The Wee Free Men (Tiffany Aching #1)

Exciting, thought-provoking and riotously funny—in addition to being more tightly plotted than many of Pratchett's books. Just about the perfect YA fantasy!

Tiffany Aching is a wonderful, unique protagonist, and her titular sidekicks are a hoot. Only Terry Pratchett could take a fantasy novel about an old-beyond-her-years nine-year old, add a group of six-inch-tall Scottish hooligans, and turn it into a thought-provoking exploration of the living nature of stories.

Reader reviewed by Mary

Tiffany's brother's been kidnapped and she's determined to save him. She's sure she'll be able to- after all she's a witch!

And then of course, there's the Wee Free Men, who want her to lead them and become their Queen..

This book is great and funny. It's greatly funny!If you want to be entertained be sure to pick up this book!

Reader reviewed by Lulu

The Wee Free men is the first in a series of Discworld Books for children. That doesn't mean that any of the usual Terry Pratchett humour is lacking, nor is it patronising. It's just slightly more suitable for a younger audience. Which makes it a perfect introduction to the Discworld, where nine year old girls can take on the Queen of Faeries* armed only with a saucepan, a talking frog, Granny Achings Magic Book titled Diseases of Sheep and some Nac Mac Feegles**. Nac Mac Feegles are little blue men (and the occasional woman- the Kilda) who like fighting, drinking, pillaging, but don't like reading or writing due to their fear of Lawyers.

This book really is genuinely funny, with many moments that will make you laugh out loud, so be careful where you read it. If you always thought that fairytales were really rather boring and a bit stupid (who said that the old lady living in the cottage in the wood peacefully minding her own business could only be an evil cackling witch anyway?) then this is the book for you. In fact, even if you rather like fairytales, and think that it is quite obvious why the old lady in the wood is the evil old witch, then you should still give it a try, it might just make you think. It'll certainly make you laugh, which is more than most fairytales manage.

As for why the nine year old Tiffany (our brave and courageous heroine) decides to take on the Queen of the Faeries with only a saucepan, a sheep disease book and some Nac Mac Feegles, you'll just have to read it and find out.

*Pronouced Fairys, but that doesn't mean there isn't a difference
**Alternatively known as The Wee Free Men, just so you don't get confused.

Reader reviewed by LaLa

I listened to the audio version of this book and just loved it! I've always loved Terry Pratchet's books and this is no different. His sense of humor is appealing even though the asides can be a bit distracting (I'll be reading and then realize that I missed one and have to go back.)

The really cool part of this questing book is the realistic way that the heroine is portrayed. She does what has to get done to move on and rescue her brother (a brother that is spoiled-rotten and that she admits that she dislikes but he is after-all her's.)