3. The novel begins with a
group of school children
on their way to old Harwick
hall. They are travelling in
a minibus with Mr.
Plumley, their teacher. It is
dark and stormy night
4. Once they reach Old
Harwick Hall , the children
settle into a tower room.
They find an old diary
belonging to Richard
Clayton Harwick, a boy
who use to live there
5. As the children read the
diary, they find out that
richard had endured a
miserable life at the hand
of his stepfather. So
Richard had then decided
to run away from home
6. He spent years at sea rising
through the ranks until he
became a captain. On his
return home, he found his
mother , sister and stepfather
had passed away. He was
left the decision to leave
home or stay there all by
himself
7. The five children then
come to realize that they
share something in
common – they come from
broken families . And from
there to share the stories
with each other.
8. Claudia’s story revolves
around her relationship
with Stella, her father
girlfriend. Initially Claudia
did not get along with
Stella because she was
being loyal to her mother
9. However, Claudia soon
realized that Stella is not
to be blamed for her
parents’ separation and
thus Claudia goes on to
bond with Stella because
and the foster a
relationship
10. Collin’s story is about his
stepfather , Jack . Collin
never knew his real father
and thus became very
close to jack. One day
though Collin’s mother
suddenly decided to leave
Jack
12. Ralph story is complicated
and unusual as he had
three stepmothers. Ralph
had learnt to adapt and
adjust to a different
lifestyles and personalities
which he is glad for.
13. Pixie’s story is regarding her
troubled relationship with
Hetty , her step sister. Pixie
had a difficult time accepting
and fitting into her new
family. Eventually pixie does
get along with Hetty
14. Robbo’s story involves his
sister Callie and their
mother’s boyfriend, Roy.
Robbo’s relationship with
Roy is good but his sister
Callie despises Roy. She
eventually moves in with her
father to get away from Roy
15. At the end of the novel, the
children come to realize
that not all stories have a
happy ending but at least
the have matured along
the way
16.
17. The importance of preserving the
family unit
The family institution should also provide security to
children. However, when it is broken, children feel helpless
and they feel they are victims of the situation. The novel
reveals how the five children cope with difficult times when
their parents’ marriage fails. Claudia and Pixie for
example, have to undergo emotionally painful and
tumultuous moments to get used to their parent’s
divorce. The ugly effects of divorce and separations are
also shown in the way Claudia and Pixie resist their step
parents and siblings. The quarrels, the screaming, the
sibling rivalry demonstrate that the harmony that is central
in their families has long gone. Children suffer most from
broken homes and they need a lot of time to adapt to their
new situation. This is true in the case of Pixie, who needs
a great deal of time to adjust to her step mother and step
sisters, Sophie and Hetty.
18. Acceptance and tolerance
Learning to accept and tolerate new members in the
family is important when a divorce happens. The novel
shows how children learn to accept their ‘new’ family
members and make the best of their new circumstances.
Although this sounds a big task for them, they all end up
accepting their new life at the end of their stories. Despite
their being young, they realize how important it is to learn
to share belongings and love with their step siblings. For
example, Pixie has to learn to share her bedroom with her
step sister Hetty. She has to tolerate her privacy being
taken away causing her to devise ways to get rid of Hetty
from her bedroom. She considers her bedroom is her
territory and Hetty’s presence an intrusion. However, she
manages to get her room back after a heated argument
with her step mother. In the end Pixie learns to tolerate her
step sisters and accepts their differences.
19. Responsibility
Marriage entails responsibility. It is about building a family
and raising children that are part and parcel of a marriage
partnership. This will include providing shelter, clothing,
education and love. Therefore if a marriage is broken,
children would be directly affected. Parents therefore must
accept that they still have a responsibility to ensure that
the divorce does not cost their children more than it
already has. One of the ways this is shown in the novel is
by the turns or visits the children have with their new
families. Their parents although divorced, insist that their
children take turns to visit them. Pixie for instance goes to
her step family’s house ‘a few days in a month’ while Ralph
has a more hectic and complicated schedule. He has to
divide the weekdays to be at his divorced parents’ house. It
is a pity that he has to shuffle his time between his parents
but he pretty much accepts his situation without
complaints.
20. Children have opinions too
This theme is portrayed through the five main
characters in the novel. Since all the main characters
come from broken homes, we learn that they too want
their opinions to be heard and acknowledged. Very
often than not, there is a communication breakdown
between the children and parents who undergo
divorce. For example, Colin does not have a say at all
when her mother decides to move to another place to
stay safe from his father. Colin has to start all over in
a new school and make new friends. His opinion is
never sought. In another example, Pixie shows that
she wants to be heard. Her strong opinions about the
adults around her are revealed when she quarrels
with Lucy, her step mother. She expresses her
frustrations and anger through her words
21.
22. Family is everything
This is the main message in all the five stories
from Claudia, Ralph, Colin, Pixie and Robbo.
Love is the factor that binds the family together
but sometimes the family unit breaks down due to
a lack of understanding between parents. Most of
the time, children are not prepared for such a
situation and this lands them in an awkward and
painful situation. It is important to minimize the
impact of divorce on children and to make sure
they do not feel unwanted or unimportant.
Parents must always try to keep the family
together despite the breakdown in their
relationship.
23. Patience is a virtue
It is important to practice a lot of patience in
difficult times. No parents would want a divorce if
they can help it. Hence, everyone affected by a
divorce must be patient and tolerant. Richard
Clayton Harwick does not show enough patience
when he leaves his family because he cannot get
along with his step father. As a result of his
action, his mother dies of heartbreak and his
sister blames him for being selfish and cruel. In
Pixie’s story, she does not show much patience
towards her step siblings. She refuses to share
her bedroom with Hetty. She is also hard headed
and argues intensely with her step mother.
24. We must learn to adapt to new
situations
Children from broken homes have no choice but
to learn to adapt to new situations. This may be
unfair to the children who seem to be the ‘victim’
of circumstances beyond their control.
However, in the five stories told, we learn that
adapting is better than resisting although it takes
a lot of patience and effort on the children’s part.
Claudia shows she is a rational and sensible child
to accept her step mother. Ralph, who has three
step mothers, gets along with all of them despite
their different personalities.
25. Don’t give up hope
Colin’s story is the saddest of all. He does not
give up hope of one day finding Jack whom he
accepts as his own father. He saves all his money
and plans to look for his dad when the time is
right. Colin is a very determined person despite
his young age. He knows what he wants. Robbo
also hopes his sister Callie will accept their step
father Roy. However, Callie resents Roy and
decides to live with her real father in the end.
