The essay below examines the book's central themes of morality, isolation, and the blurred lines between safety and monstrosity.
: The "Wicked" are uniquely terrifying because they remain articulate and polite while committing atrocities. How We Became Wicked by Alexander Yates Pdf
: Being "Vexed" requires surviving a process that killed most of an entire generation, framing immunity as a survivor's guilt. The essay below examines the book's central themes
Natalie’s storyline on Puffin Island provides a grounded, intimate look at these ethical dilemmas. Trapped in a lighthouse with a pregnant mother and a grandfather who has already turned Wicked, Natalie must decide how far she will go to protect a newborn. Her struggle highlights a key theme: the sacrifice of one’s own safety for the sake of another. The "Wicked" grandfather, despite his murderous intent, remains a tragic figure, illustrating the thin veil between the person he was and the monster he became. Natalie’s storyline on Puffin Island provides a grounded,