A feisty girl solving everyone else’s problems is a common storyline.  It usually leads to disaster and the girl learns her lesson from it.  Whether the reader learns something new, however, is the sign of a good book.

This is the third Hazel Green novel and it finds Hazel confidently striding out to deal with an overheard insult to a meek neighbour.  Naturally, her plan backfires and she becomes the villain in her neighbourhood’s eyes.  She is not fazed and faces up to the issues of friendship, ostracism and gossip with all her usual aplomb but also a complete lack of success.  Finally, she must face the possibility that she might just be wrong.

Throughout the story, Hazel grapples with the questions of Truth, and Proof, and Justice, and Compromise.  Does she know best?  Are Right and Wrong always crystal clear? Should she involve her friends in her crusades?  The ending is unexpected and Hazel certainly learns lessons along the way.

Have Courage, Hazel Green! is both funny and thought provoking.  Odo Hirsch has created a believable world in Hazel and her life in the Moodey Building.  When a reader steps in, there is plenty that is familiar.  Have Courage is not only as good as the two earlier novels but takes Hazel Green, and us, a lot further in learning about real life.
 

Other titles in the series:
Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin 1999)
Something's Fishy, Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin 2000)
Think Smart, Hazel Green (Allen & Unwin, 2003)

Other titles by this author:
Yoss (Allen & Unwin 2001)
Antonio S. and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman (Allen & Unwin 1997)
Bartlett and the Ice Voyage (Allen & Unwin 1999)
Bartlett and the City of Flames (Allen & Unwin 2000)
Bartlett and the Forest of Plenty (Allen & Unwin 2001)
Bartlett and the Island of Kings (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