Module 6: Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

Summary

This story is about a twelve year old boy, Mick Harte, who dies from a tragic bicycle accident. Through his sister’s words, it explains how a family copes with such a tragedy. The plot is also interesting because his sister gives a snapshot of what her brother was like by describing the humorous things he did. She is just a little older than her brother, so she explains how special her brother was and how much she will miss him from a young person’s viewpoint. His sister Phoebe realizes how much she loved her brother as she describes the funny things he did during their time together.

Bibliographic Citation

Park, B. (1995). Mick Harte was here. New York: Bullseye Books.

Impressions

Although this book was few in pages, its story was powerful and moving. Phoebe Harte describes her brother in such detail that although his death is announced on the first page, his presence is felt throughout the story. This book would be useful to a child experiencing the sudden loss of a sibling.

Reviews

Park turns her wry eye on a serious subject, the death of a sibling. With love, wit, and anger, 13-year-old Phoebe Harte describes her brother, Mick, and the effect his death has on the family. It is a bike accident that kills Mick, and Park does an excellent job of capturing the shock and dissociation that a sudden death can cause in survivors. There’s so much here that rings true: what friends can (and cannot) do, the inevitable rantings against God, and the seesaw emotions experienced by the whole family. Where Park goes a bit over the top is in her description of Mick, a real wiseacre, who puts a ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken and goes trick-or-treating as Thomas Crapper, inventor of the toilet. Not that this isn’t funny stuff, but Park’s inflation of Mick oddly diminishes him. Still, there is a sea of real emotions here, and readers, whether they’ve been touched by death or not, will find themselves touched by this book. Park’s author’s-note plea for kids to wear bike helmets (such a helmet could have saved Mick) may now fall on responsive ears. (Reviewed Mar. 1, 1995)— Ilene Cooper for Booklist

Gr 4-6--Park's latest offering is a short, yet surprisingly deep and powerful look at the death of a sibling. Phoebe Harte, 13, recounts the days immediately following the death of her 12-year-old brother, Mick, in a bicycle accident. The author is adept at portraying the stages of grief and the effects of this sudden tragedy on the family. The book's tone of sadness is mitigated by humor, reassurance, and hope. Mick is fondly remembered through his funny escapades as Phoebe comes to realize that, even though he is dead, he will never be lost to her. The ending has real punch--Phoebe is finally able to admit that Mick was not wearing a helmet. A great discussion-starter.--Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Reviewed May 1, 1995-School Library Journal


Library Settings

This book could play a pivotal or central role in a book talk program dealing with the grief felt at the loss of a loved one. Many children have experienced the loss of a sibling or friend and listening to a description of this story might encourage them to read it.