How could someone like Phoebe’s brother die? Mick Harte was one of the coolest kids you’d ever want to meet. Mick was also the kid who ...
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reviews
Mar 03, 2009
Grant
rated it: 
Dang, You know that a book is good when Grant acually feels bad for a fictional character. This the case for Mick Harte was Here. It's a, dare I say, heartbreaking book about a girl and her family having to deal with the deppresion of the death of their son/brother. Mick crashes into a car and sofie, his sister, blames herself for it because Mick asked if she could take his bike home for him. Instead she refused because of the fight that they had earlier. Throughout the story people keep telling
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Apr 02, 2009
Paty
rated it:
Just finished this book with my young student book club. This is a great book to read and discuss the death of a sibling. Death is a hard subject to talk about and Barbara Park touches upon how it affects different people - the family, friends, and schoolmates. Deeply touching but told with great insight.
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Oct 09, 2011
Sherri
rated it: 
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: **** This short novel is a tear jerker. Author, Barbara Park, has written a book with a strong message about wearing bike helmets, but she has done it in a way that doesn’t preach to the reader. The memories of the main character, Mick Harte, are both serious and humorous. It is a great read for people of all ages who have lost a loved one in an accident.
Summary: This is primarily the story of a family's struggle to deal with their gri More...
Rating: **** This short novel is a tear jerker. Author, Barbara Park, has written a book with a strong message about wearing bike helmets, but she has done it in a way that doesn’t preach to the reader. The memories of the main character, Mick Harte, are both serious and humorous. It is a great read for people of all ages who have lost a loved one in an accident.
Summary: This is primarily the story of a family's struggle to deal with their gri More...
Mar 20, 2010
Cherice
rated it:
My 10 year old daughter is reading this and was really enjoying it so I decided to check it out. I read it in one sitting and loved the honesty in dealing with a brothers/son's/friends death.
The story begins just after the tragic death of Mick's bicycle accident. Taken from the first page - Mick's sister Pheobe explains: "this isn't the kind of book where you meet the main character and you get to know him real well and then he dies at the end. But I thought you should know rig More...
The story begins just after the tragic death of Mick's bicycle accident. Taken from the first page - Mick's sister Pheobe explains: "this isn't the kind of book where you meet the main character and you get to know him real well and then he dies at the end. But I thought you should know rig More...
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Sep 21, 2008
Collin
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I love this book! It's so incredibly sad! I first read it in about second grade, and I cried a bujillion times. I've read it over and over and over since then, and I still cry through the whole thing! It's a very very very very fast read, but it's worth it. I loved it. It's great and incredibly sad!
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Aug 15, 2007
babyhippoface
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This is THE BEST book about what it feels like to lose someone you love that I've ever read. The narrator's feelings are right on target. Give this to a child who has recently lost a loved one. He will identify with this one, I promise. A brief but tremendously well-written novel.
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Jul 21, 2010
Stacy
rated it: 
I used to read this to my students just before summer break. It really stresses how important bike safety is. My boys were not unwilling to wear helmets, though Max's was too small and Jacob chose not to wear one since Max didn't. To be honest, I was in that group of people that though, heck, I survived childhood without a helmet and I rode my bike all the time. Still, in the back of my head I could hear my sister in laws voice (she is a PT and deals with lots of head trauma patients) tellin
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Nov 17, 2011
Emerson
rated it:
this book is about a boy who dies in a bike crash. he wanted to go to his friends house but he rode his bike to school so he had to ride it home then ride it back to his friends house. on his was over there, his bike hit a rock and fell off his bike and a car hit him in the head. his sister pheobe and him were fighting before the accident, which is why she dint want to ride nicks bike home. she was a soccer practice when the accident happened and the practice wasn't even a black away. after the
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Jul 24, 2011
Liz ODU
rated it:
Banned Book
I cannot believe this book was on the ALA Top 100 challenged/ banned books (2000-2009)
It was # 64, see url: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/ba...
I was interested in reading this because my teacher friend said she reads it to her class every year and she thinks it has some great lessons in it for both adults and children. Boy was she right! A thirteen-year old girl named Phoebe narrates the story. Her little brother (only by 10 months) died in a bike accident More...
I cannot believe this book was on the ALA Top 100 challenged/ banned books (2000-2009)
It was # 64, see url: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/ba...
I was interested in reading this because my teacher friend said she reads it to her class every year and she thinks it has some great lessons in it for both adults and children. Boy was she right! A thirteen-year old girl named Phoebe narrates the story. Her little brother (only by 10 months) died in a bike accident More...
Feb 07, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
Phoebe Harte has just lost her twelve year old brother, Mick, to a bike accident. Phoebe wants to share his story with others. In her story, Phoebe shares favorite memories of her brother like when they carved F-A-R-T in the neighbor’s wet concrete and when Mick talked like Elmer Fudd for three days on vacation. Through the grief that Phoebe’s family experiences, she learns how to find joy in times of pain and most importantly, tell others about her brother, “one of the neatest kids you’d ever w
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Nov 06, 2009
Mary
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Have you ever wondered what would happen yo you if someone close to you godforbid, died? Well this book tells you strait up that your life is heading for a tailspin. Pheobe's brother Mic was riding his bike to school one day when he hit a rock. He then slid into a truck and fell down the flud drain, hitting his head and died.This book is all about how she recovered from her little brothers death and how her family became kaotic and crazy.
I recommend this book to anyone who is having t More...
I recommend this book to anyone who is having t More...
Oct 16, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
This started as an exploration of grief, then sort of ended as a tract in favor of wearing bicycle helmets. A short book with a first person narrator, this book mixes realistic details, humorous events, and great sadness and loss. I love the way the narrator says in the beginning that this isn't a book where you learn to love a character and then he or she dies! (Reference to "Bridge to Terebithia" possibly?) She wants you to know right away that her brother Mick is dead. As you r
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Aug 09, 2011
Diane
rated it:
There is something – actually lots of somethings – that make me cry every single time I read this book. This was my fourth time. I really thought I’d get through it without a sniffle. But I didn’t. Not even close. Still, I have to say this is one of my all-time favorite books. It was written by Barbara Park – yep, the same Barbara Park who writes the Junie B. Jones books. The main character, Phoebe Harte, is older than Junie but still has that Junie B attitude that’ll make you smile and probably
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Jan 07, 2010
Kim
rated it:
I don't give 5 stars to many books, but this one deserves it. Reading it with my 9 year old, I think his words put it perfectly: "It hurts my heart". Indeed, the story of Mick Harte told by his sister does hurt the heart. But, it's also similar to that moment in the movie Steel Magnolias after the funeral of Shelby when the mom wants to hit something and the ladies offer up one of their own. It's funny. Laugh through your tears, laugh out loud funny. And I certainly did laugh out loud.
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Aug 16, 2009
Jean
rated it:
Was flying back from vacation with my 11 year old niece & she just finished it. I had just read a commentary in the WSJ about reading some of the books for "young adults" so thought I'd give it a try. It's only about 80 some pages so was able to read the whole thing while flying into PBI. Park has a great sense of humor, a tough subject (think of all of the kids I'd taken care of as an ER/Flight nurse) and a great learning lesson for all. I have to admit I still don't wear my bile helm
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Mar 13, 2011
Erica
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Phoebe is 13, Mick (her brother) was 12 when he was killed in a bicycle accident. Story is told from Phoebe's perspective, and she tells us right away that her brother is dead. Story is about how people react to the death of a friend/brother/child/student. Characters question their spiritual beliefs, people's reactions, and their own personal guilt. Great conversation about "what if. . . " toward the end. Rec for grade 5-9; anyone dealing with the death of someone close. Teary at t
Apr 15, 2010
Debbie
rated it:
Eighth grader Phoebe tells the story of her brother's death, and, gradually, his life. Mick died of extreme head trauma after a bike accident in which he was not wearing a helmet.
Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard, no matter when or how it happens. Phoebe's journey through the healing process is heartbreaking, utterly believable, and often funny.
Highly recommended for upper elementary and older. This would be a great book for parents and kids to read tog More...
Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard, no matter when or how it happens. Phoebe's journey through the healing process is heartbreaking, utterly believable, and often funny.
Highly recommended for upper elementary and older. This would be a great book for parents and kids to read tog More...
Apr 16, 2009
Josiah
rated it:
I honestly cannot imagine a book being closer to perfection than this one.
All of the superlatives that I could muster to decorate the writing of Barbara Park in this volume would be tame next to the story itself.
Mick Harte Was Here stays with me always, and in all ways. It is why I read--to perhaps find another book that is as elevated in sheer magnitude of greatness as this one. In my view, there never has been another book written that can compare with this one. Not one.
All of the superlatives that I could muster to decorate the writing of Barbara Park in this volume would be tame next to the story itself.
Mick Harte Was Here stays with me always, and in all ways. It is why I read--to perhaps find another book that is as elevated in sheer magnitude of greatness as this one. In my view, there never has been another book written that can compare with this one. Not one.
Jun 25, 2010
Moe
rated it:
This was as sad as On My Honor and my teacher read it to us at school. It's a good message to send out to everybody. The whole book was talking about how bad it was for Mick's sister to go through Mick Harte dying. She had to stand up in front of the audience and tell everybody her good and bad memories of Mick Harte at the funeral.
This book shows you that even though wearing a helmet makes you look like a foul, repulsive maggot, it still can save your life.
This book shows you that even though wearing a helmet makes you look like a foul, repulsive maggot, it still can save your life.
May 18, 2010
Calle
rated it:
When Mick asked Phebe to take his bike home because he was going to a friends house after school he asked Phebe, she said no because she had soccer practice. Then he asked Phebe friend she said no to. When Phebe was at soccer practice she heard the ambulance coming tords the school was it for Mick or was it some for one else!!!! Her mind was scared for life. She would never be the same person again
This book is a great and it could also make you cry your head off. I could be th More...
This book is a great and it could also make you cry your head off. I could be th More...
Dec 15, 2011
Sophie
rated it:
OMG! I loved this book. I read it in the 5th grade a couple of years ago, and I still cry when I read it, to this day. It was short, but one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. It left me fullhearted and warm. I loved it. I recommend this to anyone over the age of 11. Any younger, you may not take in the full effect of this book.
Favorite book, hands down. No matter how old I get.
Favorite book, hands down. No matter how old I get.
Apr 11, 2009
Larissa
rated it: 
I agree, this book is very moving and it makes you love Mike soooo much. But I just don't agree with Phoebe's view of God and how she says "Oh God" all the time. I think the author should show how Phoebe's point of view of God changes. Except those issues, I agree that Barbara Park tells the story very well and potrays all the characters feelings in a very realistic way.
Jul 25, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
Even though this was a very painful book
to read (the main character's brother dies in a bicycling accident),
I found it to be a true book and a book that would help children who
have had a sister or parent or friend die.
I have a hard time reading all these depressing books written for a
YA audience. Aren't there any cheerful or uplifting YA books?!
to read (the main character's brother dies in a bicycling accident),
I found it to be a true book and a book that would help children who
have had a sister or parent or friend die.
I have a hard time reading all these depressing books written for a
YA audience. Aren't there any cheerful or uplifting YA books?!
Dec 31, 2011
I really liked the simple style of this book -- Told from a sister's perspective just after her brother is killed in a biking accident. Everyone is acting like her brother didn't exist, and this is her musings on how to keep him alive, and not let people forget he lived.
A very perceptive, fresh view of how someone might be feeling after a death.
A very perceptive, fresh view of how someone might be feeling after a death.
Oct 18, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
this is my new fave book because its filled with sadness humor and the girl whos brother died is so funny but she loved her brother sooooooo much even though they fought almost all the time! i can relate to this because i fight with my sister all the time but i love her more than you know! I would have no one to talk to if im sad if she died!
Mar 22, 2010
Jocelyn
rated it:
I liked this book because the sister of Mick harte (Phoebe) was telling the story. My favorite part of the book was when Phoebe saw wet cement and then she had a stick in her hand and she wentto the cement and wrote Mick Harte Was Here. I thought this wqs kind of funny because earlier in the book when Mick was four he wrote fart in the neighbors drivway because he was learning how to spell.I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
Mar 17, 2009
Amritha
rated it:
Phoebe Harte's younger brother, Mick, died in a bike accident one day when she was at soccer practice. She and her parents can't get over their loss of Mick. In this book, Phoebe Harte talks about what her brother was like and the good times she had with him. Will Phoebe and her parents be able to get over their grief about Mick's death?
Mar 08, 2011
Daniela
rated it:
Very emotional book. When i read this, i thought of my brother and I always fighting. i wanted to forget the past, all the things i did to my brother, because if this ever happened to one of us, i would feel guilty, and i would hate myself. So i try everyday not to fight with him. Inspirational book.
May 23, 2011
Max
rated it:
it was ok but it was kind of sad i felt bad that read it their was some parts that i did like when they gave flash backs of mick like when they were in the funneral and mick couldn`t contorl himself but at the same time the sister was a little to dull in the story but that is just me
ITS OK
ITS OK
Oct 15, 2010
Anna
rated it:
It was truly heart-warming. Mick Harte Was Here had me on the verge of tears because I know that death can really be a hard thing to handle, especially when you believe it is your own fault. This book is something I'd like to share with some one just like Sofie to comfort them, in hopes they can connect.
