The cloud Hunters by Alex Shearer – a Book review
Publisher: Hot key Books
ARC publication date Nov 2012
ISBN 978-1-4714-0018-6
A newbooks mag review
This book which is due for publication In November is a very good children’s adventure. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world and told from the male protagonist point of view.
The main female protagonist is a new girl in Christien’s school who he falls in love with.
Janine is a cloud hunter, Christien thinks this is a very exciting occupation and gets himself invited along for a weekend of cloud hunting. After this first taste he manages to arrange with his parents and Janines mum and uncle for him to tag along again in the summer holidays. This trip becomes quite the adventure and he has a big decision to make at the end of it.
It is a very easy plot to follow, the chapters are all very short which makes it easier for children to read. The character’s are good and the style fits the story well. It works very well that it is written as a narrative story from Christien’s viewpoint.
I also liked the fact that within the easy conversational style there are dropped some quite philosophical comments which would hopefully make the reader’s think a little.
I thought this was a very good children’s book with a good concept of what life could be like if Earth no longer existed.
I would suggest this book to children aged from 8-12 years.
A very good easy read 4/5 stars – I really liked it. Why not 5/5? I thought it could maybe have been a little more exciting and punchy and if it was aimed at 8-12s it needs some illustrations. If it is intended for an older market then it would be too tame and calm.
Group read 3/5 You may be able to get some discussion going based on the books concept of life without an Earth.
