own stories one by one. At last, they realize what they have in common.

This novel is rich with moral values. One of the moral values that showed in this novel is loyalty and faithfulness. For example, Claudia is loyal to her mother and is careful not to be too friendly with her father’s girlfriend. She does this so as not to let her mother think that she is being betrayed a second time and be hurt again. Claudia is a loyal daughter as she do not want to drop her mother’s heart again.

Besides, this novel also teaches us to be optimistic. As we can study from this novel, the moral value of optimism makes a person to achieve something they wants. Colin is optimistic in finding Jack. He keeps Jack’s tobacco tin and hums his favourite songs while waiting for his return. In the same way, Charlotte is optimistic of her brother’s return. She leaves a letter in his room feeling sure that he will read it one day. True enough, he does.

Furthermore, the lesson learnt is perseverance and determination. Lucy did not like being a stepmother. She had to endure Pixie’s rudeness, her husband’s irresponsible attitude and his ex-wife’s criticism. But she is determined to make the family a happy and harmonious one. The tense relationship between Roy and his stepchildren also caused problems in his marriage to Hope. He was unhappy but he persevered and did not abandon his marriage and his child.

Next, we should be a responsible person. The character in this novel who portray responsibility are Ralph, Robbo and Lucy. They do their part to maintain happiness in their respective stepfamilies. On the other hand, Jack is not a responsible husband. He cannot provide what his family’s needs and this is the most reason why his wife has no choice but to leave him.  

Last but not least, the moral values presented is love and devotion. Richard’s mother and sister portray strong family love. Their love for Richard know no bounds. When Richard leaves home, they spend their family fortune looking for him. His mother dies of heartbreak because failing to find him. To continue the search for Richard after her mother’s death, Charlotte married a rich man she did not love. It is through her selfless love that her brother finally learnt that he should return home.

The conclusion is, Step By Wicked Step contains a lot of moral values. We can learn a lot of things as we read this novel. That’s why I am not regret for spending my time to read this novel and I can ensure that you will like this novel as much as I like it too.
Koo Chong Jing
4 Cergas
7th March 2014