Cover Image: Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One

Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One

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Member Reviews

Hazel Hill is a gorgeous coming of age middle-grade story covering surprisingly in depth topics in a really well rounded way. This book had my lil gay heart emotional most of the way through, and I adore Hazel as a character.

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a nice beautiful cool story. enjoyed it and would recommend to others. Middle school vibes but yes a younger audience will appreciate the book tremendously.

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A middle grade debut that really packs a punch. For the girls who are fed up of not being listened to, Hazel Hill is your heroine!
Hazel is twelve. She knows she’s gay, but because she’s not that popular she doesn’t fret too much about how people see her. Hazel’s biggest problem when we first meet her is whether she can beat her nemesis, Ella Quinn, in the annul speech competition. However, events quickly take over and our focus shifts to a bigger stage.
While the story focuses on Hazel and her developing friendship with Ella, our prince target is the cheesecake Tyler who has been targeting girls all year, sending them offensive messages and making life generally unpleasant for them.
Hazel and Ella come up with a plan - with a little prompting from the amazing Miss A - so audacious in its simplicity. All they want is to have an adult believe them…so they find the right audience and go for it!
Huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

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This was such a voicey, fun, touching, and important story. I absolutely adored it!! I've got nothing but good things to say about it and really would recommend everyone to read it. A wonderful debut!

*Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc*

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I want to start this review by saying that for me, a 3-stars rating is a good rating and this was indeed a very cute middle grade contemporary novel, perfect for the target.

Let’s start from what I liked the most about this book: the main character, Hazel, is queer but this is not a coming out novel and it’s not a love story either. The fact that she likes girls is just one of the many things that make her her, just like the fact that she likes the speech-competition her school organises every year. It’s always nice to read books like this.

Another thing I enjoyed was that the author chose a “lighter” form of harassment and treated it as important, because every form of sexual harassment should be treated as such. I have seen people complaining that the boy was “only sending anonymous texts”, but to those people I say that it’s exactly how it starts most of the times, and it’s something that should be addressed, to let little girls know that it is not okay and they have all the rights to feel upset and seek justice for themselves or their friends. It’s something that usually doesn’t get taken into account, but I do believe the author made the right call with this one.

What I didn’t enjoy as much was that many secondary characters did not have a strong personality. I understand it’s supposed to be more of a plot-driven book, but it kinda bothered me. I would have loved to get to know some of the characters more, to be honest.

Moreover, I found the bits about Hazel’s brother to be kinda useless. I kept thinking the topic of having a younger sibling was going to be explored a bit more, like it usually happens in children’s books. Instead, it was just kinda there and it added nothing to the book.

I’ll also say this novel was a bit too long for what it was. The middle dragged a lot, and it felt like the author was adding repetitive scenes just to reach some kind of word count or for printing reasons, if I am being honest. As you may already know, I am a fan of shorter books in general, but sometimes there are stories that *need* to be under 300 pages and this one was one of them. Dragging the thing this way, I feel, kinda took away from the message.

Anyways, this is still a book I am going to purchase and recommend to people, both online and offline, because I think it’s a great way to make young girls and AFAB kids aware of the many forms sexual harassment can take, and that they are all equally awful. It will help a lot of people realising that what some boys do is not okay and they do not have to keep enduring that. It’s hard, but support is out there, and I really hope everyone finds it.

I’m interested in reading more books by this author, so I am eagerly awaiting her next release, but 2024 is so far away. Apparently she is coming out with both a middle grade and a young adult novel, and I am equally curious about the two of them, especially since they are queer contemporaries and that’s honestly my second favourite genre after mystery.

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It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it! I think this is a MUST read for a variety of ages. Such an eye opening story

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Hazel is determined to beat the perfect Ella Quinn at this year’s school speechwriting contest. However, when she realises that golden boy Tyler is harassing Ella online, she feels a desire to stop his behaviour and help Ella out. But Hazel has no time for friends, does she? This cute story of friendship and fighting the patriarchy has some really loveable characters and realistic depictions of what it’s like to not be listened to. It has some subtle but important queer representation and is warm and light-hearted while tackling the very serious issue of harassment and cyber-bullying.

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Loved this LGBT coming of age book. It’s going to be much recommended to the teens I work with and one to add to my lending library!

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If Hazel Hill was in my school when I was twelve, she would GET me. Hazel is everything I love in a tween-protagonist, and EVERYTHING I would have loved to read at that age.

With a plot that is nail-bitingly realistic, characters that refuse to be archetypal, and delightfully witty dialogue, Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One is compulsively readable - one of my best this year, so far.

My favourite thing about Hazel’s story is that, even though she identifies as queer and is not yet “out”, the plot is not at all centred around her sexuality. The major conflict is that of sexual harassment (and listening to victims when they speak out). Her queerness is certainly not in the background - not a “quota” situation. In fact, it informs most of her actions and views. (Okay, so Hazel is a little more self-aware than most 12-year-olds, but we all want protagonists that have something special to offer.)

Further themes on friendships - the good and the toxic - and vulnerability are relatable and important. And the secret romance that is only juuuuust barely hinted at, made my heart melt from cuteness.

I can imagine that the #notallmen brigade will take much issue with this book; and no doubt some older readers will find Hazel’s precocious, cheeky manner annoying.

As for me, I would love to see it read widely - from classrooms and libraries, to book clubs, and waiting rooms all over. Go, find a copy!

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Hazel, Ella and Riley are a fantastic trio. I am so proud of these kids for standing up for themselves, each other, and the countless girls who suffered at the hands of Tyler and other boys like him. The character development in this story was brilliant, and I loved Hazel's speech toward the end. This book was emotional to read at times, but it's a story that needs to be told, especially as so many young girls and women experience similar things as the girls in this story.

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This is a book that all young girls need to read - it's empowering, it's validating and it's just beautiful.

Hazel and her friends are just 12 years old, but like most girls their age they're realising the world isn't always a safe space, especially for them. So when an anonymous bully starts to target them, they decide they're not going to let this stand - they're going to win this one.

Hazel is such a memorable character, so real and lovable and written in such a way that you can't help but find parts of your younger self scattered through the pages. Nuanced and clever, but full of heart and warmth.

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A teenage girl joins forces with her fellow pupils to stop a classmate who is harassing girls online who have rejected him romantically, starting a campaign and recruiting other girls to expose his behaviour and have him made accountable

Hazel is a positive, unusual, strong willed character & the accessible, seemingly breezy style still conveys a strong message about standing up for yourself. It's easy to read in style but does a great job of tackling the pervasive culture of and horrors of teenage toxic masculinity.

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Thank you for the ARC!
Loved this. Honestly Hazel and her core friendship group were amazing and I loved their dynamic. A story like this as a middle grade is something so important.

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So this book covers a lot of trigger warnings which include Sexual harassment and cyber bullying. I was so mad reading the reactions of these teachers and how these poor girls were not believed about the harassment. This book talks about feminism and standing up and having a voice against these issues.

This is such a quick read and I really feel this could benefit pre teens and teens who may be facing these issues in and out of schools. It’s so important that we talk about these issues especially with girls and women as growing up I never did realise what I actually experienced during high school was sexual harassment from some of the boys in my year. That is why I am going to make sure that my girls grow up to know they have a voice to share their concerns so they would hopefully not go through any of this.

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A fantastic feminist story for the younger generation, Hazel Hill unashamedly calls out sexism and misogyny in an elementary school setting. It shows injustice and ageism, making you want to scream and throw the book across the room at certain points because of how the teachers just aren't seeing it!

There are honestly parts of this book that are gonna stay with me for a long time. I felt so much for these kids. The way the teachers just didn't listen to them at all, punishing them for speaking out, but still calling themselves feminist just got to me. It was beautifully written.

I think this is just a perfect book for kids to introduce them to these important topics. Showing them what to do in the face of sexual harassment and generally standing up to classmates in general.

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(Review in exchange for netgalley e-arc)

This book was lovely! I wish I’d had this when I was a kid growing up! The natural queerness integrated into Hazel, the battles she has with wanting to do well and not needing friends but actually the realisation that having friends is nice - and important - the battle of being good and quiet or standing up for what’s right…this was just such a refreshing read and one that I think could be so important and impactful for younger readers. It was such a heartwarming book and although I didn’t really like Hazel at the start, as the book moved on, I was rooting for her and wanted to give her a hug! An adorable book, I loved it!

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"If a student comes to you feeling unsafe, you make them feel safe."

I actually devoured this book so fast.

The message about bullying, sexual harassment, standing up and fighting to be heard and believed, was so well done and this story is so important.

At the start of another school year, all Hazel Hill had to be excited about was a speech contest, where she was determined to come first and beat her nemesis, Ella Quinn. Hazel didn't expect herself, Ella and Riley to become friends with a mutual enemy and threat that they are determined to stop for good.

What happens when you approach an adult, multiple adults even, and explain to them that a boy in the school is sexually harassing other girls in the school, and no one believes you?

Well, if you're like Hazel, Ella and Riley, you find a way to make them listen. One way or another.

This book is so important for younger girls to read. To know and understand that if they are being harassed or feel uncomfortable around someone, anyone whether they are the same age as them or older, they should feel safe enough to approach and tell an adult and know that the situation will be handled.

This book is for anyone and everyone.

This book is for the quiet students in class, the popular students, the students that have left, the teachers, the staff, the parents who send their children to school and the adults in the world.

School should be a place where everyone feels safe and the only stresses should be over homework and studying. But the world sadly doesn't work like that, Harassment of all types happens everywhere, in schools, in offices, on the streets, at bus stops and even in some people's own homes.

One scene in the book talks about the three main characters only being little girls, but this quote really hit hard and I think everyone should read it and let it sink in,

"But if we're little girls, don't we deserve protection? If we're people, don't we deserve to feel safe?"

When talking about harassment, in many cases, a lot of blame is placed on the victim, if they were encouraging that type of behaviour, what were they wearing to cause such things to occur, and oh they should have known better etc etc.

This book is not afraid to speak out against that. It holds adults and harassers accountable.

It shows that there are people out there who will listen. They will stand by and help in any way that they can. They will believe you even if no one else will.

This book shows you that the victims can win.

And in that alone, I will be shouting about this book from the rooftops.

Thank you so much to the publishers for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review.

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This book is important and I really believe that everyone( no matter your age) should read it.

When choosing this book I was unaware that it was a middle grade until I got accepted for it. But honestly despite the characters being age 12 the author does not baby their readers and I definitely believe that’s why I love this book so much.

The story surrounds a 12 year old girl called hazel who just started middle school. When she finds out that one of her only close friends sexually harassed a classmate she aims to take them down and make them deal with their consequences of their actions, no matter the various barriers in their way through out the book.

If there is one thing I can say about Horne is that she knows how to write good characters. You can tell when reading it that she put a lot of thought into what someone age 12 would say and there was never an instant where I was cringing at a younger character speaking as if they were much older

To be honest, from reading this book I really feel like it should be read in classrooms or at least put in every school library. Sexual harassment happens in school settings all the time and it should be dealt with effectively and should be talked about not ignored. Schools should be educating their pupils and this book really highlights how important it is for schools to take it seriously as to not be believed in a situation so serious can be both emotionally draining and damaging especially when the one who will not believe you is your teacher.

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"A great speech can change the world. If you have something to say, and you say it well, you might find it's the perfect way to get a point across. Even if it scares you"

TW : Online bullying and sexual harassment.

Even though this is a book for middle grade readers, I truly think everyone can and should read this one. I was laughing and being angry and crying with Hazel, Ella and Riley. The fact that none of the adults, whose responsibility it is to keep children safe and feel safe, took them seriously when they tried to raise awareness of such an important issue made my blood boil. I read with tears how Mrs. West talked to Hazel and Ella in a condescending tone and how dismissive she was to their concerns. I was furious to read how Tyler's mother thinks of her son as "perfect" and let's him get away with everything because "they're boys", as if that makes it okay.

And we need more of Mrs. A in our world, people who will truly believe and be compassionate to kids when they speak up about their struggles and troubles, ones who won't dismiss them as "little kids" and say "act your age". Many people, including kids, receive such messages and I cannot even imagine the pain it inflicts on them. The anonymity that social media provides is used as a mask for people to spew hatred and IT NEEDS TO STOP.

A million little stars for this short read on such an important topic.

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This is such an important book. About growing up, about having and making friends, about school- and family-life, but most importantly this is about the sexual harassment students can experience at the hands of their peers, and why adults must take children seriously when they come forward and speak out about said harassment.

Hazel Hill doesn’t have friends; she has school. The only person she talks to at school is Tyler Harris, and they don’t even talk; Tyler talks at Hazel about his crush of the day and all the ways the girls he’s into are awful and whatnot. Until suddenly he tells her than Ella Quinn has a crush on Hazel.

It very quickly evolves into a really well-crafted story of developing friendships and taking down harassers (and the adults who won’t listen to children who experience harassment) and it’s exactly the kind of angry, feminist and queer book we, unfortunately, need today. I’d love to see this read in every classroom, translated into every language imaginable, and discussed at length.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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