Starting middle school brings all the usual challenges - until the unthinkable happens, and Fern and her family must find a way to heal.
Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. Her dad is always busy planning how to increase traffic to the family business. Her Mom is constantly going off to meditate. Her sister Sarah, who's taking a "gap year" after high school, is too busy finding ways not to work; and her brother Holden is too focused on his new "friend" to pay attention to her. And then there's Charlie: three years old, a "surprise" baby, and the center of everyone's world.
If it wasn't for Ran, Fern's best and oldest friend, there would be nowhere to turn. Ran is always calm, always positive. His mantra "All will be well" is soothing in a way that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost believe.
But when their lives are unexpectedly turned upside down, Fern feels more alone than ever, and responsible for the event that wrenches the family apart. All will not be well. Or at least, all will never be the same.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Beautifully composed tradic story for MG readers
By ReadingCorner
This is really a great read that I think a lot of MG readers will enjoy. It deals with a lot of the emotions of being a 12 year old just starting middle school, family dynamics, and the grieving process. When I started this one, I don't think I was fully prepared for the emotional roller coaster ride that it was going to take me on. So, while I definitely don't want to spoil anything for you (and I hope you don't find spoilers anywhere else), definitely be prepared for a few moments of truly devastating grief.Fern is a very realistically written 12-year-old, with the common insecurities that many kids feel at that age. Older siblings create havoc that gets them notices; younger siblings get all the love and attention. New schools, new people, changing friends. It's easy to feel invisible. I thought Fern gave readers a very realistic look at the emotions that you deal with at that age--you do a lot of growing up right around the time in life.The tragedy that rocks Fern's family--I didn't see that coming at all! I mean, obviously you knew that something was going to happen, but the tragic event really creeps up on you. It is the kind of event that is accompanied by painful emotions and tears (well, if you're like me, then there are probably at least a new tears). The character development and family dynamics shift in unexpected ways as a result and it added a whole extra layer to the story.See You At Harry's tackles the topic of dealing with tragedy quite masterfully. While this isn't the sort of book that every 10-12 year old will thoroughly enjoy, I think that there are probably a decent number of middle grade age kids dealing with these types of emotions and this book would be a perfect companion.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
A wrenching read, but message conveyed very well
By KidsReads
Perhaps like most kids about to start middle school, Fern is simultaneously dependent on and horrified by her family. She loves them, but at the same time, they annoy the heck out of her. Her dad, who runs the town ice cream shop and has grand visions of taking on Ben and What's-His-Face, constantly enlists his family to appear in advertisements for the restaurant. Her mom, who named all four of her children after characters from books, compensates for the ice cream parlor by feeding her kids aggressively healthy vegetarian dishes.Fern's two older siblings, Sara (named after A LITTLE PRINCESS) and Holden (named after THE CATCHER IN THE RYE), have their own dilemmas. Sara, who's taking a gap year while she figures out where (or whether) she wants to attend college, just wants privacy from her well-meaning parents, but that's hard to find when she works at the family restaurant. Holden is mercilessly tormented by the bullies on the school bus, and despite Fern's reassurances, he's terrified of coming out as gay to their parents.And then there's Charlie, named after CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Fern loves three-year-old Charlie (of course she does), but she also finds him draining. He clearly adores her and likes to show her by pulling her ears and calling her "Ferny." Fern never asked for a baby brother when she was nine, and now that she's almost a teenager, the last thing she wants is to feel like she has to take care of him all the time.Fern's family is a lot like most families --- they take each other for granted a lot of the time. But when tragedy strikes in the sharpest and most unexpected way, they must redefine and reestablish relationships with each other, even as they all figure out how to move forward both individually and together.It's hard to convey just how wrenching reading SEE YOU AT HARRY'S is. The family tragedy that affects Fern will hit readers hard, too. Even those who might be expecting something bad to happen will likely miscalculate the precise nature of the catastrophe that strikes Fern's family at its core.Coping with grief is something that's difficult for adults during the best of times; what's interesting about Knowles' novel is her consideration of how vulnerable young people cope with immense personal tragedy just as they are defining their own self-images. Fern learns a lot from her best friend, Ran, whose "all will be well" attitude in the wake of his mother's cancer requires revision following Fern's own misfortunes. In the end, Fern rediscovers what it means to truly love one's friends and family members, and is able to articulate the nature of the gifts we give each other --- knowingly or unknowingly --- all the time.The journey from darkest hour to tentatively hopeful dawn is not an easy one --- for Fern or for the reader --- but the process of taking it results in growth, development, and even a cautious measure of joy.Reviewed by Norah Piehl
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.Heartfelt and Heartbreaking Middle Grade
By Laura (The Reading Nook
I never thought I would be into reading middle grade books, myself being 25+ I didn't think i'd be able to find anything relatable in these stories, but i've honestly read quite a few this year, and its totally changed my opinion. See You at Harry's definitely takes the cake for the best middle grade book i've read this year. Anyone can relate to this story despite your age. Everyone has family in some shape or form and dealing with grieve is unfortantually a part of life.I haven't read any of Jo Knowles other books although I do have a copy of Pearl sitting on my TBR which definitely has moved its way up my list to be read, because I found her writing to be truly breathtaking. She wrote pain and utter heartbreak in such a geniune way. The characters were all so unique and I loved that all of the kids had literary-related names!! Something every booknerd can appreciate.I voted for this book in the goodreads book awards for 2012 and although it didn't make it into the final round I still think It's a book that anyone of any age will love. It's heartfelt and heartbreaking and truly showcases Jo Knowles as a superstar of a writer. This might have been my first read of Knowles, but it definitely will not be my last.
