Lucy Beck faces challenges when she starts her new job as a secretary and is haunted by the ghost of the previous secretary, Miss Broome. However, Lucy perseveres with determination and courage. She eventually learns Miss Broome's background and shows her compassion, allowing Miss Broome's spirit to finally be at peace. Lucy succeeds in her job through demonstrating values like discretion, loyalty, and consideration for others.

1. VIVIEN ALCOCK

4. QWERTYUIOP is an entertaining story about 17-year-old Lucy Beck, the new secretary at Ross and Bannister’s, who struggles with her predecessor over the secretarial position at the firm. Lucy Beck counts herself lucky to get a job as a secretary but she does not expect to have a ghost as a rival. The former secretary, Miss Broome, frightens away all the new secretaries who come in to replace her. However, Miss Broome is in for a surprise when she meets her match in Lucy. Although timid, Lucy manages to tactfully handle Miss Broome. Communicating through the typewriter, Lucy tries to convince Miss Broome to leave. The vivid description of how the current and former secretary fight is both amusing and entertaining.

5. QWERTYUIOP THEMES Facing Challenges Handling Difficult Task with courage MORAL VALUES Determination Discretion and consideration for others Loyalty Perseverance is the key to success Compassion and kindness SETTING Lucy Beck’s house Belmont Secretarial College Ross & Bannister’s office Lesson Learnt Perseverance Helping others Lucy Beck: small-sized, 17 years old, determined Harry Darke Miss Broome Mr Ross Mrs Beck Uncle Bert CHARACTERS

6. Lucy Beck begins her job at Ross and Bannister’s as a secretary after graduating from Belmont Secretarial College EXPOSITION A hidden hand causes havoc with Lucy’s typing efforts. QWERTYUIOPs would be the letters popping up every time Lucy types RISING ACTION The spirit, the late Miss Broome, types out threatening words to Lucy. Lucy declares war and fights back with rapid typing and lots of correcting liquids CLIMAX Lucy discovers Miss Broome’s background and uses a softer approach to console her FALLING ACTION Lucy manages to overcome her problem with the ghost of Miss Broome, completes her typing on time and error free, and reaches a new understanding with her Uncle Bert RESOLUTION THE PLOT

7. THE CHARACTERS LUCY BECK MISS BROOME MR HARRY DARKE MR ROSS UNCLE BECK MRS BECK PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE

8. LUCY BECK (PICTURE) Timid Courageous Young Shy Determined Brave Lacked of confidence Compassionate

10. HARRY DARKE Experienced Helpful Reassuring Mysterious Observant Loyal

12. MISS BROOME Hardworking Efficient Loyal Bad-tempered Persistent

14. LUCY’S MOTHER Patient- “…could not help wishing she would sometimes lose her temper.” (page 9) Compassionate- she asked Uncle Bert to leave but has asked him to come back because she feels sorry for him. UNCLE BERT An alcoholic- he’s not drinking up my pay packet (pages 9-10) Low self-esteem- “you don’t think much of me, do you? (page 26) Caring – “thought I’d have your supper ready…now you’re a working girl MRS PRICE Sympathetic- she looked at Lucy Beck, and sighed…”Good luck my dear . (page 9) MR ROSS Lucy’s boss Concerned- “ Did you have trouble with the machine, Miss Beck?” he asked. (pag3 25)