The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale

by Heather Smith

Two years after the death of his mother, Ewan's father was swept away by a magical cloud. Now Ewan lives with his little sister, Flora, his Grumple and his mischievous cat, Kipper. But something about his father's disappearance has never felt right to Ewan. He is certain his father wouldn't leave willingly. When he meets Mr. So-and-So, the owner of the mysterious Notion Shop, he is inspired to take destiny into his own hands. With his grandfather’s most reliable horse, the normally timid Ewan sets off from his home in Bucket Cove on a journey that will test his belief in himself while unraveling the secrets of his father's disappearance. When he is joined by Flora and Mr. So-and-So, he comes to understand that even grown-ups sometimes struggle to process their feelings, and that showing compassion to others is the mechanism through which we can begin to show compassion to ourselves.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy

280 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Originally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing.

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

The situation has left Ewan angry. He and his younger sister are forced to live with a grandparent in an isolated and sparse coastal Newfoundland community, because mother died and since then father just walked out. Some of the anger comes from the titular story the grandad gives, of his son letting himself get carried away on a cloud. When the old chap, a tailor, needs supplies, the three end up at an influential, or else OTT, or else bloody annoying, magical-seeming chap's shop, which sort of indirectly leads Ewan to grab the bull's horns, and go in search of his not-wanting-to-be-found father.

There's no doubt that to anyone older than the target audience, if not others, Mr So-and-So is a bit much, and the reaction to the book is unfortunately linked very much to the reaction to him. The full-on nature of his witticisms, magic and reluctance to follow logic reminded me of the impression I have of Mr Popper, of Penguins fame – note 'impression', as I've neither read nor seen it. That said, Ewan isn't that great company – forced to be kind of older than his years, he's also a complete scaredy-cat.

The end result is one of whimsy ramped to eleven, and from the start, leaving this with nowhere to go. So when Mr So-and-So starts duetting with a live mackerel that has jumped into his hand from the seas, that was where I and this parted company. I can take some kinds of oddball, but not this one, whose prevalence here really seemed to diminish the emotional state and resulting quest Ewan felt in need of undertaking. But not to the extent he actually won a lot of sympathy.

Oh, and all this is set a hundred years ago – I thought I ought to mention that, even if the whole blurb forgets to.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale is a whimsical story that I couldn't put down - the kind of book that I enjoy now but would have devoured as a child. A tall tale indeed, but with so much packed inside that I loved, loved, loved. From the clever wordplay to the lovable and often zany cast of characters, and, at heart, a story about complicated feelings around grief and what it means to be brave, there was so much to adore in this novel. Parables, life lessons, and wisdom galore in this gentle book with tons of heart that kids will love.

Highly recommended.

[Chantale Viens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a 3.5 star for me.

The problem I had was that it didn’t seem to captivate me throughout, like I was hoping. Which is why I gave the lower rating overall.

I really like Mr. So and So’s character. This also made me realize how much I appreciate a well rounded story - one that ends with many call backs throughout the story. I really enjoyed how they closed out the story.

Some see the glass as half-empty.
Some see the glass as half-full.
Others get off their ass And fill up that glass
Because they've no time for such bull.

This may be my new favourite notion.

[Alisa Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is interesting. It leaves you wondering what happened to the father at the beginning of the book. There was a point in time when they boy's dad gets swept away by a cloud, and he is left there alone with nobody but his sister. He doesn't know what he should do, and they have to try and figure out what happened to their dad because they knew that he wouldn't just leave and not say anything to them.

[Kathy Stinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

More magic and madcap than I love in a book and it took me a while to warm up to Mr So and So. If this is your first HS book and you’re not 100% wowed by it, I urge you to try others.

Hard to deny any HS book less than a 4 though. Her writing is witty and wise, and the brother-sister relationship here is heartwarming. This one was Shortlisted for the CCBC Science Fiction and Fantasy Award so if that’s your thing you will love this book more than I did.

[Tara Mickela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ewan and Floras grandfather explains their father’s disappearance with a story about a cloud and their dad disappearing in it. Little Flora accepts and celebrates the story. Ewan does not. He decides to set out on his own and find his father and demand a reason for his disappearance. Mr. So and So provides Willy Wonka-ish assistance in the search.

[MaryJo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating would be 3.5 if allowed. A very magical tale unfortunately became too magical, concluding poorly in my opinion. But it is getting a 4 rating for what the boy learns, and a silly man who the reader comes to understand and appreciate, however non-sensible are his magical skills.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up
The whole story feels heavy though it presents as a whimsical tale from a hundred years ago. The characters are a bit one-dimensional with glimpses of more depth. When they do show more of themselves, it comes across as managed to meet a plot point.

[Phil Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, delicious. The kind of story I aspire to write.

[Christy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

The magic feels like Mary Poppins—no need for excessive back stories; it just IS. Kids learn to handle all the emotions without it being burdensome.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely a tall tale. The absurdity of Mr.So and So and some of the magic reminded me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I read this to see if it was good for my 9 year old… I will not be giving this to him anytime soon.
There’s a lot of big feelings in this one, Moms dead, Dads gone and there’s even a nighttime demon visiting Ewan.
That being said the book was absurd at points, but knowing it wasn’t written for an adult made it easier to read and fun in parts.
The part where tom boy Flora decides to change her name was unnecessary. Her brother Ewan was uncomfortable with it, but Mr.So and So said, “let it happen nothing bad will come of it.” However her changing her name was completely unnecessary for the story and reads as trans propaganda.