The Wee Free Men
The Wee Free Men
By: Terry Pratchett
I should start out by telling you this is my first Pratchett book. That is really surprising since he writes for both children and adults, and, well, I spend enough time around books that you would think I would have picked one up before now.....
So why did I? Well, I've been meaning to for quite awhile now, but sometimes the list I go into the bookstore with is NOT the list I leave with.....the troubles of browsing and having so much to choose from! Ach! And then I heard a sad thing - this man who has 45 million copies of his works published in 35 languages has the beginning stages of early onset Alzheimer's. One might expect him to quietly quit publishing his works, but he plans on 2-3 more from what I can tell. According to Wikipedia he is currently working with the BBC to document his illness. (The link will take you to a BBC page with some videos of Pratchett. I didn't see anything saying he really was working with them, but I just glanced at it and didn't watch the videos. Don't believe everything Wikipedia tells you!)
ON TO THE STORY!
Tiffany Aching wants to be a witch. And she definitely is tired of having to look after her little brother. Wentworth is a sticky little boy who eats sweets like there's no tomorrow (and gets sticky with nothing near him.) When Tiffany notices strange things happening around her, she thinks about the difference - and about what's happening. All of a sudden she whacks this screaming monster in the river with her frying pan. Yes, a frying pan! And you will see it again! Even better! (No, still not sure of the why of the frying pan, but it makes for great reading - your typical heroines are not usually using kitchen utensils to scare away the creepy-crawlies!)
Other than the monster coming out of the river, Tiffany has heard and seen some small little blue men with red hair. They're a mischevious bunch, but when they learn who the Hag of the Chalk (where Tiffany lives) is now that Granny Aching is gone, they shape up and do what they're supposed to - for the most part! Tiffany learns to work with the Wee Free Men (or Nac Mac Feegle) despite their, well, let's say rambunctious behaviour!
Tiffany's "power" comes from her understanding things and really noticing things. Being a witch isn't so much about magic in this book, but about being observant and taking control of things that are within your power - even if they don't seem like they are and you're wandering around lost!
Her feelings towards her little brother are probably quite normal for people who have younger brothers they have to watch and that drive them a little on the crazy side. Kids with younger siblings will identify with that annoying younger sibling that they wish would just go away, but when the youngster disappears, the older one will do whatever it takes to get them back. (Even if they don't like it one bit!)
This is the first in the Tiffany Aching Adventure series. The second is A Hatfull of Sky and the third is Wintersmith.
Official Terry Pratchett website
Children's/YA Books - scroll to the bottom and click on "See The Complete Booklist"
Adult Books - scroll down and you'll see a link for "The Complete Booklist" as well as comments about his works of the adult variety (which I'm going to have to look into, since the quote from The Times on this page about his satire - I love satire!)
Recommended To:
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Fantasy Readers
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fans of his adult work
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everyone!