See You at Harry's by Jo KnowlesIf you're a reader who can handle a sad story, then you may love this book. The writing is clear and lovely. The characters are memorable and believable. The setting is contemporary, realistic, and will be familiar to suburban kids. The plot, I will warn you, is tragic.
The main character of this book is 12-year-old Fern. Fern's a middle child who feels invisible. Her parents both work a ton at their family-owned ice cream parlor, Harry's, and they always seem to be thinking about the business or Fern's little brother Charlie. Fern's older brother Holden has serious issues with bullying at school and a secret that's getting harder and harder to keep from the family.
So where does that leave Fern? She tries to help with Charlie and support Holden. She has an amazing best friend named Ran who's always there to tell her, "All will be well." She has almost come to terms with the limited attention she gets from her parents. And then something unbelievable happens to her family and Fern must try to survive the heartache.
If you read and appreciated A Monster Calls, Bridge to Terabithia, or Mockingbird, I'd suggest giving this book a try. Read it with tissues close by.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Leave a comment