Review by Booklist Review
While Haze (short for Hazel) Evans lies in a life-threatening coma after a massive stroke, publisher Susan McGrath must decide how to handle the absence of the Granite Creek Gazette's most popular columnist. Haze, aka the ""radical hag,"" started writing her observations about life in the quintessential Minnesota town 50 years ago, so with such a trove of archived material to choose from, Susan decides to run highlights from Haze's long, illustrious, and sometimes controversial career. Sam, Susan's 14-year-old son, is looking for a part-time job. While working for his mom at the paper is not his first choice, he quickly discovers the joys of small-town journalism when he is tasked with choosing vintage columns (including recipes) by Haze suitable for reprinting, accompanied by letters from loyal readers. At a time when local newspapers are nearing extinction, and reporters are deemed enemies of the people, Landvik's (Best to Laugh, 2014) smart and lovely paean to journalists is a welcome reminder of the important role they play in the lives of those who depend on newspapers for more than just information.--Carol Haggas Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Haze Evans has been a columnist for the Granite Creek Gazette, a small-town newspaper in Minnesota, for more than 50 years. Her stories are mostly folksy and charming, but over the years, she's stepped on a few toes. Her feminist opinions prompted one disgruntled reader to label her column "The Chronicles of a Radical Hag." Nonplussed, Haze begins to add comforting recipes to her writing to help soothe her critics. When Haze suffers a stroke, Susan, the paper's editor, has the brilliant idea of reprinting Haze's older columns, while hoping she will make a full recovery. Susan's teenage son, Sam, is tasked with reading Haze's columns, choosing the ones the paper will run. Initially, he's not thrilled with his assignment, but then her stories begin to make a profound impression, and drawing inspiration from them, Sam acquires a deep appreciation for journalism. Haze touches many lives, but her influence on Sam, the voice of the future, ensures her legacy. VERDICT Landvik (Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons) has written a poignant but humorous, warm, and touching homage to writers while confirming the power and the importance of words.-Julie Whiteley, -Stephenville, TX © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
When Haze Evans, the Granite Greek Gazette's columnist of 50-plus years, suffers a stroke, the paper's editor, Susan McGrath, chooses to reprint one of her columns each day while hoping for her return to health.Haze is a master at chronicling current events and interlacing them with memories from her life to form a poignant social commentary. She opens her heart to her readers and they grow to love her...although some are less tolerant of her open-book style, referred to as "puking on paper," and others resent the political bent she reveals, earning her the name Radical Hag, which she cheerfully adopts while printing yummy recipes to offset her viewpoint. Her decades-old columns make a difference in the lives of a new generation of readers, especially Susan's rebellious 15-year-old son, Sam. When Haze is in the hospital, Susan makes Sam, who's at loose ends after his parents' divorce, work at the Gazette, where he is charged with reading Haze's old columns and choosing which ones to reprint. Finding nothing appealing in an old person's writing, Sam fights the assignment but is inevitably drawn to Haze's down-to-earth views. She piques his curiosity with the timelessness of her insights, and he shares her columns with his English class, which discusses them on Radical Hag Wednesday. Sam's curiosity prompts him to snoop a bit in Haze's office, leading him to a deep secret that she never shared with her readers and that brings new closeness to his relationship with his mother.Landvik (Once in a Blue Moon Lodge, 2017, etc.) uses wisdom and her trademark humor to encourage readers to have a thoughtful response to the world and the people with whom they share it. A pleasure to read. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
