Harriet and the Hoblins by Gemma J. Weir

Harriet is disgusted.  Her Dad and stepmom are going on vacation without her.  They are sending her to Mourne Mountain Summer Camp.  She knows they want some alone time but it just isn't fair.  She doesn't want to go to camp!

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

The first thing she does is say something embarrassing at the meet and greet gathering.  She knows she smells, she doesn't like cleaning up.  It doesn't take long until she's by herself most of the time.  That suits her.

She decides to go out exploring at night.  She forgot her flashlight so it's real dark on the trail she takes.  She's not real concerned until she starts hearing noises.  Suddenly she's not alone.  But what are they?  She decides they are a bit like a hobbit and a bit like a goblin, so she names them Hoblins.  She runs back to the cabin and gets away.  But the next night they reach through the window and kidnap her!

She can't yell, they've taped her mouth shut.  They tie her hands and feet.  They take her into a shelter and look her over.  They talk a different language and she's a bit worried about what they are going to do until they get scared and run.  She manages to get out of her bindings and heads for home.

The next time she goes out she runs into a dog, a big dog!  Then a hand comes down and brings her up in the tree with the Hoblins.  She finds that fear makes the dog bigger.  She tries to tell them but they don't understand. So she goes down and stands up to the mean dog on her own...

This story emphasizes how we can't let our fears hold us back.  Take that first step and the rest will follow...