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Step by Wicked Step: A Novel

(1996, Fiction - Family Life, Written by Anne Fine)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Honest portrayal will appeal to kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The children sometimes act bratty, but their motivations are clear: The parents are sometimes selfish and distant.

  • Violence:

    Divorce is frightening to any child. These kids have been through a lot, often without much adult help.

  • Sex:

    Parental affairs are implied, but not shown.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Step by Wicked Step: A Novel

Parents need to know that few books capture so perfectly the feelings and thoughts of children of broken homes.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about complicated family relationships. If divorce and remarriage are part of your family's story, this could be an opening to talk about the stresses -- and benefits -- of this complex structure. Adult relationships are at the core of divorce and new relationships; where do children's voices fit in the picture?
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