Seventh grader Hazel Hill is too busy for friends. No, really. She needs to focus on winning the school-wide speech competition and beating her nemesis, the popular and smart Ella Quinn, after last year’s embarrassing hyperbole/hyperbowl mishap that cost her first place.

But when Hazel discovers Ella is being harassed by golden boy Tyler Harris, she has to choose between winning and doing the right thing. No one would believe that a nice boy like Tyler would harass and intimidate a nice girl like Ella, but Hazel knows the truth—and she’s determined to prove it, even if it means risking everything. 

Deeply relatable and surprisingly humorous, Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One is a wonderfully empowering story about friendship, finding your voice, and standing up for what you believe in.

HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE is out now wherever books are sold with HarperKids in the US/Canada, Firefly Books in the UK/Commonwealth, and Riron-sha in Japan.

Buy HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE here.

See press kit for hi-res cover image downloads.

Cover Illustration by Luna Valentine, Cover Design by Marcie Lawrence and Samira Iravani

Cover art by Luna Valentine

Frequently Asked

  • 12-year-old Hazel discovers that girls in her class are being sexually harassed online by the school’s golden boy, and vows to put a stop to it.

  • This is a middle grade novel, appropriate for kids aged 8-12 (though older readers are always welcome too!)

  • The strongest language you’ll find is a “hell” or two — I tried to be realistic about how 12-year-olds speak without making it a no-go for young readers!

  • Yes, Hazel identifies on-page as “gay.”

  • No. While Hazel is aware of her sexuality, she’s not focused on crushes or romance (though there is a slight hint of it at the very end)