Even though this was a very painful bookto 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 whohave had a sister or parent or friend die.I have a hard time reading all these depressing books written for aYA audience. Aren't there any cheerful or uplifting YA books?! ( )

This book might be a little less than 7th grade level, but it is still a great book to read in your spare time. Every time I read it it gets a little better. I give it 4 stars!!

-ashley b ( )

Mick Harte Was Here starts off with Mick already dead. His sister Phoebe tells the story of the day he dies and how they got into an argument about a prize inside of the cereal box. However, Mick could not stay mad at her for long and was over it by lunch. He asked Phoebe and Zoe both if they could take his bike home from school that day because he had to go to his friends house to practice. Neither of the girls were able to do this for him though. She remembers being at soccer practice and hearing the sirens blaring in the air. The ambulance was heading straight for their school. All of the sudden her soccer coach ran over to her and said it’s Mick and with a single breath she said I know. She headed into the building and everything was a blur to her as she sat in the office still not believing anything had happened. She didn’t take it all in until Zoe’s dad had come to get them and take her to their house. When her dad finally came to get her all he could say was he’s gone with tears running down his face. When they got home her mom was already asleep due to the sleeping pills that the doctor prescribed her. After the accident her family just lounges around the house depressed, not able to eat much. After the interment of Mick’s ashes Phoebe couldn’t go to sleep so she called Zoe and she rushed right over to comfort her. They stayed up and talked about where Mick was now and they finally came to the conclusion that he is not gone, but everywhere in spirit. Mrs. Berryhill calls Phoebe to her office because a PTA member wants to meet with her to explain to her about the assembly for bicycle safety that they were going to hold. She asked if Phoebe would speak at the assembly, but she quickly said no. Later on she changed her mind and decided to speak at the assembly. When she left the assembly that day she hoped that she had made an impact on those kids and made them want to wear their helmets. A month after the accident she didn’t feel like doing much at soccer practice, but her soccer coach didn’t bother her much. After soccer practice was over she just sat on the sideline till everyone had left, even the construction workers that were putting in new bleachers by the field. She walked over to the cement where the bleachers had been put in and wrote these simple words into the cement “Mick Harte was here.”

I really enjoyed this book and believe that younger kids will also. It is a great book to read and help promote bicycle safety. Also, if a kid is dealing with a death in the family I believe that this might be a good book for them also so that they know that they are not the only ones going through this crisis.

One activity would be for the students to write a short paragraph on why it is so important to wear a helmet whenever you ride your bike. Another activity would be for students to bring in one of their items that they believe is a treasure to them and then stand in front of the class and tell them why it is a treasure to them.

Excellent and well told story of a sister who lost her brother. Very well written and has a definite lesson for the middle schoolers to learn, however, it's told in a way that will interest them and tug at their heartstrings. ( )

"Just let me say right off the bat, it was a bike accident." With these words, Phoebe begins the story of her little brother's death, and the aftermath. She finds that everyone carries the burden of grief and guilt in a different; way, and she finds her own way to peace and memory. ( )