Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers by Claire Harcup – Book Review
Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers by Claire Harcup – Book Review
Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers
Hattie Brown Book One
Author – Claire Harcup
Publisher – Agora Books
Pages – 240
Released – 24th September 2020
ISBN-13 – 978-1913099664
Format – ebook, paperback, audio
Review by – Stacey
Rating – 3.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
This post contains affiliate links.
The day Hattie Brown got pulled through the fridge was the same day everything started to disappear from the house — but missing socks were about to be the least of her troubles.
Hattie Brown lives a quiet life with her mother. That is, until the day she’s pulled into the magical realm of Somewhere-Nowhere.
This new world – full of tiny dragons, talking elephants, and enormous worms – has lost its clouds, so when Hattie realises she has the power to make it rain, there’s hope she could be what this strange place has been waiting for.
But not everyone is pleased with Hattie’s arrival. Ruled over by the cruel Lord Mortimer, Somewhere-Nowhere is in trouble. And when Hattie discovers that he’s hiding an army of kidnapped children, she doesn’t care who wants her there and who doesn’t: nothing is going to stop her rescuing them… not even the arrival of a boy they call Nimbus.
Hattie Brown lives with her mum who is depressed. She looks after her mum, reminding her to eat and making her food. One afternoon Hattie notices that things have been going missing in the house, including the butter she is just about to use.
After making her mum a sandwich she opens the fridge to put the cheese away and notices a tiny elephant on one of the shelves. The elephant grabs hold of Hattie and pulls her in. After a long time whirling, Hattie lands in a strange place called Somewhere-Nowhere, oh and the elephant is no longer tiny it is full size.
Trouble is only special hundredth children are supposed to be brought to Somewhere-Nowhere and the elephant, Victor is in trouble for bringing her through. A dragon, Sir Gideon, wants to take Hattie and return her to her world before he gets in trouble for her being there, but it isn’t long before the guards find them.
Soon though Hattie discovers something sinister about this land and is determined to put it right.
Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers is the first book in a series about a young eleven-year-old girl who is taken to another realm by an elephant through her fridge. The elephant took her as she could see him, something humans are not supposed to be able to do.
The book had an Alice in Wonderland vibe to it, especially the falling for what seemed like a very long time and then landing in a place where animals and objects talk, though a more up to date version.
The plot is essentially about one young girl who has spent her young life caring for her mother being dragged to a world she has never heard of and she wants to get back to her mum but she also knows that she needs to help a group of children who have been kidnapped by the evil Lord who runs Somewhere-Nowhere. Hattie is strong, capable, hot-headed at times, and remarkable for her age.
The book is quite an adventure and fun too. It is a little on the long side and at times the story seemed to stall before picking up again. Whilst I enjoyed the book I’m not sure I would continue with the series as I didn’t feel fully invested in Hattie’s story, nor the world-building which for a child reading the book might be enough but for me felt lacking. Though I can see young readers being enthralled by the strange land and the talking animals.
Book Reviewer – Stacey
Purchase online from:
Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.com – Amazon.in – Blackwells – Waterstones
About the Author
Claire Harcup developed magazines about dinosaurs, books and CD-ROMs about wine, and an animation series for children with autism before she started writing picture books. She now heads up the writing team at communications consultancy, Quietroom. She lives in London, W11.
