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See You at Harry's

by Jo Knowles (Goodreads Author)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 1,975 ratings · 509 reviews

Starting middle school brings all the usual challenges — until the unthinkable happens, and Fern and her family must find a way to heal.

Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. It seems as though everyone in her family has better things to do than pay attention to her: Mom (when she’s not meditating) helps Dad run the family restaurant; Sarah is taking a gap year after high s...more

Hardcover, 310 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Candlewick Press

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May 08, 2012 Kellee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, realistic-fiction, teach-mentor-texts, lbgt, death-or-dying, website-review-done, my-best-of-2012, nyt-notable-of-2012, 2012-nerdies, ya-teen

Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...

Author interview:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...

I have read a couple of books recently that were really hard to review (Wonder, The Fault in our Stars, The One and Only Ivan) because they are books that reach into your heart and settle there. It is hard to write a review of a book that becomes so personal. See you at Harry's is one of those books. As I sit here trying to write a review, I don't know how to put all of my feelings into...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Gary Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

A book like See You at Harry’s reminds us of the absolute pleasure of becoming immersed in a terrific read. Author Jo Knowles leads us to empathize with her characters, engages us in a narrative that pulls us through in ways that render true the cliché “I couldn’t put it down,” and then leaves us with the stark knowledge that tricky currents are churning in the lives of young people from their families, schools, friends, and really, contemporary culture.

As much as I admire See You at Harry's, reviewing it has built-in challenges. Not much can be said without providing unforgivable spoilers. Here’s what I can tell you though. The first third of See You at Harry’s gives us an appealing narrator, Fern, who sees the world with as much humor as she can muster given the fact that she finds every member of her family at least a little annoying. Sara, her recently-graduated sister, is too cool for everyone around her. Her 14-year old brother Holden is gay, a fact he wants to be accepted without being overtly acknowledged. Fern’s 3-year old brother Charlie is as cute as he is demanding. Fern’s mother spends way too much time in meditation. Her father is wrapped up in the family business, a struggling restaurant and ice cream shop.

This book, like life, leads us to have reasonable assumptions about what will probably happen, then surprises us with shattering events and touches of grace. Every member of the family is absorbed in her or his own problems and perspectives. After we come to know these characters and become interested and involved in how they face their problems, they are smacked with a major life-changing tragedy and are suddenly forced to deal with that … situation, and with each other in new ways.

See You at Harry’s will lead readers to consider the issue of blame. How do we handle being blamed? What if we blame ourselves? When is blame reasonable? What if we are blaming someone for something that is too much for one person to bear, even if the person is guilty? What does blame accomplish? What are alternatives to blaming?

As in her previous fine novels, Jo Knowles writes with humor and compassion as she conveys complex emotions without crossing into melodrama. As I read the last two pages of See You at Harry’s, I found myself getting a little choked up. I’m edging close to one of those spoilers here, so I’ll bring this to a close by simply saying the ending is pitch perfect.

See You at Harry’s? Yes.

Cross-posted on What's Not Wrong?(less)

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May 23, 2012 Sandy Littell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade-ya

A real-life story about a busy family in the restaurant business. The parents and two older kids, Sara and Holden, are in their own worlds, dealing with their own personal and sometimes complicated issues.

Fern, the third child, has just started middle school, and discovers that someone important to her is being bullied on the bus. She spends her after-school hours at HARRY'S; greeting customers, doing homework, and babysitting for her pesky 3 year-old brother, Charlie. Her best friend, Ran, kee...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've long been a fan of Jo Knowles' YA novels, so when Candlewick offered me an early peek at SEE YOU AT HARRY'S, her first title for ages ten and up, I jumped at the opportunity. The book is still months away, so I'll post a more detailed recommendation later on, but for now...just know that you'll want to put this one on your to-read list. Set in a small-town ice cream parlor, it's about family and friends, grief and acceptance, healing and love and hope. This one made me laugh and cry in equa...more

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May 20, 2013 Leila T. is currently reading it

So far I am about a third of the way through the book and I really like it. The characters are very interesting and you can really imagine them in your head. One of the characters you can imagine very well is the father of the main character, Fern. He owns a family restaurant and is always trying to make the business more of a success, and most of the time it includes embarrassing his family. Even though the story is told from Ferns point of view, you can tell even in the way the dad talks that...more

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May 19, 2013 Manuk Manukyan rated it 4 of 5 stars

My sister suggested this book to me telling me it's a good book and made me read it. The plot of the book consists of the main character, Fern, being the sister that always ignores her little brother Charlie and calls him annoying. After Charlie gets hit by a car and dies the next morning, Fern realizes how much her brother really meant to her. After a long time of trying to cope with Charlie's death, Fern realizes that even though Charlie is gone, his love still lives on forever. My favorite qu...more

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May 17, 2013 Lo♪ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, lgbtq, yes-and-no

I love books that deal with the death of a loved one, and I've read many of them, both popular ones such as The Truth About Forever, The Fault in Our Stars, and unpopular ones such as Saving June and Cures for Heartbreak. Most of them deal with the recovery process of someone's death, and as long as the book can get me to feel some type of emotion I will enjoy it.

Yes, a death does occur in this book (I apologize if I've spoiled it for you--I saw others shelve the novel as "death and dying" so I...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Bruce rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Twelve-year-old Fern, named after the character in Charlotte’s Web, feels lost in the middle of her family. Her older brother, who’s on the verge of coming out as gay, is fending off bullies at school. Her oldest sister has graduated from high school, and is waitressing at the family restaurant, but she’d really rather be off living her own life. Her little brother, three-year-old Charlie, is the baby of the family. To Fern it seems that everything revolves around him. Her parents, former Deadhe...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Twelve-year-old Fern is the third of four children and just entering middle school. Her sister Sara has graduated and is trying to assert her independence, her brother Holden is starting ninth grade and is struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality and those who bully him because of it, and Charlie is three years old and constantly steals the show. Dad is obsessed with growing the family business, a restaurant started by and named after his father, Harry. Mom spends a lot of time locked...more Twelve-year-old Fern is the third of four children and just entering middle school. Her sister Sara has graduated and is trying to assert her independence, her brother Holden is starting ninth grade and is struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality and those who bully him because of it, and Charlie is three years old and constantly steals the show. Dad is obsessed with growing the family business, a restaurant started by and named after his father, Harry. Mom spends a lot of time locked away and meditating in the office.

All of this leaves Fern feeling the weight of responsibility. As closest to Holden, she’s the one who has to go after him when he isolates himself. She’s also often left watching Charlie when Sara shirks her babysitting duties. Fern resents these responsibilities, not because she is uncaring, but because she feels alone and unappreciated—no one else is doing their parts.

And just when you think you’ve got this family all figured out, Knowles hits with a hard twist. Not only is this family struggling with their previous issues, but a tragedy forces them to make a choice—keep pulling away, or start pulling together.

There’s some disagreement over the pacing of the book. The main conflict is with Holden’s struggle, then the conflict changes halfway through. I personally liked the twist since I wasn’t expecting it, and it also put a perspective on the whole LGBT issue. There are just bigger things to worry about than who someone is attracted to—which is something we’re still learning.

I loved Fern. She’s moody and selfish at times, but she’s accepting and loving, as well. She’s a good example of a middle-child tween in those awkward years of figuring things out. I think younger readers will connect to her. Holden is also likably confused, and while he makes some decisions that made me cringe, those decisions were realistic and understandable. Knowles does very well with character motivation all around. The only character I felt I didn’t get a feel for was the mom. Why is she so distant? I needed more insight to help me understand why she was always locked away in meditation.

The book is heavy, but not so heavy that I had to put it down for a break. (view spoiler) There are plenty of “light” parts to help the reader get through the heavier moments—not comedic or silly, but meaningful experiences that help the characters gain perspective and see the positives.

• Mild language use, infrequent, as well as graffiti that reads “F school” (not the word, just the letter)
• Use of slurs for gay people
• Some relationshippy moments: Sara sneaks around to kiss her boyfriend (talked about, not seen), Fern gets a first kiss (short, sweet, and innocent), and Holden holds hands with his boyfriend.
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Apr 04, 2013 Amanda Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-fav, re-read-over-and-over-again

What would you do if the unthinkable happened?

See You At Harry's is about 12-year old Fern who feels invisible. Her mother is always going off to meditate, her father is constantly thinking of ways to boost business at his restaurant, her brother is hiding a secret that everybody knows, her sister is trying find ways not to work, and her littlest brother, Charlie is the center of attention. If it wasn't for her best friend Ran, who's mantra is "All will be well", Fern can actually have some hope...more

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Mar 17, 2013 nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

This story has gotten wonderful reviews and I was curious to see what it was all about. I think it touched upon the broader issues with grace and care, handling loss and acceptance in equal measures. It was a quick read -- from lunch to dinner, with classes in between -- and although the sadness of the story closed my throat, I didn't cry.

It was the issue of responsibility that stayed with me -- Fern feeling responsible for her younger brother, annoyed at the responsibilities she felt her own pa...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Vikki VanSickle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 50-book-pledge-2013, children-s-literature, middle-grade

here is a lot of emotion packed into this tight little book. The general plot reminded me a bit of Sara Ellis’ sublime novel The Baby Project (known as The Family Project in the US), though See You At Harry’s is for a slightly older audience. I appreciated the way Holden’s family deals with his homosexuality, which is accepting overall, but with some reservations. This felt very realistic. None of the characters are perfect or 100% likable all the time, but I thought this was a smart and accurat...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Zooey Riveria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, family, favorites, friendship, melancholy, young-adult

I couldn't stop crying.

I cried reading this in: 1.Class, 2.The bus, 3.The lift, 4.My room, 5.Full-on bawling after reaching the end and silently screaming at anything and everything.

I cried from the first few pages onward. But don't get me wrong. On an emotional level scale of 10, I cry at 2-3, but could you imagine the burden my heart was feeling whilst immersed in this book?

See You at Harry's touched me deeply. It was heartbreaking, riveting and just beautiful in every way, from the characte...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Doreen Fritz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sad but empowering at the same time. Tells the story of a family in turmoil -- both the "normal turmoil" that occurs when each person is busy with school, work, and emotional challenges, and then the unspeakable turmoil that occurs with this family when its youngest member, 3-year-old Charlie, dies. The narrator is 12-year-old Fern, seemingly invisible in her family because everyone else is preoccupied with doing their own thing: Dad is always thinking of new (embarrassing) ways to advertise his...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, simple-but-lovely

An amiable little story with a touch of sorrow, See You at Harry's was a great bedtime read. This book always had that brush of magic that drew me into the story every time I began reading it, even if this book never made it past my bedroom door.

I loved how the story never took advantage of the situation, it practically wrote itself. (Although Jo Knowles deserves a high amount of respect for writing such a lovely book). The progression of the story was at a perfect pace, and it was just so real...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Julee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: character-development, middle-grade-stories, social-issues

Date Published: May 2012
ISBN: 0763654078
Genre: MG, Realistic Fiction
Themes: Family, siblings, friendship, grief, loss, bullying, LGBT relationships

See You At Harry's is a beautifully written Middle Grade novel that draws the reader in with the quirky characters of its dysfunctional-functional family. Twelve-year-old narrator Fern is all but invisible to her parents whose attentions are focused elsewhere. Much to the despair of his family, Fern's father is busy trying to devise a marketing scheme...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Joannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, sbf-books

A featured title on Scholastic Middle School Book Fairs this spring, See You At Harry's takes on a wealth of issues in its relatively few pages. Homosexuality in teens, bullying, sibling relationships, checked-out and workaholic parents, scapegoating, friendship, responsibility, family, guilt, and intense grief are all themes that play out in this book. Knowles deals with guilt and grief most heavily, and I spent the entire second half of the book crying heavily.

I don't think this story will af...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Jenni French rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-contemporary-fiction, topic-death-and-dying, age-5-grades-9-12, age-4-grades-6-8, lgbtqia-lit

Fern's family runs an ice cream parlor / diner, and Fern feels invisible. The third child in a family of four, Fern is left to care for her younger brother, Charlie, more often than she thinks is right. Her dad is obsessed with his business, her mom is always meditating, and her older brother and sister have their own lives to lead. When tragedy strikes, the family must pull together to survive.

I really liked this book, even though I could have used a box (or two) of Kleenex while I was reading...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Beth Dailey Kenneth rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book contains WAAAAY too much: bullies; family-owned business leading to overwhelmed, self-absorbed, over-worked, insensitive parents; cancer; coming out gay; death of a child. I wish this had been 2 or 3 books to cover this many topics. The main character, Fern, is only 12 but acts much older for most of the book. And I found it weird that all the children were named after a book character. Just odd.

Perfect review by Melanie H. (copied here):
Shelves: children-s-literature, 5th-grade, 6th-...more This book contains WAAAAY too much: bullies; family-owned business leading to overwhelmed, self-absorbed, over-worked, insensitive parents; cancer; coming out gay; death of a child. I wish this had been 2 or 3 books to cover this many topics. The main character, Fern, is only 12 but acts much older for most of the book. And I found it weird that all the children were named after a book character. Just odd.

Perfect review by Melanie H. (copied here):
Shelves: children-s-literature, 5th-grade, 6th-grade, families, family-tragedy, siblings, brothers, brothers-sisters, sisters, death, grief, schools, friends, interpersonal-relationships, lgbtq, restaurants
Fern used to be the baby of the family and then Mom and Dad had a surprise baby named Charlie. Charlie is everyone's darling but Fern feels her mother could do a better job watching Charlie and less time meditating. As it is Fern, her sister Sara and brother Holden are responsible for Charlie much of the time.

Fern often finds herself irritated with Charlie. For example when Charlie wants Fern to hold and sing to his favorite toy, Doll, and Fern would rather not, Charlie starts to have a meltdown. Mom will then tiredly tell Fern to play with Doll.

While the family is busy with the family restaurant and Charlie, Fern's older brother Holden is battle his own demons. Holden is pretty sure he is gay. Meeting Gray, an older student, he's sure. His sisters know but how to come out to his parents is a daily struggle for him.

One day, while most of the family is busy in the restaurant, Fern is trying to watch Charlie while doing her homework outside at the picnic tables. All of a sudden Charlie darts out into the parking lot almost getting hit by a car. Thankfully the car misses him but Charlie falls down and hits his head trying to avoid the car. Panicked, Fern runs over. Charlie has tears on his face because the bump hurt a bit but otherwise he seems fine. However Fern still gets a talking to from her mother and sister for not being more careful. Fern feels this is unfair as Charlie moved really fast and why wasn't Mom or Sara helping out?

The family goes home and has dinner together not knowing that their lives are about to change drastically.
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Dec 26, 2012 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fern's family really is like so many others. They are all loving and caring for each other, yet they bicker over everything. With that said, they really are there for each other when the going get's tough. Things really get rocky when her dad decides that he want's to include the family, dressed in the geekiest of t-shirts, in a commercial that is guaranteed to bring shame to the whole family. They are pretty much right, but boy does it bring in business for the family's restaurant and ice cream...more Fern's family really is like so many others. They are all loving and caring for each other, yet they bicker over everything. With that said, they really are there for each other when the going get's tough. Things really get rocky when her dad decides that he want's to include the family, dressed in the geekiest of t-shirts, in a commercial that is guaranteed to bring shame to the whole family. They are pretty much right, but boy does it bring in business for the family's restaurant and ice cream shop, which is the reference to Harry's.

Fern's brother is going through a tough time. Holden is gay. Everyone knows it, but no one is really talking about it. He definitely hasn't come out of the closet, and some of the kids at school are particularly difficult with him. He is called names and things are thrown at him. Fern and their older sister Sara are very supportive of Holden, and they are doing everything they can to encourage him to go out because they know everyone in the family will support him.

Then there is little Charlie, who is the little family surprise. He is a toddler who is much younger than his three siblings. Fern thinks he is just plain gross (he is always stick) and a bit annoying (he constantly jumps into conversations and is wanting everyone's attention). In reality, he is pretty cute, and everyone likes him.

The family really is an everyday family that seems to be struggling with every day problems. That all changes when a (not-so-surprising) crisis hits. Everyone is left devastated and wondering what they could have done to change fate. They all blame themselves. What will the family do to come back together as a unit so they can survive the disaster?

All-in-all, I really liked this one. I thought the characters were very honest and realistic. To a degree, I felt cheated by the mysterious disaster that I mentioned. I thought the book had enough conflict to deal with between the character's individual challenges that it didn't need to wrench the characters (or the reader) to make the book more interesting. The disaster really veers the book into another direction, leaving the other conflicts to be resolved in a way that makes them seem trivial even when they aren't. The disaster turns the book into a Nicholas Sparks tale, which is really not a plus for me.

With that said, the book is tissue worthy, and it made me want to read on. I really did want to see these guys at Harry's.(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 Miz Lizzie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, childrensbooks, death, families, food, friendship, glbt, grief, siblings, young-adult

As twelve-year-old Fern starts middle school, she is dealing with a father who is obsessed with embarrasing schemes to promote their family restaurant, a mother who escapes into meditation, an older sister who is reluctantly working at the restaurant during her gap year, an older brother who is afraid to come out to his family even though everyone already knows, and a three-year-old younger brother who is constantly the center of attention. Caught in that in-between stage between childhood and a...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-literature

Read this book if you like to bawl your eyes out and experience sobbing in public. I started to read it at work and am glad I finished it at home. Man oh man, I felt dehydrated afterwards. The thing about this book is that each character has such life and such pain. The story is centered on a family of 6 as they work at their family restaurant and try to deal with their lives in separate ways. The mom meditates. The dad works a lot. The children each have issues weighing on them. It is not often...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Linda Lipko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult

This is another one of foggidawn's recommendations and I echo her priase. Highly recommended. Review to follow tomorrow.

Reading two incredible YA books back to back once again confirms the power of this genre.

See You At Harry's is a remarkable tale of a family in grief. A little brother, Charlie, born later in life, is loved beyond measure.

The family owns an ice cream story and the delightful, and quirky father seems to relish using his children in advertising. Charlie and the family are filmed...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Starting Middle school can be overwhelming- it can seem almost unbearable when your dad decides to make a commercial for the family restaurant with you and your siblings wearing neon dinosaur t-shirts. That would be fern’s life as she starts middle school- but it’s not just the humiliating commercial – her sister has decided to take a year of between high school and college so she’s always lurking around, her brother is struggling with coming out and her surprise three year old brother is always...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Isabelle Low rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who normally reads chick flicks, this would open your eyes. Anyone can read it.

Shelves: bitter-sweet, cry-your-heart-out, family

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This has been the most heart wrenching story I have ever had.

One would have a general impression of a relatively normal family with more moments or arguments that are explicitly remembered and the cheerful moments that are briefly mentioned by Knowles. But it obviously changes when Charlie (the youngest brother) passes on unexpected. The grieve that the protagonist Fern goes through is utterly realistic and sincere that it's terrifying to read and believe her thoughts. The story deals with vari...more This has been the most heart wrenching story I have ever had.

One would have a general impression of a relatively normal family with more moments or arguments that are explicitly remembered and the cheerful moments that are briefly mentioned by Knowles. But it obviously changes when Charlie (the youngest brother) passes on unexpected. The grieve that the protagonist Fern goes through is utterly realistic and sincere that it's terrifying to read and believe her thoughts. The story deals with various grievances and how people tackle it. It's honesty of the characters are what kept me bawling since the passing of Charlie.

The time frame though it is not exactly day by day, captures the progress of the protagonist's and her family member's remorse and mourning. One would feel the idea of wanting to forget and wanting to remember Charlie every now and then after his passing, together with the protagonist. Not only does Knowles mention how Fern copes with her mourning, but her interactions with family members reveal their mourning process.

Knowles writing can touch in so many ways, be it in speech, thought processes or narrative. One can sense the struggle and turmoil after the death through the very mundane activities in the characters life. I think, whether one has experienced a love one passing or not, one would grieve and laugh with the characters (even through their tears!). Personally it affected me more than ever, because I have three siblings who I can't imagine living without, so imagining it after reading the story is heartbreaking. This story made me think of so many things, about how people cope with grieve, if my parents would react the same way as Fern's parents did.

Just for a simple thought for those who are anti- homosexuality. Well, this book would offer you an out look to a parent who does not accept the idea at first and well, basically you'll open up your eyes to both parties (father and son). It's a simple but meaningful side plot to this amazing story.

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Nov 09, 2012 Melanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-literature, 5th-grade, 6th-grade, families, family-tragedy, siblings, brothers, brothers-sisters, sisters, death, grief, schools, friends, interpersonal-relationships, lgbtq, restaurants

Fern used to be the baby of the family and then Mom and Dad had a surprise baby named Charlie. Charlie is everyone's darling but Fern feels her mother could do a better job watching Charlie and less time meditating. As it is Fern, her sister Sara and brother Holden are responsible for Charlie much of the time.

Fern often finds herself irritated with Charlie. For example when Charlie wants Fern to hold and sing to his favorite toy, Doll, and Fern would rather not, Charlie starts to have a meltdown...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: death, families, friendship, identity, school, bullies, ncbla2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This beautifully written book about love and loss describes perfectly the effects an unexpected death can have on those left behind, including family and friends. There is so much to enjoy about this book--the fact that Fern's parents have named all four children after literary characters [Fern, of course, takes her name from Charlotte's Web]; her brother Holden's constant battle against school bullies and bullies on the bus who tease and torture him due to his sexual identity; Fern's good frien...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am not sure how to write about this book. The topic is love. Beginning with Fern and her family: mom, dad brother Holden, sister Sara, and little brother Charlie. They all work together to run the family diner, Harry's (named after her father's father).

Though their dad is a little over the top about promoting the diner (makes weird Christmas cards and his latest is a strange commercial with all of them wearing neon shirts with dinosaurs eating icecream0. He also plans to expand and make their...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Beverly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 13-16 year olds

Recommended to Beverly by: indie next list/indiebound.org

I can't remember the last time I cried so hard while reading a book. Probably when I read Good Night Mr. Tom in the early 90's. See You at Harry's had me teary eyed by page 47. By page 150, I was having a hard time making out the letters on the page because of all the tears. I pretty much cried the whole second half of the book. See You at Harry's is the story of an all too familiar family, loving but disconnected from each other. Everyone is going their own way, wrapped up in their own lives, p...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fern feels mostly invisible. Her family is busy – each struggling with issues and questions that keep them busy and away from her most of the time. Dad is scheming up ways to bring more business to the family restaurant. Mom, when not, is helping with that. Older sister, Sara, has taken a gap year between high school and college. She working for her parents and trying to find her way when no one her age is around. Holden, always Fern’s partner, is struggling with his sexual identity. But Charlie...more Fern feels mostly invisible. Her family is busy – each struggling with issues and questions that keep them busy and away from her most of the time. Dad is scheming up ways to bring more business to the family restaurant. Mom, when not, is helping with that. Older sister, Sara, has taken a gap year between high school and college. She working for her parents and trying to find her way when no one her age is around. Holden, always Fern’s partner, is struggling with his sexual identity. But Charlie, the three-year old family joy, has time for Fern – always, and sometimes that’s a bother! If it weren’t for her best friend, Ran and his soothing mantra, all will be well, Fern is pretty sure no one would even notice if she dissolved away.

They are a family, trying to work as a team. They spend lots of time together, enjoying, annoying, challenging and supporting one another. It seems as though much of their life is controlled by the rhythms of Harry’s until an unthinkable tragedy happens that nearly undoes the entire family. All is not well and never can be. Perhaps, eventually it will be okay.

The characters in this book are part of me now forever. They have amazing courage, strength and beauty. Jo Knowles writing is striking. It is honest and clear. This part near the beginning of the book made me stop, reread and wonder:
“Holden? Is it true, what Sara said?”
“That I’m too sensitive? No.”
I nudge him. Come on, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Yeah, I know.”
I wait for him to really answer, but he doesn’t. He just sits there with his arms crossed over his knees. If it’s true, I wonder what that must be like. To know you’re different. To know some people are going to hate you because of it.

I laughed out loud and then I cried and cried and cried. Just when I thought I knew what the story would be, it changed. It wasn’t that at all. I sat breathless and sobbing, desperate to know what would happen as I turned the page. See You at Harry’s is a book that will live with me from now on and will keep coming to mind when I need to be reminded of the power of friendship, love and forgiveness. What an amazingly powerful book.
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About Jo Knowles

Hi! I'm the author of Living With Jackie Chan (coming Sept. 2013), See You At Harry's, Pearl, Jumping Off Swings, and Lessons From A Dead Girl. I support libraries and independent booksellers. If you'd like to purchase one of my books, please consider doing so through a local independent bookseller. You can find one near you by going to www.indiebound.org Or, you can ask your local library to purc...more

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Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories

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Trivia About See You at Harry's

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Quotes from See You at Harry's

“I breath in and out through my mouth to feel the quiet. In. Out. Over and over. Until I fall asleep.” — 1 person liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12384984-see-you-at-harry-s?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333579098l/12384984.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12384984-see-you-at-harry-s?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles[/url]

See You at Harry's

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