The ending of The Steps by Rachel Cohn is best described as happy and hopeful — not perfect, but satisfying.
Ending Plot Recap
- Annabel, 12, arrives in Australia expecting tension with her new step-family, but gradually she begins bonding with Lucy (her stepsister) and others as she travels and experiences life with them. 2. Her mother surprises her by revealing she's getting married to Harvey, meaning Annabel is getting more step-family. This causes Annabel distress, leading her and Lucy to run away together on a train toward Lucy’s grandmother’s house. 3. The adults panic, search, and eventually find the girls. 4. By the end, both families — Annabel’s mom and dad, her step- and half-siblings, plus the new partners — are united in Sydney for a warm reconciliation. Annabel and Lucy finish as friends who stay in touch via email, and Annabel is planning to return for a summer visit.
Tone and Emotional Take
- The concluding reunion feels like a “big family hug” — a bit tidy, but comforting. - The story resolves initial conflicts: Annabel learns to accept her father’s happiness without him, opens up to her step-family, and comes to terms with having more “steps” in her life. - Though some issues (distance, family blending) remain, the resolution shows growth, understanding, and connection.
Verdict
The ending is happy — Cohn gives closure in the sense that relationships are mending, feelings are understood, and Annabel ends in a better emotional place than where she started. It’s not an ending with all problems solved, but it leaves the reader feeling hopeful about this blended family’s future.