Review sponsored* by Bruce Bernstein
The Children’s Book Review | July 11, 2018
You Gotta Have Heart
Written by Bruce Bernstein
Age Range: 10-15
Hardcover: 168 pages
Publisher: Outsider Press(2018)
ISBN: 978-1-7321651-0-6
What to expect: Karate, coming-of-age story, triumph after adversity
In You Gotta Have Heart, author Bruce Bernstein introduces readers to young Alan Michaels, a 12-year old orphan from the Bronx. Alan has had a rough life thus far, losing his parents in an unforeseen accident and winding up in a boys’ home. Things start to change for him when he receives a scholarship to learn karate with Sensei Hideki.
Although the odds are against him, Alan works hard to pursue his dreams—no matter that he’s living in an orphanage with little hope of ever having a normal family again. Alan uses his street smarts, his big heart and his willingness to try new things to endear himself to Sensei and his other classmates at the karate school. Alan’s new friends teach him a lot about life but also about himself. He learns to face his challenges with courage and patience.
“You’re going to have good days and bad days….When you get knocked down, you just keep getting back up. Sometimes failures are your stepping stones to success.”
The characters in You Gotta Have Heart are so well developed that they will surely reel readers in to see what happens next. This coming-of-age story will be sure to delight pre-teens and teens who will be able to relate to Alan’s need to find his place in the world.
Available Here:
About the Author
BRUCE BERNSTEIN is the author of You Gotta Have Heart. He’s a fourth-degree black belt in karate with extensive training in the martial arts. Before recently retiring, he had a solo law practice, which specialized in protecting the rights of employees, while working part-time as an administrative law judge in New York City. He is a lifelong resident of New York City who also happens to be a licensed New York City tour guide. Like Alan Michaels, the hero of You Gotta Have Heart, he also knows a lot about Central Park and New York City. For more information, visit: http://www.brucebernsteinnyc.com
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. Bruce Bernstein sponsored* this non-biased review of “You Gotta Have Heart.” Learn more about getting a book review …
