Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers

Telling the tale of Hattie who was pulled through the fridge, the book is a wonderful adventure and follows Hattie as the heroine who is going to save them all.

We found the book very entertaining because of the characters, especially Victor the elephant – who doesn’t love a talking elephant? We found it really thrilling as Hattie battled against Lord Mortimer and wanted her to defeat the Lord. As we raced to the finish of the book, we hoped that Hattie would win and be able to make it back home safely.

Hattie is a really strong character and knows what she wants and how to achieve it. The world of Somewhere-Nowhere is intriguing and we would love to visit ourselves !

Overall we really enjoyed the book and would love to read more in the series

Hattie Brown Verses the Cloud Snatchers by Claire Harcup took me back to being in late elementary school around grades fourth or fifth where I was still super imaginative and loved books like this. I had to put myself back in that place. The book does require someone to really have a child like imagination to put yourself in the book and the world the author has created. But I love this about the book. I loved imagining all of this Somewhere-Nowhere land and all the creatures and people in it.
At the start of the book we meet Hattie Brown, and eleven year old girl who is caring for her mother who is suffering from what Hattie refers to as The Gloom, which we can presume is depression or something of that sort based on Hattie’s description of her mother. Hattie is kind, strong willed and determined to help her mother, and others as we see later in the book.
After making her mother a sandwich and listening to her mother talk about items that have been going missing from their home, Hattie opens the refrigerator door to see something and then is suddenly sucked into another world. We find out she is sucked in by and elephant who can change size named Victor who brought her to the world of Somewhere-Nowhere. When they arrive, they also run into a tiny dragon knight named Sir Gideon.
Somewhere-Nowhere land is full of some fantastical creatures. There are tiny dragons, no larger than sparrows who are part of the Guild of Knight Dragons and assist the realm in searching for Nimbus who is possibly key to solving Somewhere-Nowhere’s big problem. You will also find elephants like Victor who can change size to travel to the human realm. Cockatoos who ask lots of questions, are spies but also share information in positive ways as well. The cockatoos also are out to make some money too in various ways. There is a Time Worm and Knowledge Worm who are also important to the realm as you will see.
The big problem Somewhere-Nowhere land has is that they do not experience clouds or rain. The clouds must be stolen from the human world by the Time Worm and are kept protected until needed by a Cloud Keeper. The clouds are needed for rain which never comes to the land, so they must steal the clouds. There is one big problem, the clouds do not produce rain on their own, so the people of the land need another way to make it rain. In comes Nimbus, the supposed chosen one who can create rain. He is said to be a boy who is son of the former Lord of Somewhere-Nowhere land (this man, who married a human is considered a traitor and locked up for marrying a human from our world) who has the power and a “Lost Seal” in his possession that will prove he is son of the traitor. He also has the power to make it rain which is needed.
That said, Hattie, being stuck in this other world full of creatures who talk, a mean and evil Lord who cannot be trusted comes to realize more dark things about the world than she ever imagined. Parts of the book are dark, I cannot lie, which is why I suggest it for older elementary or early middle school ages. Themes such as depression, kidnapping, people, or creatures locked in dungeons for simply making the Lord mad and children locked in cages (these are called The Hundredth Children) who are essentially made to be compliant and no longer act like children.
In the end we see Hattie Brown is a determined, defiant (in a good way), stubborn and smart young girl who realizes her potential and wants to save others and help Somewhere-Nowhere if she can.
I honestly fell in love with this book for the story and idea itself. It is repetitive at times, but I think it is to get the points across and to ensure the reader understands the story fully. There are parts I do think could have been removed and the story been just as good. Overall, though, it is a fun and imaginative book. I could honestly go on and on about this book, but do not want to spoil it for anyone!! Read it!!
I wish the ending had left us with more, but there will be more books in the Hattie Brown series so I hope we get a wrap on what will happen with Hattie, her new friends and Somewhere-Nowhere land. We shall see!
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The opening of the story takes you straight into the action: Hattie being pulled through her own fridge by an elephant and taken to a magical far-away land, Somewhere-Nowhere. This book is action-packed with lots of colourful, interesting characters that will keep children entertained and engrossed. Hattie's adventure in the world of Somewhere-Nowhere had an Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz feel about it as she meets a host of strange characters in a seemingly crazy world ruled by Lord Mortimer. As Hattie tries to find her way home she makes special friendships along the way and realises that she must put the hundredth children first by attempting to rescue them rather than escaping herself. Hattie, who is normally quite reserved discovers a new found confidence in herself along with other qualities such as determination, perseverance and bravery, which surprises but motivates her further.

This book was a pleasure to read and I can really visualise children becoming absorbed in the magical world of Somewhere-Nowhere. The descriptions and imagery were vivid, the chapters short and punchy with a good mixture of dialogue, characterisation, setting and action. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series and finding out more about Hattie's adventures in the realm of Somewhere-Nowhere.

Many thanks to Agora books for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

This was a fun, middle grade read! Hattie goes on crazy adventures that I think any middle schooler would love!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Hattie Brown versus the Cloud Snatchers is a crazy and fun adventure, and a triumph of good over evil set in a fantasy land.
We meet Hattie at home where we learn that she cares for her mother who suffers from what Hattie refers to as The Gloom, described as ‘a gaping hole at her centre that was sucking the rest of her in’ and may be depression. Hattie and her mother are discussing items strangely missing from the fridge, when inexplicably Hattie is sucked inside by an elephant named Victor. Landing in the strange world of Somewhere-Nowhere, a land of dragons and talking animals, and ruled over by evil Lord Mortimer, we learn that Somewhere-Nowhere cannot create rain and so clouds are stolen from the human realm. There is a rightful heir, Nimbus, who has the power to create rain, and when Nimbus returns the clouds will main rain and suffering will cease. Hattie meets Arthur, who discovers that he has made it rain, and the inhabitants believe is Nimbus. She learns that children like Arthur are taken from the human realm in the hope that one will be Nimbus, all can produce a little rain, but none so far have been the true heir.
The twist when it comes is quite satisfying, and this is combined with themes of good over evil, working together, kindness and bravery. Ages 9-11 might appreciate the story most.
Many thanks to Agora books for the arc, reviews and opinions are my own.

When Hattie is sucked through her fridge and finds herself in another land with tiny dragons, elephants and other crazy creatures, she's in for an adventure.  At first the residents of this new world are excited to see her, thinking she's the one they've been waiting for.  But then things start going wrong and she finds herself arrested....

But with her new friend Arthur, she manages to escape but realises that rather than going home, she must help the hundredth children....but can she succeed in her mission?

This book definitely has an Alice in Wonderland type vibe to it.  Disappearing through something, new fantastical creatures, a cruel leader, even a river that says 'drink me'.....but I thoroughly enjoyed it!  This is the sort of book children will be able to lose themselves in, with short chapters to keep their attention and wonderful characters.

Hattie is a great character - I really liked her and was with her on every step of her journey.  And I really liked all the creatures, especially the tiny dragons and the cockatoo's that kept doing Hattie's hair!!

The descriptions are fantastic and really helped to bring this colourful and fantastical story to life.  I really enjoyed the writing and think kids will find this a joy to read.

Overall a fab children's book with a fantastic protagonist and a strange, wondrous world.  I love the fact that it's a series and can't wait to see what Hattie gets up to next.  If you're looking for something new for your children, or something to read with them, then check this out.  Recommended by me.

A truly enchanting read. I really enjoyed reading this. It was something a little bit different and was truly magical.