Step on a crack is the first novel in the michael bennett series by james patterson and michael ledwidge featuring detective michael bennett and his 10 children it was released on february 6 2007. A childrens rhyme about the superstitious belief that stepping on a crack as in the sidewalk will cause ones mothers back to break its a true summer day in the neighborhood the kids are outside playing red rover and tag and shouting things like step on a crack break your mothers back see also back break on step. Step on a crack is no different as i was on the edge of my seat throughout this very intriguing page turner top nypd detective michael bennett is introduced here along with his ailing wife maeve who is hospitalized due to termanal cancer and their 10 adopted children from various nationalities the christmas hilidays are here and as all the citizens of ny rush home with their gifts and prepare for their indivdual festivities the bennetts are struggling to keep happy faces as their mother . It is usually associated with the saying step on a crack and break your mothers back however this superstition originated back in the late 19 th and early 20 th century unfortunately when racism was prevalent in society the original unkind verse is believed to be either step on a crack and your mothers baby will be black or step on a crack and your mother will turn black due to