
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the complexities of a blended family, whether they are facing a new step-parent, navigating half-siblings, or feeling the 'loyalty bind' between biological parents. Through a frame story of five classmates stranded at a supposedly haunted house, the narrative explores five distinct experiences of divorce and remarriage. It moves beyond the 'evil step-parent' trope to show that while these transitions are often messy and frustrating, they can also lead to unexpected friendships and new versions of home. Anne Fine captures the raw honesty of middle-grade emotions, from Pixie's resentment of her step-sisters to Colin's deep longing for a father figure who was forced out of his life. This is a vital resource for normalizing the sense of upheaval that comes with family changes. It is best suited for readers aged 9 to 13 who are ready for realistic, sometimes bittersweet reflections on modern domestic life. Parents will appreciate how the book provides a safe space to discuss anger, grief, and the gradual process of acceptance.
Children and adults both make mistakes, act out, and struggle with kindness.
Deals with parental abandonment and the emotional fallout of divorce.
The frame story involves a reputedly haunted house and a stormy night.
The book deals directly with divorce, abandonment, and the death of family members in the historical subplot. The approach is secular and deeply realistic. While some stories end with reconciliation, others (like Colin's) remain unresolved, mirroring the often ambiguous nature of real-life family shifts.
A 10-year-old who feels 'different' because of their complex family tree or a child who is currently 'acting out' against a new step-parent and needs to see their feelings mirrored and validated.
Parents should be aware of Richard Harwick's historical story, which involves the death of a mother from grief and a sister in childbirth: it provides a stark, dark contrast to the modern stories. A parent might see their child being intentionally rude to a new partner or withdrawing into silence after a weekend visit with an ex-spouse.
Younger readers (9-10) will focus on the 'spooky house' frame and the relatability of the kids' anger. Older readers (11-13) will better grasp the nuances of the adults' perspectives and the social pressures mentioned in stories like Claudia's.
Unlike many 'problem novels,' this uses a Canterbury Tales-style structure to show a spectrum of experiences, proving there is no single 'right' way to feel about a blended family.
During a school trip to Old Harwick Hall, five children discover the 18th-century diary of Richard Clayton Harwick, who ran away to escape a cruel stepfather. This discovery prompts the group to spend the night sharing their own contemporary stories of 'step' life. The stories range from Claudia's struggle with her father's new girlfriend to Ralph's chaotic but humorous collection of multiple ex-step-parents, and Colin's heartbreak over losing contact with a man who was a father in every way but biological.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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