The Cloud Thief by James Nicol

"Mara had heard the old tales of the world before the Great Shift but she'd never seen anything that showed what the skies had once been like, when clouds were everywhere. It made her heart ache with sadness that she would never see a sky like it. Her skies would only ever be cloudless, brilliant blue or dusty yellow when a sandstorm rolled in."

Mara's town is called Withering-on-the-Sand-Sea. You might think of UK towns with names like Burnham-on-Sea; Saltburn by the Sea; Gorelston on Sea; and Southend on Sea. Withering was once by the sea but now the sea is just an endless horizon of sand. Water is essential for life. Clouds give us water - it is a basic part of the all-important water cycle - but for this town and others in the area ther are no clouds. There is however, a cloud factory. The town is forced to buy a cloud every few weeks and it seems the price is rising and the quality of the cloud and hence the rain is noticeably reduced. Also, the word wither means to dry up from lack of water.

"It was the first cloud that had been delivered to Withering-on-the Sand-Sea in over four months. ... (They) followed their friends and neighbours across the gorge bridge and then up, up, up the sloping hill to Clifftop farm where the clouds were always delivered. Where they were most needed. Where they did the most good."

But first the cloud must be paid for and this time it has been a huge struggle to gather enough grain and vegetables to satisfy the attendants. As the payment is inspected, Mara notices the mayor also gives the head cloud attendant a small purse of coins. Why? Finally, the moment arrives to release the cloud:

"It was a plump little cloud, but something about it didn't look quite right to Mara. The colour was off; it was neither brilliant white nor dark grey, which was how most clouds delivered to Withering looked."

Mara only has her father Old Bern. Lately he has become unwell with a sickness called the Thwart. Mara overhears a conversation that this can be cured with a piece of cloud. Mara is desperate to help Bern so she stows away, with her pet squirrel Fidget, in the cloud carriage and heads away to the cloud factory.

What will Mara discover there? Will she be able to snatch a piece of precious cloud? And who is that new young cloud attendant - Evie Bainbridge? Is she trustworthy. Take a look at some of the labels I have assigned to this post - corruption, journeys, and magical realism - these might give you a hint about what is about to unfold. Oh, and you are sure to also love the cloud named Brume and Mara's new and wonderful friend Eban and I do need to mention the Skirex (they can fly) and especially the young Skirex named Caleus. 

You can read the first chapter here. Listen to an audio sample from page 3 to 11. You could listen along while reading the text. This might be a great way to introduce this book to your library group or class. I highly recommend The Cloud Thief for readers aged 9+ or you could add this to your family read-aloud list. This is one of those books where every chapter ends with a cliff hanger and so you just keep turning the pages unable to stop reading. 

A gorgeously cosy fantasy novel from the acclaimed author of The Apprentice Witch series and The Spell Tailors – perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and Diana Wynne Jones.

Mara lives with her father in a drought-stricken village, where rain comes at a price controlled by powerful cloud-makers. Without enough water, the village crops, animals and people will continue to suffer.  ... A spellbinding new fantasy from the acclaimed author of the Apprentice Witch trilogy and The Spell Tailors. Set in a unique magical world, where clouds are made, bought, and sold. For fans of Studio Ghibli and Diana Wynne Jones – with an eco twist! Explores important themes such as climate change, animal rights and inequality in an engaging child-friendly and accessible way. Love Reading4Kids

When you see a book published by Chicken House (UK) take my advice - it will be well worth reading. Luckily here in Australia Chicken House books often appeal on Scholastic Book Club brochures which is how I came to find this book in the Book Bunker library at Westmead Children's Hospital.

I previously enjoyed this book by James Nicol:

The Spell Tailors