One of Hey Alma’s favorite Jewish books of last year was “Hazel Says No” — and no, it’s not just because our site gets name-dropped.
Author Jessica Berger Gross’ debut novel follows 18-year-old Hazel Greenberg Blum, a Jewish girl from Brooklyn finding herself, literally and metaphorically, after her family moves to small-town Maine. While there, Hazel is forced to turn down the untoward advances of her new principal and deal with blatant antisemitism, all while trying to get into college and become a writer. The book is authentic to Jewishness and young womanhood, proudly defiant and has oh-so-much heart.
In honor of the paperback release of “Hazel Says No,” coming June 2, Hey Alma is publishing a list of discussion questions perfect for any Jewish book club — courtesy of Jessica Berger Gross, herself.
“Hazel Says No” Jewish Discussion Guide:
1. Agree or disagree — and discuss! The Greenberg Blums aren’t very religious or observant, but they are very Jewish. How so? In what ways do they think of themselves as Jewish? And live their Jewish identity? What does it mean to be a secular Jew?
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2. How does the Blum’s Jewishness influence their adjustment to life in Maine? How does the reality of living as newcomers in Maine differ from each of their fantasies?
3. How do the Blums feel about moving to a community where there are relatively few Jewish families. How would you feel about making such a move?
4. What does Jewish identity mean and look like outside of religious observance? For instance, I tell my rabbi friend that I’m “as Jewish” as she is, despite her being much more observant. Agree or disagree?
5. Rabbi Abraham says that antisemitism can happen anywhere. Were you surprised by the antisemitism Hazel and Wolf and their parents face in small town Maine? Do you think this could have or would have happened back in Brooklyn? Do you agree or disagree with Rabbi Abraham when she says in the Jews in Mainechapter that “Antisemitism is, believe it or not, much less of a problem here than in other places.”
6. What do you think is the significance of Sadie Lansky having such a Jewish name, when she and Hazel never discuss that connection between them? Do you find yourself drawn to other Jews in your work or creative or social life? Does that shared experience remain unspoken? Or is it discussed early and often?
7. In moving to Maine, the Blums are uprooted from a more racially diverse world of Brownstone Brooklyn to a whiter, but perhaps more class and ideologically diverse community. How and in what ways do you think about diversity when it comes to socioeconomic class versus ideas of “race”? As part of the Jewish community, do you see yourself as part of a Jewish ethnic identity group? In what ways does your racial or ethnic identity or identities inform your Jewish identity?
8. The family is warm, funny and imperfect. What role does humor play in your family? And in the Jewish community more generally? Is there such a thing as” Jewish humor” and, if so, how would you describe it? How does humor help you and your family become aware of, and work on, your own imperfections?
9. Jews are, of course, known as people of the book. Discuss the ways in which books, reading, literature — and culture more broadly — matter to each member of the Greenberg Blum family, and to the larger story in Hazel Says No.
10. Hazel says no, not only to the principal, but to opportunities that present themselves to her over the course of the book. How and why and in what ways do you find saying no to be a powerful tool to fight oppression and injustice? Jews have traditionally understood themselves to be a moral people who stand up against injustice – do you agree?
