Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp

by Odo Hirsch

In this funny, touching, thought-provoking novel from the author of the Hazel Green series, a girl learns a great deal about herself and her family while solving a mysteryAmelia Dee lives in the green house on Marburg Street, where a rare bronze lamp hangs outside her bedroom door. No one knows where it came from or how it got there. Only she, Amelia thinks, knows the secret that the lamp contains. But she is wrong. When Mr. Vishwanath introduces Amelia to the Princess Parvin Kha-Douri, the puzzle of the lamp becomes even deeper. Where has the princess seen it before? Why is she so bitter and angry? And most importantly, what should Amelia do about it? In solving the mystery, Amelia risks revealing a secret of her own.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Childrens, School, Adventure

234 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Odo Hirsch was born and grew up in Melbourne, where he trained to be a doctor. He now lives in London and writes excellent books that are published not only in Australia but also in the US, UK, Netherlands, Korea, Germany, and Italy.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/odo-hirsch

Reviews

[Amanda Paxiega · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable and light, yet you can learn a lot from it, from every character's behavior towards that certain person or situation. It brings up the little things that we tend to forget through life but that are just as important as everything else.

And it's nice to stick to something simple sometimes.

[Sharryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp
By Odo Hirsch
I picked this book up in an op shop recently after reading the blurb and thinking it sounded interesting.
A couple of chapters in I realised it was written for older teens but kept reading as I enjoy some teen novels.
The story is about Amelia Dee and her family that live in a prominent house in a normal street with a yoga instructor living on the bottom floor.
He has one student who is a Princess from a foreign land.
A lamp hangs in Amelia’s house that she loves but no one knows where it came from.
When Amelia meets the Princess one day the lamp is mentioned and the Princess asks to see it.
It is then the secret of the lamp is revealed.
I found the characters in this book so unconnected from each other it seemed like they were written in as an after thought just to give added interest.
The story line itself was so unbelievable yet so predictable.
If I could describe this book in one word it would be basic.
Rated 1/5

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit Jonathan Livingstone Seagullish but more subtle and written for children. The main agenda seems to be developing empathy and tolerance. Everyone in the book has their own perspective, even though some of the characters are difficult and frustrating.

Amelia is a smart and thoughtful protagonist.

My only disappointment was in the endless niceness and moral relativity (which to be fair was not completely closed to questioning) all the characters are so privileged they can basically sustain a life that just looks like following their interest/passion. The only real "labour" in the book is the servant Asha and even he is more motivated by love (it seems) than anything else.

I admire the idea of not advertising and waiting for the "right" students but I wonder who can actually get away with doing that?

Reading more easy stuff because I am still very sick

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, short, sweet and full of character.

[☆amber☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
This book is such a comfort read for me - the fact that I can remember plot points from this book 15 years after I read it for the first time 🥺

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say that Odo Hirsch is becoming more and more an author that parents who read literary fiction give to their kids. The plot is slight: about the interactions between a girl, Amelia, living in an old house and the old Indian yoga teacher who works in the room downstairs. And his one client, an old Princess who visits for yoga lessons.

And all of this is connected to an old brass lamp that hangs from the ceiling outside Amelia's bedroom.

But all of this is really an excuse to deal with issues such expressing yourself, bitterness, letting go, how we treat others and finding your voice. With a bit of a philosophical stuff about the nature of reality thrown in for good measure.

I'm not sure how many kids will be up for this kind of story but it is elegantly and simply written and could spark some great conversations. I liked it.

[Yvonne Cowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a thoroughly delightful book for 8 to 12 yr olds and older. an usual arty househoild mother scultpor and father inventor and a wise mr vishwanath ptactises yoga and imparts wonderful wisdom and gentle peace and inner questioning. characters so believable asnd the wonder of writing and how one can influence another in a small way

[Andrew]

Fantastic! Reminiscent of Antonio S. and Hazel Green. Odo Hirsch creates such intriguing characters and really taps into their sense of self in a magical way. The themes of this book come across beautifully, cultural tolerance, individual perception and the definition of one self by outside events. Well worth reading.

[Toni Umar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need a half score as this book really is between 3.5 and 4. It's a good fun book, lots of imagination involved and that's what I love. It was light, reasonably short and came at a perfect time for me. Amelia Lee is a delight- as obviously is the author. I would like to read more of his books. A very nice 'smiley' story!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I persevered with Odo Hirsch I liked this story a lot. Amelia was believable and had guts and conscience. Working with very subtle advice from the yoga guy, Amelia figures it all out. Recommended to girls 9+

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever story line, really adorable!

[Charlotte W · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was one of the best books in my life!!!!

[Laetitia Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great book !! a nice story and really well written!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely, just my idea of a great book. I want to read it again!

[Maya Stankovic]

Amelia has discovered the lamps metalwork around the glass panels, she had also found something else..

[Palak · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is a good.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!! So easy to read!! I've read it heaps!!! :D