The Night Hazel Came to Town

Elizabeth Siegel Masih is the editor of Write On: The Newsletter for
Young Canadian Writers and Readers.

It is 1954, and Lee leaves his small town to try and make it in Toronto.
He quickly lands a job as a copy boy, and finds himself plunged into the
world of sensational journalism, where newspapers will stop at nothing,
not even kidnapping a source, to get an exclusive story. At the same
time, Lee discovers a different side of life when he agrees to share an
apartment with Angela, a sophisticated “older” woman. Lee begins to
find out what he wants from life as he becomes hooked on the excitement
of being a journalist and learns about relationships from Angela. When
Hurricane Hazel ravages Toronto, Lee discovers he can rely on himself to
survive in the world.

Despite the occasional stereotype (chain-smoking, heavy-drinking
reporters and tough newspaper talk), this is an interesting
coming-of-age story. John Ibbitson successfully re-creates the
excitement that surrounded the news business in this period (much of his
story is based on actual events). The book will appeal particularly to
readers interested in the history of Toronto and/or journalism. It could
also serve as a bridge for readers making the transition from
young-adult to adult novels. Recommended.