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foampittroll's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Violence
hello_sunshine's review against another edition
4.0
Oh man! I read this book in one evening. I started crying about half way through it and didn't really stop until the book was done. My husband asked what it was about and I sobbed, "I don't want to talk about it right now." Maybe it was because I have a sticky toddler, but the writing was heartfelt and the family was real. I just loved it, even though I felt like I needed a nap to recover from it.
justlily's review against another edition
3.0
So this was my very first ever audiobook. It's a strange thing to review an audiobook instead of the actual book because so much of it relies on the narrator. I feel like things I wouldn't have noticed or cared about otherwise were magnified by having it read to me.
My main problem with this is that the narrator's voice was so incredibly whiney. I get that Fern is a twelve year old girl so it was probably pretty accurate as twelve year old girls whine a lot. But it didn't make it pleasant to listen to for five hours. Also she deepened her voice a lot for Fern's best friend Ran who...is twelve also...so...not sure why that was necessary. Have you met a twelve year old boy? They don't talk like Ned Stark.
But the story itself was okay. I'm glad I listened to it instead of read it because I probably wouldn't have made it beyond a few chapters. I think on paper this would have bordered on mind numbingly boring for the first 20 chapters. Hearing it went a little faster and made it a little more interesting.
I definitely didn't bawl my eyes out like so many of the other reviews talked about. I didn't even get choked up. But it was..sad, I guess.
I don't know it was okay.
My main problem with this is that the narrator's voice was so incredibly whiney. I get that Fern is a twelve year old girl so it was probably pretty accurate as twelve year old girls whine a lot. But it didn't make it pleasant to listen to for five hours. Also she deepened her voice a lot for Fern's best friend Ran who...is twelve also...so...not sure why that was necessary. Have you met a twelve year old boy? They don't talk like Ned Stark.
But the story itself was okay. I'm glad I listened to it instead of read it because I probably wouldn't have made it beyond a few chapters. I think on paper this would have bordered on mind numbingly boring for the first 20 chapters. Hearing it went a little faster and made it a little more interesting.
I definitely didn't bawl my eyes out like so many of the other reviews talked about. I didn't even get choked up. But it was..sad, I guess.
I don't know it was okay.
msmolly27's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down. It was heartbreakingly real. I was drawn into this family from the very first page and am sorry to say goodbye.
tnangle196063's review against another edition
5.0
A warm, funny, touching story. There were times when I wanted to talk to the characters to tell them what the other one was thinking - the author really made me care. Wonderful book and a worthwhile read.
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
General advisory: Do not read this book in public. Doing so will result in public displays of sniffling, escaping tears and general bouts of despair. You will be able to cope much better from the comfort of your own home.
Now I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. This is not an all out depressing book. It’s an inspiring and touching story about family and grief, so of course it’s emotional. But it also encouraging and hopeful. It’s everything you would want a book about these themes to be.
See You At Harry’s does a fantastic job exploring the family dynamic. It’s all told from Fern’s perspective but we get to explore the family from all angles. Fern and her older and younger siblings, siblings with parents, parents with one another. I liked that we saw this family at their best and worst. They felt so real I think they could have been anyone’s family. Sometimes they were strong, and they worked together, but sometimes they were quite cruel to one another. I thought this was a really honest account of how a family would deal with tragedy and I really appreciated that Jo Knowles touched on such a delicate topic.
Similarly, I really liked how realistic the reactions to Holden’s coming out (or pre-coming out) were. There was such a huge variety of reactions/opinions. Some were accepting right away, where as others were more resistant. It showed how even in a more welcoming environment, coming out can be a really difficult, and nerve wrecking experience and I loved how patient and supportive Fern was with Holden through it all.
See You At Harry’s is a really quick read. I flew through this book. Once you start reading it you’ll find yourself so wrapped up in the story you won’t be able to put it down. I liked that it was this compelling but I was also sad that it was over so quickly. Makes the whole experience kind of bittersweet.
Recommendation: An incredibly moving story of grief, family and forgiveness, that will almost certainly make you cry. But it absolutely worth it. (Be sure to have something happy lined up to read afterwards to cheer you up.)
General advisory: Do not read this book in public. Doing so will result in public displays of sniffling, escaping tears and general bouts of despair. You will be able to cope much better from the comfort of your own home.
Now I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. This is not an all out depressing book. It’s an inspiring and touching story about family and grief, so of course it’s emotional. But it also encouraging and hopeful. It’s everything you would want a book about these themes to be.
See You At Harry’s does a fantastic job exploring the family dynamic. It’s all told from Fern’s perspective but we get to explore the family from all angles. Fern and her older and younger siblings, siblings with parents, parents with one another. I liked that we saw this family at their best and worst. They felt so real I think they could have been anyone’s family. Sometimes they were strong, and they worked together, but sometimes they were quite cruel to one another. I thought this was a really honest account of how a family would deal with tragedy and I really appreciated that Jo Knowles touched on such a delicate topic.
Similarly, I really liked how realistic the reactions to Holden’s coming out (or pre-coming out) were. There was such a huge variety of reactions/opinions. Some were accepting right away, where as others were more resistant. It showed how even in a more welcoming environment, coming out can be a really difficult, and nerve wrecking experience and I loved how patient and supportive Fern was with Holden through it all.
See You At Harry’s is a really quick read. I flew through this book. Once you start reading it you’ll find yourself so wrapped up in the story you won’t be able to put it down. I liked that it was this compelling but I was also sad that it was over so quickly. Makes the whole experience kind of bittersweet.
Recommendation: An incredibly moving story of grief, family and forgiveness, that will almost certainly make you cry. But it absolutely worth it. (Be sure to have something happy lined up to read afterwards to cheer you up.)
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/04/see-you-at-harrys.html
Author interview:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/05/jo-knowles-interview-and-see-you-at.html
I have read a couple of books recently that were really hard to review (Wonder, The Fault in our Stars, The One and Only Ivan) because they are books that reach into your heart and settle there. It is hard to write a review of a book that becomes so personal. See you at Harry's is one of those books. As I sit here trying to write a review, I don't know how to put all of my feelings into words. I keep on trying to write more, but the words just don't sound right...
***
Summary: As Fern enters middle school, everyone in her family is dealing with their own problems. Her father is worried about the business, her mother only pays attention Fern's baby brother Charlie, her sister Sara is miserable working at the family diner while all of her friends have gone off to college, and her brother Holden, who she is normally close to, is dealing with his sexual identity. In the middle of all of this, Fern feels ignored- well except by Charlie who is always following her around and annoying her. The only person keeping Fern sane is her level-headed and optimistic best friend Ran. He almost makes her believe that everything will be okay. But then everything changes and even Ran cannot believe that all will be well.
What I Think: This book is brilliant. Jo Knowles has taken a story that seems like a coming of age story and made it about not only her, but her family and so much more. Now, I don't want to say too much as the devastation in the book was not what I expected and I want to allow you to feel the same shock as I did. What I thought this book was going to be about ended up being a subtext to what the family must really wade through.
I read this book in one sitting and the emotions I felt through this book were such a roller coaster ride. I cried for about 1/3 of the book, I laughed often and was so very proud by the end. My heart was exhausted by the time I finished.
I love this book very much. I will give you three reasons. 1) Very rarely (like only 2 other times) has a book made me laugh out loud and cry within pages of each other. 2) Fern is a young girl that is so relatable and likeable that you can't help loving her and her voice. 3) This book is beautifully written and will stay with you for a long time.
Snatch of Text:
"When we finished sniffling, my mom adjusted herself in the bed so she could look at me. 'Fern,' she said softly. 'Do you know why I named you Fern?'
I nodded looking at the drawing of the girl on the cover of the book.
'Why?' she asked.
'Because Fern is one of your favorite characters?'
'And why is that?'
I shrugged.
'Because Fern cares,' she said. 'From the moment you were born, I could tell you had a special soul. I knew you'd be a good friend. A hero.'
I looked at my chest and tried to feel my soul buried in there, deep in my heart.
'It's true,' my mom said. 'Not everyone would share a sandwich with Random Smith.'
I smiled, feeling my soul stir a little." (p. 3)
"Holden is always running off in a huff, and I am always the one searching for him and bringing him home. Holden's named after the main character in The Catcher in the Rye. I wasn't supposed to read it until I'm older, but I snuck my mom's paperback copy out of her room last year. The pages were all soft from her reading it so many times. The book is about this boy who's depressed because he things everyone he knows is a phony, so he runs away. I understand why my mom liked the book and all, but I personally think is was a big mistake to name your kid after a boy who tries to kill himself, even if he is thoughtful and brilliant. My favorite parts in the book are when the main characters talks about his little sister, Phoebe. Sometimes I think I'm a little like Phoebe to our Holden. Because in the book she's the one he goes back for. And that's sort of like me. Only I have to go looking for him first." (p. 25-26)
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/04/see-you-at-harrys.html
Author interview:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/05/jo-knowles-interview-and-see-you-at.html
I have read a couple of books recently that were really hard to review (Wonder, The Fault in our Stars, The One and Only Ivan) because they are books that reach into your heart and settle there. It is hard to write a review of a book that becomes so personal. See you at Harry's is one of those books. As I sit here trying to write a review, I don't know how to put all of my feelings into words. I keep on trying to write more, but the words just don't sound right...
***
Summary: As Fern enters middle school, everyone in her family is dealing with their own problems. Her father is worried about the business, her mother only pays attention Fern's baby brother Charlie, her sister Sara is miserable working at the family diner while all of her friends have gone off to college, and her brother Holden, who she is normally close to, is dealing with his sexual identity. In the middle of all of this, Fern feels ignored- well except by Charlie who is always following her around and annoying her. The only person keeping Fern sane is her level-headed and optimistic best friend Ran. He almost makes her believe that everything will be okay. But then everything changes and even Ran cannot believe that all will be well.
What I Think: This book is brilliant. Jo Knowles has taken a story that seems like a coming of age story and made it about not only her, but her family and so much more. Now, I don't want to say too much as the devastation in the book was not what I expected and I want to allow you to feel the same shock as I did. What I thought this book was going to be about ended up being a subtext to what the family must really wade through.
I read this book in one sitting and the emotions I felt through this book were such a roller coaster ride. I cried for about 1/3 of the book, I laughed often and was so very proud by the end. My heart was exhausted by the time I finished.
I love this book very much. I will give you three reasons. 1) Very rarely (like only 2 other times) has a book made me laugh out loud and cry within pages of each other. 2) Fern is a young girl that is so relatable and likeable that you can't help loving her and her voice. 3) This book is beautifully written and will stay with you for a long time.
Snatch of Text:
"When we finished sniffling, my mom adjusted herself in the bed so she could look at me. 'Fern,' she said softly. 'Do you know why I named you Fern?'
I nodded looking at the drawing of the girl on the cover of the book.
'Why?' she asked.
'Because Fern is one of your favorite characters?'
'And why is that?'
I shrugged.
'Because Fern cares,' she said. 'From the moment you were born, I could tell you had a special soul. I knew you'd be a good friend. A hero.'
I looked at my chest and tried to feel my soul buried in there, deep in my heart.
'It's true,' my mom said. 'Not everyone would share a sandwich with Random Smith.'
I smiled, feeling my soul stir a little." (p. 3)
"Holden is always running off in a huff, and I am always the one searching for him and bringing him home. Holden's named after the main character in The Catcher in the Rye. I wasn't supposed to read it until I'm older, but I snuck my mom's paperback copy out of her room last year. The pages were all soft from her reading it so many times. The book is about this boy who's depressed because he things everyone he knows is a phony, so he runs away. I understand why my mom liked the book and all, but I personally think is was a big mistake to name your kid after a boy who tries to kill himself, even if he is thoughtful and brilliant. My favorite parts in the book are when the main characters talks about his little sister, Phoebe. Sometimes I think I'm a little like Phoebe to our Holden. Because in the book she's the one he goes back for. And that's sort of like me. Only I have to go looking for him first." (p. 25-26)
sarahcvo's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking and powerful. I'm glad I read it at home, alone; someone would have asked why I was crying so much. Definitely recommended, but not to be picked up lightly.
kawarwick's review against another edition
5.0
Great book! I laughed, I cried and I couldn't put it down. Fast, quick easy read! Provides many great topics for discussion with Tweens and teens. A storyline that will stay with you for a long time.
katecookk4's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5