The Wee Free Men: A Tiffany Aching Novel (Discworld Novels) by Terry Pratchett

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book * Horn Book Fanfare Book * Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice * SLJ Best Book of the Year

By the beloved and bestselling grandmaster of fantasy, Sir Terry Pratchett, this is the first in a series of Discworld novels starring the young witch Tiffany Aching.

A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side of reality. . . .

Armed with only a frying pan and her common sense, young witch-to-be Tiffany Aching must defend her home against the monsters of Fairyland. Luckily she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle--aka the Wee Free Men--a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men.

Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true, and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself. . . .

Review

"With its wry wit and acerbic collision of the mystical with the mundane, the latest book in Pratchett's internationally popular Discworld, is good solid storytelling done in a style that reads like Celtic mythology fused with the girl power of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" with dialogue by Robert Burns." -- New York Times Book Review

"Exuberant and irresistible. Pratchett's tale recalls a whole variety of texts in which underestimated heroines confront the forces of darkness--Meg Murry of A Wrinkle in Time, Coraline of Neil Gaiman's recent novel, Lyra Belacqua of The Golden Compass, Miss Bianca of The Rescuers, even Buffy the Vampire Slayer." -- Washington Post

"A smart retelling [that] delves into weighty issues but keeps its sense of dark humor." -- USA Today

Wonderful language, genuinely scary explorations, and a young girl whose growing up is believable and exciting." -- Chicago Tribune

"An enthralling and rewarding read." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Set in a chillingly unrecognizable 'fairyland, ' this ingenious melange of fantasy, action, humor, and sly bits of social commentary contains complex underlying themes on the nature of love, reality, and dreams. The Carnegie Medal-winner's fans will not be disappointed." -- Kirkus Reviews(starred review)

"Perfect for anyone who enjoys The Princess Bride and the works of Douglas Adams. A wonderfully funny fantasy for all ages." -- KLIATT (starred review)

A glorious read." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

Product details

Cover 1

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint edition (1 Sept. 2015)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062435264

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062435262

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 17 years

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.49 x 2.01 x 20.32 cm

Customer reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars    6,068 ratings

Cover 2

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (August 15, 2006)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 375 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060012382

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060012380

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up

Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 680L

Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 9

Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.9 ounces

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.68 x 4.34 x 1.08 inches

Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars    6,141 ratings

About the Author

Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.