Odo Hirsch

The first book of the series introduces Hazel Green and the residents of the Moody building and the bright and colourful community they make up. From Mr Volio, the baker, to Mrs Gluck, the florist, to Mr McCulloch, the barber, to the variety of kids that inhabit the building, there's never a dull moment and always someone to lend a hand. Hazel Green is a unique and singular character. Full of imagination and creativity, she can be stubborn, bold and sometimes ridiculous but is always willing show more to speak up and confront whatever is standing in her way.

In this book that's Mr Winkel - the president of the organising committee for the Frogg Day parade march. Children used to march on Frogg Day but ever since Mr Winkel's been in charge - no child has. Hazel is outraged and determined to make sure every child in the Moody building will be allowed to participate. But they run into some issues when Hazel is informed their parade float is in danger of falling and Hazel is banned for trying to explain.

I love Hazel. She's hilarious. I love that even if she says something ridiculous that makes no sense to her either, she'll continue with conviction. She has such a unique outlook on life and it's funny to see the way she solves her problems. And I adore her friendship with the Yak. They have such different perspectives but I like that they try to meet each other halfway. Even if Yak has no idea what and why he's doing it.

I like that Hazel's friendships aren't just limited to other children though. The friendships with Mrs Gluck and Mr Volio add another dimension to the text. I like that the adults give Hazel a sounding board for talking through her problems and provide her with friendship, support and advice.

I read this numerous times as a kid, but I would say, even reading as an adult, this book holds up to time and age and is an interesting, amusing read. 5 stars. show less

Odo Hirsch and in particular Hazel Green are names that I remember very fondly from my childhood.

So when I saw this book at a secondhand bookfair years ago, I grabbed it without thinking. Then at the next bookfair, I saw it again. Then again at the one after that. Which put me off reading it because why were so many people discarding it? And of all the Odo Hirsches, why is it that only this one seem to be in abundance at bookfairs?

I finally plucked up the courage (because what if this is the show more book that ruins my Odo nostalgia) to read this and it was absolutely fabulous!

It was thoughtful and full of wonderful moral lessons for children while masked as a rollicking adventure. It explores complex emotions such as pride and envy, explains the importance of healthy communication, and encourages inventiveness and perseverance as traits for success/happiness.

I'm in a full-blown golden haze of childhood nostalgia. show less

Darius is a kid with some dorky friends and an annoying older brother; his father is a daydreamer and his mother is a lovable optimist and neither of them have any idea how to solve a very pressing problem...
By law and by tradition, the family has to donate an impressive gift, the Bell Gift, to the town every 25 years. Previous gifts have been bits of civic sculpture and some stained glass windows, but now the family doesn't have any money. Mr Podcock the Mayor can't wait till the Bells show more default on the gift and have to relinquish the estate forever.
To tell more would be to spoil the story - let's just say that there are some nicely plotted cliff-hangers and disappointments, and that it all ends up happily ever after but not as the reader expects. show less

This novel reads like the Bruegel painting on the front cover; Yoss is only a small part of a much bigger picture- even though he is the main character. On each boy in the remote village's 14th birthday; they must spend one night outside to prove they have been elsewhere. Yoss is a thinker and decides that he wants to keep going to actually see the rest of the world; a decision that sees him niavely take up with 2 crooks : Gaspar & the very evil Conrad. They convince Y that their robberies show more are just extracting money from people who owe them debt and Y believes this until he is arrested in the town. There he is sold to a merchant as a servant/slave; has the merchant's wife besotted with him (surrogate child), befriends the faithful chief steward (who then starts to question his master)and studies the famous painter who is creating a masterpiece upstairs. meanwhile Conrad & Gaspar escape jail and possible execution. And after C kills G, he come looking for Yoss who he believes betrayed him. Very involving story...with a happy ending. show less