When an explorer finds somewhere that is perfect, what does he do?

Should he tell the world about a place that is beautiful, unpolluted, and productive, where the people live in peace, and our world is irrelevant?  Or is keeping such a secret dishonest to the trust others have in him as a discoverer?

This is the dilemma that ace explorers Bartlett, Jacques le Grand and their trainee Gozo face in Odo Hirsch’s third Bartlett tale for early teenage readers.  They stumble across a hidden city in an unnamed jungle that could be Africa, could be South America, but is almost too good to be true.  Should they bring the outside world to the contented inhabitants?

Complicating the decision is an old rival of Bartlett’s who, rather than face competing with him again and again, has hidden himself in this wonderful place and is determined to keep control.

This is an added problem, as the explorers then must face getting involved in local politics.  Do they have the right to interfere?

In all his books, Odo Hirsch is able to present these moral dilemmas in a natural and believable story.  His characters are not superheroes (though they may think they are!)  They have normal human strengths and weaknesses and they make mistakes.  They also are able to make decisions that face their problems realistically, and usually in good humour.  Even the villains have their chances to choose.

The Bartlett books, like Hirsch's other series Hazel Green, are a delightful mix - entertaining and thoughtful.

Other titles in the series:
Bartlett and the Ice Voyage (Allen & Unwin 1999)
Bartlett and the City of Flames (Allen & Unwin 2000)
Bartlett and the Island of Kings (Allen & Unwin, 2003)

Other titles by Odo Hirsch:
Yoss (Allen & Unwin 2001)
Antonio S. and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman (Allen & Unwin 1997)
Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin 1999)
Something's Fishy, Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin 2000)
Have Courage, Hazel Green! (Allen & Unwin 2001)
Think Smart, Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin, 2003)
Frankel Mouse (Allen & Unwin 2000) 
Frankel Mouse and the Bestish Lair (Allen & Unwin 2002)
Pincus Corbett's Strange Adventure (Allen & Unwin 2002) 
Slaughterboy (Allen & Unwin, 2005)

Review by David Beagley

© 2001 David Beagley