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You Gotta Have Heart
Life keeps knocking 12-year-old Alan down.
Can he find the courage to get back up?
Orphaned at a young age, all Alan Michaels wants is a place to belong. But the independent, street–smart kid, who lacks self-confidence, has no clue how to deal with disappointment – or a formidable bully who won’t back down. And New York City is a tough town to grow up in if you are a kid who doesn’t have much. But when he starts training at Sensei Hideki’s School of Karate, he hopes his life will change forever.
Determined to prove he’s got what it takes to become a true warrior, he pushes his body and mind to the limit. But just when the karate school starts to feel like home, tragedy strikes again. Does Alan have the courage and inner strength to overcome the odds stacked against him?
“When you get knocked down, you just keep getting back up. …You never give up.” Sensei paused for a moment and spoke louder. “That’s what takes real guts.” He stared at Alan intently. “You know, sometimes failures are your steppingstone to success.”
Can he find the courage to get back up?
Orphaned at a young age, all Alan Michaels wants is a place to belong. But the independent, street–smart kid, who lacks self-confidence, has no clue how to deal with disappointment – or a formidable bully who won’t back down. And New York City is a tough town to grow up in if you are a kid who doesn’t have much. But when he starts training at Sensei Hideki’s School of Karate, he hopes his life will change forever.
Determined to prove he’s got what it takes to become a true warrior, he pushes his body and mind to the limit. But just when the karate school starts to feel like home, tragedy strikes again. Does Alan have the courage and inner strength to overcome the odds stacked against him?
“When you get knocked down, you just keep getting back up. …You never give up.” Sensei paused for a moment and spoke louder. “That’s what takes real guts.” He stared at Alan intently. “You know, sometimes failures are your steppingstone to success.”
- GenresChildrens
170 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2018
14 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Bernstein
1 book10 followersBRUCE BERNSTEIN is the author of You Gotta Have Heart. He’s a fourth degree black belt in karate with extensive training in the martial arts. Before recently retiring, he had a solo law practice dedicated to protecting the rights of employees while working part-time as an administrative law judge in New York City. Bruce is a life long resident of New York City who also happens to be a licensed New York City tour guide. Like Alan Michaels, the hero of You Gotta Have Heart, he also knows a lot about Central Park and New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 22, 2018
Alan Michaels lost both his parents three years ago in a car crash. With no family to take care of him, he now lives in a halfway house for teenagers with financial, emotional, and/or family issues. Life in The Home is tough, so when Alan gets the opportunity to practice karate at a local dojo, he jumps at the chance. Over time, he learns how to fight, and he even makes a few friends in the process. But more importantly, he learns how to be a better person, a better protector, and a better friend.
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I read this book with my eight-year old son, and we both enjoyed it. My son could easily relate to Alan, and we both appreciated Alan's ability to face tough obstacles and never give up. Some parts of the book are difficult to read---in particular, my son thought Dale's storyline was really sad. But we still appreciated the (overall) positive ending and the important lesson to always, always persevere. This is a great book for kids ages 10 - 15, especially for kids who have faced rough circumstances or have been bullied. Makes me want to watch The Karate Kid again!
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
See more of my reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com!
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I read this book with my eight-year old son, and we both enjoyed it. My son could easily relate to Alan, and we both appreciated Alan's ability to face tough obstacles and never give up. Some parts of the book are difficult to read---in particular, my son thought Dale's storyline was really sad. But we still appreciated the (overall) positive ending and the important lesson to always, always persevere. This is a great book for kids ages 10 - 15, especially for kids who have faced rough circumstances or have been bullied. Makes me want to watch The Karate Kid again!
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
See more of my reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com!
October 5, 2018
I'm a little on the fence with this story.
I love stories about bullied kids who find their inner strength and courage and stand up to their tormentors, so I was excited to read this book. The main character, Alan, is a shy orphan in the late 1990s who lives in a home for indigent boys and is tortured by several of his peers. To combat this, he decides to take karate, and through this, he gains enough confidence to rise about his victim status.
The biggest problem with this story is that there so much telling and very little showing. Rather than get to know Alan's thoughts or feelings through dialogue or actions, we are flat out TOLD how he feels throughout the story. Almost nothing is left to the imagination. I get that this book is for young readers, but when there's so much telling, it's tougher to connect to the character.
I love stories about bullied kids who find their inner strength and courage and stand up to their tormentors, so I was excited to read this book. The main character, Alan, is a shy orphan in the late 1990s who lives in a home for indigent boys and is tortured by several of his peers. To combat this, he decides to take karate, and through this, he gains enough confidence to rise about his victim status.
The biggest problem with this story is that there so much telling and very little showing. Rather than get to know Alan's thoughts or feelings through dialogue or actions, we are flat out TOLD how he feels throughout the story. Almost nothing is left to the imagination. I get that this book is for young readers, but when there's so much telling, it's tougher to connect to the character.
July 19, 2018
You Gotta Have Heart is a coming of age novel for children and preteens written by Bruce Bernstein. Alan Michaels was excited and just a bit nervous about his first day of classes at Sensei Hideki’s School of Karate. He was the first boy from the Home who had received a full scholarship to the dojo, and he felt this was his chance to be really good at something. Alan was small for his age, but he couldn’t help standing up for his roommate, Chris, a younger and smaller boy, who was often tormented by Frankie and Jack, two older boys. The first person the twelve-year-old met as he entered the dojo was tough looking, even scary, but Alan almost thought he noticed Mr. Morris smiling at him as he bowed in greeting. Sensei Hideki was an even bigger surprise. He was just a few inches taller than Alan himself, but his presence was more powerful than Mr. Morris’s was. Sensei Hideki confirmed that Alan would be learning self-defense, but he’d also get so much more out of his karate training if he was willing to work hard.
Bruce Bernstein’s coming of age novel for children and preteens, You Gotta Have Heart, has it all. Bernstein’s characters are multi-faceted and complex, making them seem real. His location, especially as seen through the eyes of Alan Michaels, who knows so much about the city and its history, will surprise even those New Yorkers who think they know everything there is to know about that amazing island. The plot, which follows a young orphaned boy as he comes of age, is inspiring, moving and unforgettable. Alan’s world opens up beautifully from the moment when he climbs up those three flights of stairs for the first time. Watching as it happens is so illuminating and powerful. This book may very well have kids putting down their game controllers and getting into martial arts instead -- and that’s a very good thing. You Gotta Have Heart is most highly recommended.
Bruce Bernstein’s coming of age novel for children and preteens, You Gotta Have Heart, has it all. Bernstein’s characters are multi-faceted and complex, making them seem real. His location, especially as seen through the eyes of Alan Michaels, who knows so much about the city and its history, will surprise even those New Yorkers who think they know everything there is to know about that amazing island. The plot, which follows a young orphaned boy as he comes of age, is inspiring, moving and unforgettable. Alan’s world opens up beautifully from the moment when he climbs up those three flights of stairs for the first time. Watching as it happens is so illuminating and powerful. This book may very well have kids putting down their game controllers and getting into martial arts instead -- and that’s a very good thing. You Gotta Have Heart is most highly recommended.
January 8, 2024
A little disappointed with this one.
I was excited to find a book featuring a character learning martial arts, but the pacing was really off and there was a lot of over-explaining and repeating by the narrator instead of letting scenes speak for themselves, while other things seemed to come out of nowhere. I think this book could've used another round of revision to pare down the over-explaining and flesh out the important parts. The second half of the book had a much faster pace than the beginning, and it felt rushed. I wanted to see more of how Alan handled the tragedy near the end before diving into an epilogue where he is an adult.
I did like that Alan finds martial arts and uses it to build his confidence and his support system. I liked the descriptions of New York and some of its hidden gems. And it's a short middle grade book at only 160 pages, something desperately needed in that age category right now.
I was excited to find a book featuring a character learning martial arts, but the pacing was really off and there was a lot of over-explaining and repeating by the narrator instead of letting scenes speak for themselves, while other things seemed to come out of nowhere. I think this book could've used another round of revision to pare down the over-explaining and flesh out the important parts. The second half of the book had a much faster pace than the beginning, and it felt rushed. I wanted to see more of how Alan handled the tragedy near the end before diving into an epilogue where he is an adult.
I did like that Alan finds martial arts and uses it to build his confidence and his support system. I liked the descriptions of New York and some of its hidden gems. And it's a short middle grade book at only 160 pages, something desperately needed in that age category right now.
February 28, 2019
I totally enjoyed this book. I found the topic to be very appropriate with so much bullying going on right now either from children or adults. I particularly liked the way the author included his own tour guide experience in New York City with the main character's parents who were also guides. Alan (the main character) remembered many of the interesting stories his parents related to him so he could share them with others which enabled him to keep the memory of his parents alive in his heart. I felt bad when we found out about Dale's health but overall I thought the book was well written.
March 12, 2019
Irresistible story about a boy who fights his way out of the boys’ home to go work out at the local karate dojo, where he discovers inspiring father figures in his sense is. Life is an adventure that awaits him in the city, amidst the glamor of Central Park, luxury apartment homes, and hot sports cars! So inspiring! Great book for middle school aged kids!
Anna m
Anna m
November 8, 2018
A great read!
I really enjoyed the book . It’s as interesting and heartwarming and. I enjoyed the references to places I know well in New York City. I would recommend this book to teens and adults.
I really enjoyed the book . It’s as interesting and heartwarming and. I enjoyed the references to places I know well in New York City. I would recommend this book to teens and adults.
April 7, 2019
Coming of age
A heart warming story about a orphan boy.
He learns many life lessons.
A great read for all ages but especially young readers will enjoy the book.
A heart warming story about a orphan boy.
He learns many life lessons.
A great read for all ages but especially young readers will enjoy the book.
February 2, 2020
A heart-warming tale of an underdog who manages to rise above the obstacles he faces. Well-drawn characters and an engaging story.
November 12, 2020
A fantastic book, great story about the struggles of life and overcoming them by doing good and helping others.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews