HAVE COURAGE, HAZEL GREEN

Spunky Hazel Green returns for a third adventure, again set in her urban apartment house and involving adults as much as the children. When Mr. Davis, the new head of the Moodey Building Owner’s Committee, says, “I don’t like your kind” to Mr. Egozian, the maintenance man, Hazel knows it’s wrong. But her efforts to right that wrong bring her serious trouble. Supported by her mathematical friend, Yakov, and sympathetic Mrs. Gluck, flower shop owner, she refuses to apologize to Mr. Davis as a matter of principle. Even if Mr. Egozian won’t fight back, she will. From his description of the killing of his people nearly a century ago, it seems that Mr. Egozian is Armenian, but this is never said directly, and young American readers may be confused. Still, Hazel’s outrage is clear and appropriate. Readers will admire her energy and determination and savor the delicious description of specialty foods. This Australian import is certain to be welcome in libraries where the other books have been popular. (Fiction. 9-13)