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Hazel. Julie Hearn

Hearn, Julie. Hazel Atheneum, New York, 2009.

Author:

Julie Hearn

Publisher:

Atheneum

Reviewed by:

Kristine Wildner

Coming of age at a time of cultural upheaval, Hazel is the story of a teenage girl trying to understand her place in the world amidst the changing economic and social roles of women.Hazel Mull-Dare is an only child living in London with her parents – a mother devoted to animal rights and a father, an avid gambler, whose “new” money is “In Sugar.”Hazel attends an exclusive school for girls in which the primary goal is to teach the students how to become ladies in society.

Thrown into the women’s rights movement at a horse race, Hazel witnesses a suffragette who stands in front of a racing horse, losing her life to draw attention to her cause.After losing a substantial amount of money gambling, Hazel’s father attempts suicide and is sent to a hospital to recover.Although the secret of the suicide is kept from Hazel, she understands that something is terribly wrong in her family and misses her father tremendously.A vulnerable Hazel then reaches out for a greater cause, becoming involved in a dangerous, illegal prank at the museum.Not thinking through the consequences, Hazel thought the act of vandalism would call attention to women’s rights, but instead the prank results in serious trouble, and she is eventually to live with her grandparents in the Caribbean.

Living on the island, Hazel learns first hand of where her family’s money originated – in a business dependent upon slave labor in the past, and currently reliant upon subjugated native labor on the island.Journaling her experiences on a new device – a manual typewriter, Hazel chronicles her thoughts and feelings about her new circumstances.Mysterious messages appear on Hazel’s manual typewriter, warning her to stay away from “Tommy John.”Eventually discovering that Tommy John is simply a boy on the island, Hazel befriends the boy and his family – and learns of the ties of his family to hers as made physically visible through the boy’s bright red hair – just like Hazel’s.

Hazel’s experiences, conflicts and resolutions reflect early 20^th century English society.Her independent mind and strong will contrast with society’s general expectations, yet are consistent with the sweeping changes of the period.The mystery of Tommy John and his relationship with Hazel’s family mid-way through the story adds a fresh aura of suspense and sense of urgency as the reader tries to put the puzzles of her family’s life together.Although the books need not be read in sequence, this is Hearn’s second about the Mull-Dare family, the first, Ivy, focuses on Hazel’s mother, a rather minor character in this book. Tackling many themes, Hearn latches onto a time and place in history when social classes are changing; and reflects back upon a complex love story of long ago which crosses racial and social barriers, yet must still remain a hidden.Recommended for high school age readers.

Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WI