Book review
Something's Fishy, Hazel Green by Odo Hirsch (2000)
There's been a theft! Someone has stolen two lobsters out of the fishmonger's tank. They weren't just any old lobsters. They were enormous, prize specimens. They were Mr Petrusca, the fishmonger's, pride and joy, but even so Hazel Green is still a bit mystified as to why Mr Petrusca is so upset by their loss.
As you will know, if you have met Hazel Green before, she has a heart of gold. Hazel doesn't like anyone to be unhappy, and if anyone can fix it for Mr Petrusca, Hazel can.
But here she needs the help of her mathematician friend, the Yak. No, he isn't a yak, he is the Yak, Yakov Plonsk. She needs his help because he can solve the coded message which was left behind on the tank when Mr Petrusca's lobsters were stolen:
Hazel took the note out of her pocket and handed it to the Yak. The Yak glanced at it, and handed it back to Hazel.
'Read it.'
'Why?'
'Go on, just read it.'
Hazel shrugged. She began to read.
'Jen xluvxv cuivw su'yo spicuz ein koju,
A ohzovw pawu (kex xc o slapnun).
Ax'p gpoov qe qo xlo ero xe xpoju -
Xlo Japlqir eb Vukezk, Suqvipgo! ...'
By the time she was finished the Yak had collapsed in his chair, his face was scrunched, his legs were kicking, and his sides were splitting with laughter.
What's so funny?' demanded Hazel. 'What does it mean?'
The Yak shrugged, gasping. 'I don't know. You sounded so ridiculous ... I just had to hear you read it.'
It's a gentle story with lots of fun. Read it - I think you'll love it!
What can I read next?
Odo Hirsch has written quite a few books. You might like to have a look at any of these:
- Hazel Green
- Antonio S and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman
- Bartlett and the Ice Voyage
- Bartlett and the City of Flames
And I think you would probably enjoy this one by Peter Carey:
For a little bit of fun and nonsense, you could look at this one by Philip Pullman:
Or if you fancy something a little more serious, you might like this one by Robert C O'Brien:
Also, the Bookchooser has found these books with a similar profile:
- Dead Guilty by David Belbin (Score: 79%)
- Storm by Suzanne Fisher Staples (Score: 79%)
- Elementals: Water by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson (Score: 79%)
Something's Fishy, Hazel Green features in these lists: