Mick Harte Was Here

Mick Harte Was Here
Barbara Park
Random House Children's Books
copyright 1996
pages 96
reading level: 8-12
Genre: fiction
Summary:
Phoebe's brother Mick is dead. She loved being with him and doing things that got them both in trouble (like writing in fresh cement). At soccer practice, Phoebe heared an ambulance siren, then saw the school secretary run to her coach who tells Phoebe her brother was hit by a car. She goes to her best friend's house while her parent's are at the hospital with her brother. They talk about how crazy Mick is and how fun it is to be with him. Mick died and her parents go to shut his bedroom door, but Phoebe tells them not to. The whole family just stops functioning. Phoebe thinks that feeling better is a betrayal of her brother because he's not there. The family starts to grow closer and are eventually able to star going again. Phoebe writes in the cement behind the bleachers "MICK HARTE WAS HERE"
Recommendations and Conflicts:
 I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced loss. The conflict I see in this book is the death of Mick and his mom's reaction.
Reactions:
I cried reading this book and again writing the summary. It's a good book for helping you let someone you love go.