Scan barcode
A review by hermoonreads
Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Horne
5.0
I don't have the words for how important I think this book is. If I'd had this as a 12 year old I genuinely believe it would have become my favourite book, as well as helping me feel seen and prepared to deal with this stuff at my own school.
A queer, feminist story about a group of girls trying to get the popular guy harassing girls held accountable. I don't usually read middle grade but that description was an instant add to my TBR, and I'm so so lucky I got an ARC, so big thanks to the author & netgalley for that.
I knew I was gay when I was 11, I didn't have any representation for how I felt, and even now this is the first time I've seen any sort of media where a character this age knows they are queer, and their story is not at all focused on them coming out or struggling with their identity. Hazel is a lesbian, but that isn't her main plot point, it's just another layer on the amazing, passionate, hardworking person that she is.
I could physically feel the frustration of having the adults in the story not listening to the girls and what they were saying, the author so perfectly portrays what that feels like to a teenager while not making it seem childish at all. I also really loved the inclusion of stats about sexual harassment & assault, as well as having characters discuss that these actions *are* harassment and assault no matter the age of the people involved.
I hope that any teen reading this is inspired to stand up for themselves, that they never have to deal with a classmate like Tyler, and that they feel seen.
A queer, feminist story about a group of girls trying to get the popular guy harassing girls held accountable. I don't usually read middle grade but that description was an instant add to my TBR, and I'm so so lucky I got an ARC, so big thanks to the author & netgalley for that.
I knew I was gay when I was 11, I didn't have any representation for how I felt, and even now this is the first time I've seen any sort of media where a character this age knows they are queer, and their story is not at all focused on them coming out or struggling with their identity. Hazel is a lesbian, but that isn't her main plot point, it's just another layer on the amazing, passionate, hardworking person that she is.
I could physically feel the frustration of having the adults in the story not listening to the girls and what they were saying, the author so perfectly portrays what that feels like to a teenager while not making it seem childish at all. I also really loved the inclusion of stats about sexual harassment & assault, as well as having characters discuss that these actions *are* harassment and assault no matter the age of the people involved.
I hope that any teen reading this is inspired to stand up for themselves, that they never have to deal with a classmate like Tyler, and that they feel seen.