Mick Harte Was Here

Written by: Barbara Park

First line: Just let me say right off the bat, it was a bike accident.

Why you should read this book: Phoebe wants to tell readers about her brother, who died because his bike tire hit a rock and he wasn't wearing a helmet, and she doesn't want to pull any punches. This is a radically honest novel about a sibling relationship; Phoebe provides brutal accounts about the fight she had with Mick the day he died, the way her parents cope with their loss, the time she yells at the principal who's just trying to comfort her and then runs out of the front door of the school and goes home to cry. It's sad but it's true, and it's a story about healing from loss and celebrating life.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You need time to grieve.