Realistic Fiction
Interest Level:
Ages 12 and up
Reading Level:
Lexile 600, grade 5 and up
Book Theme:
Family dysfunction, family tragedy, LGBT siblings
Books with Similar Themes:
One for the Murphy's by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Ice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Bibliographic Information:
Knowles, J. (2012) See you at Harry's. Berryville, VA: Candlewick Press.
Plot:
Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible in her family. The family is made up of her father, who owns their family restaurant and thinks making embarrassing commercials with the family is a great idea, her mother, who spends a lot of time retreating to meditate, her older sister Sara, who is eighteen and not enthused about working in the restaurant, her fourteen-year-old brother Holden who has been acting funny and spending too much time with a high school boy, and her three-year-old brother Charlie, who drives her more nuts than anyone! Fern finds comfort in her friends Random (Ran) and Cassie, but still wishes she could have a different family. Then one day a terrible tragedy happens that threatens to rip her family apart, and Fern learns about the value of family and the importance of forgiveness, especially of herself.
Review:
This emotional, gut-wrenching story tells the tale of a tragedy every family prays will never happen to them. It depicts Fern's emotions so well, from her annoyance and frustration with her family, her anger at the people who are mean to her older brother, and finally the total grief and despair she feels after a tragedy she believes is her fault. Her emotions are real, raw, and potent, and the reader will cry right along with her as she moves through her grief. This book contains many tween issues such as the need to fit in, the confusion of being annoyed with family while simultaneously loving them deeply, the profound role a friend can play in life, and the full-circle of the grieving process. This is a great story for any tween wants to reach out to a friend that is grieving but doesn't know how, it gives a snap-shot of how to be a supportive and kind friend. It's a must-read for all tweens and adults, just make sure you have some tissues handy!
My Additional Thoughts:
Of all the books I have read this semester, this is the one that has touched me the most. After I read it the book stayed with me for days, it was just that good! It really touched a nerve during a scene when Fern is being bullied on the bus. Fern's feelings were just like I remember them being when I was bullied at that age, which made the story and characters seems even more real to me! This book doesn't sugarcoat anything and describes feelings of grief and despair in ways I believe tweens would really feel them. This book deal with some difficult topics, but it all feels so real, which makes it one of the best books I've encountered yet!
Notable tweens:
Fern- Named after Fern from Charlotte's Web, Fern's mother believed that she would be a kind and caring person who would be a good friend. At twelve Fern doesn't really feel that way and just feels annoyed with her family, especially her little brother Charlie. What's worst is that Charlie loves Fern best and won't leave her alone! Fern is entering middle school and discovers it's not very fun. Thank goodness for her friends Ran and Cassie, middle school would be too much without them, and facing the family tragedy would be almost impossible without them!
Ran- Fern's good friend, Ran's mother has just recovered from cancer. This was really hard on Ran, but now that she is better he goes around wearing t-shirts about breathing and being in the moment. Ran reminds everybody to be calm and that things will be OK.
Holden- Fern's older brother, who is fourteen. He tells Fern not to sit in with him in the back of the bus, and when she sees him getting bullied she becomes furious. Holden starts to become more withdrawn and starts spending a lot of time with a high school boy, and their father isn't too thrilled.
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