A Hat Full of Sky - Terry Pratchett

Sequel is strong, but slower than its predecessor.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
2282_orig.jpg
Book details
  • Author:Terry Pratchett
  • # of pages: 278
  • Publisher:HarperCollins Children's Books
  • Original Publication Date: 07/04/2004
  • Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
  • Hardcover: $16.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 12 up
  • Read Aloud: 10+
  • Read Alone: 11+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book offers a different view of learning magic -- it consists mainly of common sense, doing what needs to be done, and taking care of others. Other issues include the responsibility of the strong for the weak and infirm, and susceptibility to dominant peers. There's a bit of fantasy fighting, too, and mild use of substances (drinking and smoking a pipe), though not by children.

Families can talk about how this book works as a sequel to The Wee Free Men. Did you read the first book? If so, how would you compare it to this one? (And if not, do you want to read the first book now?) What's your interpretation of the title A Hat Full of Sky? What do you think it means?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The Nac Mac Feegle like to drink. Granny Aching smokes a pipe.

Violence

Some mild fantasy fighting.

Sex

Language

Lots of swearing, but all the words are made up, as in "Crivens!"

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

Tiffany Aching, the levelheaded heroine of The Wee Free Men leaves the Chalk to head off into the mountains and begin her apprenticeship in witchcraft, while Rob Anybody, the leader of the Nac Mac Feegle, settles down to married life with the new Kelda. If that doesn't make any sense to you, then you can see why you need to read the first book first.

But there's a strange, invisible creature called a Hiver that's after Tiffany. Drawn by her growing power, it lives by taking over the bodies of powerful sorcerers, and only the Nac Mac Feegle know it's coming. But the new Kelda, jealous of Tiffany, doesn't want to let them leave the Chalk to rescue her.

Is it any good?

4

Pratchett's view of witchcraft is as down-to-earth as Tiffany. Primarily it consists of helping others, though for the really great witches, like Tiffany's Granny Aching, it means making them help one another, and themselves. But there's a bit of magic too, and herbalism, and broomstick riding -- but Tiffany gets broomsick, so that's not much help.

This sequel is very entertaining, humorous, and moves along quite nicely. But it lacks the rollicking action and broad slapstick humor, both physical and verbal, of its predecessor. Mostly what it lacks is enough of the Feegles. Whenever these drinking, stealing, fighting pictsies are on stage, the fun picks right up. One group of children having The Wee Free Men read to them cheered every time the Feegles appeared in the story. But here they're missing from whole great swaths of the book, and the reader misses them.

From the Book:
He hadn't been a husband for very long, but upon marriage men get a whole lot of extra senses bolted into their brain, and one is there to tell a man that he's suddenly neck deep in real trouble.

Jeannie was tapping her foot. Her arms were still folded. She had the special smile women learn about when they marry too which seems to say, "Yes, you're in big trouble but I'm going to let you dig yourself in even more deeply."

"What's this about the big wee hag?" she said, her voice as small and meek as a mouse trained at the Rodent College of Assassins.

Other choices

The Bromeliad by Terry Pratchett
Diggers
Truckers
Wings

Other Discworld Books for Kids
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
The Wee Free Men

More Humorous Fantasies
The Boggart by Susan Cooper
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5

Posted on 11/18/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 9

amazing detail

4

Posted on 06/20/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Testing123

This review is testing the review contest...I am writing this review as a person that linked here from Parent Center and created a login and user name...I just got an email notification telling me that I am now a member...
4


Posted on 01/10/05 by David White Adult contributor

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4

Posted on 06/20/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Testing123

This review is testing the review contest...I am writing this review as a person that linked here from Parent Center and created a login and user name...I just got an email notification telling me that I am now a member...
4


Posted on 01/10/05 by David White Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5

Posted on 11/18/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 9

amazing detail

Review It
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
33%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
17%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
8%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
42%
12 votes