The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld by Terry Pratchett

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett serves up another fantastic Discworld tale, this time starring a budding witch -- and a pack of mini blue warriors -- on a rescue mission to find her kidnapped brother.

Tiffany Aching has all the makings of a strong witch, including quick wit against scary creatures, various levels of "Sight," and the unheard-of ability to befriend the Nac Mac Feegle -- otherwise known as the Wee Free Men. So when the powerful Queen of the Elves snatches Tiffany's brother, the confident girl travels to Fairyland with the help of her new blue friends, battling sinister dogs, escaping the dreams of magical dromes, and finally coming face-to-face with the nightmarish queen herself. Tiffany has the ability to defeat the evil ruler, but in order to escape, she must first connect with the past, know her home, and feel herself alive.

With all the adventure and smart humor his fans have come to love, Pratchett's Discworld novel is entrancing from the start. Always a master storyteller, the author weaves together various worlds and times to create scenes deep enough for fantasy lovers of every level. Tiffany and the Wee Free Men are memorable characters, and we certainly hope we haven't seen the last of them. Shana Taylor

From the Publisher

There's trouble on the Aching farm: monsters in the river, headless horsemen in the lane—and Tiffany Aching's little brother has been stolen by the Queen of Fairies. Getting him back will require all of Tiffany's strength and determination (as well as a sturdy skillet) and the help of the rowdy clan of fightin', stealin' tiny blue-skinned pictsies known as the Wee Free Men!

Master storyteller and gifted comic Terry Pratchett is at his best in the adventures of Tiffany Aching and her tiny blue allies. Their first irresistible story comes to life in this lavishly illustrated edition, perfect for fans old and new.

The Washington Post

Despite its slapstick, wordplay and "Simpsons"-like comedy, The Wee Free Men teaches, slantwise like all good fiction, the importance of trust, kindness, determination and responsibility. And as in any good fantasy tale, the Story ends with nothing changed and everything changed. — Michael Dirda

Publishers Weekly

This tale set in Discworld stars a plucky young witch-in-training who, according to PW's starred review, "will win over not only readers but the title characters, (somewhat) lovable imps who exude a certain charm despite their innate and unrepentant kleptomania." Ages 12-up. (June) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Megan Isaac <%ISBN%>0060012366 - VOYA

Young Tiffany Aching knows lots about minding sheep, children, and the dairy, but until she finds herself forced to do battle with the malicious Queen of the Elves, she does not know anything at all about magic and witchcraft. Without warning one afternoon, various denizens of Fairyland invade the chalk country, home to generations of shepherds and Tiffany's only home. Keeping in mind the sturdy independence and shrewd insights of her beloved and recently deceased Granny Aching, Tiffany sets out to protect what is hers. She is aided in her progress through the nightmarish convolutions of Fairyland by her new acquaintances, the Wee Free Men. These six-inch-high, blue pictsies excel at fighting, thieving, and drinking. Believing themselves already to have died and gone to heaven, they are absolutely fearless and indomitable, if a bit likely to get sidetracked anytime an opportunity to indulge in one of their three favorite pastimes arises. Eventually, Tiffany fulfills her quest, but as with all good heroines, she learns more about herself than anything else and will not be able to return to a quiet life just making cheeses anymore. Fans of Pratchett's series will enjoy cameo appearances in the novel by several well-known Discworld witches, but for the most part the book stands on its own. Uncharacteristically for Pratchett, the novel is hobbled, however, by a predictable plot and redeemed only through its characters. Tiffany's staunch practicality is nicely balanced by the impulsive vigor of the Wee Free Men, and the dialogue is always lively. PLB

Paula Rohrlick - KLIATT

What a treat! SF writer Pratchett, author of the hilarious The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (winner of Britain's Carnegie Medal and an ALA Best Book for YAs; reviewed in KLIATT in November 2001), offers here a second novel for YAs that will delight fans of both fantasy and humor. Tiffany Aching is a young dairymaid living in rural chalk country, but she is also an exceptionally brave and clever girl with witch-like talents. When she unexpectedly sees a monster rise up out of the stream one day, she has the presence of mind to use her spoiled little brother, Wentworth, as bait and then bash the creature with a frying pan. When the dreadful Queen of Fairyland steals Wentworth, Tiffany boldly goes to rescue him, aided by a talking toad (formerly a lawyer) and the wee free men. These are six-inch-high blue men with names like Rob Anybody, Daft Wullie, and Not-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, who live for stealing, drinking, and fighting, and who speak in broad Scottish accents. Tiffany is lucky to have them on her side, for Fairyland is a fearsome place, full of nightmares that have come to life. Tiffany triumphs in the end, of course, and like her revered grandmother, learns to "speak for that which has no voice" and to courageously defend the weak. Throughout, puns and zany humor abound. Tiffany is (unrealistically) said to be only nine years old, but this should not deter older readers in any way: the satiric sense of humor is perfect for anyone who enjoys The Princess Bride and the works of Douglas Adams. A wonderfully funny fantasy for all ages. (A Story of Discworld). KLIATT Codes: JSA*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior highschool students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, HarperCollins, 272p.,

Janet Crane Barley - Children's Literature

As Tiffany Aching lies beside a stream tickling a trout, she wishes she could be a witch. Then Miss Perspicacia Tick, a proven witch, comes along and tells Tiffany that she is a witch already. She loans Tiffany her talking toad to help teach her what it means to be a witch. Before long Tiffany meets the Wee Free Men who are blue, six inches tall and sound amazing like old Scottish Reivers. When her brother is stolen by the "Quin" and taken into fairyland, the Wee Free Men join her on her quest to rescue him. Armed only with a frying pan and her grandmother's book about the diseases of sheep, Tiffany and her allies meet many fearsome challenges, not the least of which is nightmares that distort reality. Her search for her brother mixes humor and adventure and throws in a playful spice of words like "susurrus" and "onomatopoeia" whose meanings are clear in their context. This is the latest addition to Mr. Pratchett's "Discworld" series. "Discworld," the author says, "...started out as a parody of all the fantasy that was around in the big boom of the early '80s, then turned into a satire on just about everything, and even I don't know what it is now." Each book stands well on its own, but is likely to lure the reader to read more "Discworld" books. Mr. Pratchett, who has received many prestigious awards, won the 2001 Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. 2003, Harper Collins Publishers,

Children's Literature

When her brother is stolen by the Queen of the Fairies, Tiffany Aching sets out to rescue him with the help of the Wee Free Men, who are "six inches tall and mostly colored blue." The original book was published to great acclaim in 2003. This book in the "Discworld Series" has now been published in a gift book size, 8 by 10 ½ inches. There are many full-page illustrations throughout the book, some with half-page folds that show a continuation of the action, such as when Tiffany walks through the stone arch from her world into another. Player captures the humor and the tension in the scenes he illustrates. This is, indeed, a young adult novel, and I question the necessity of an illustrated edition. Pratchett's descriptive language needs no pictures. On the other hand, a teen who has difficulty reading the Nac Mac Feegle dialect might find this helpful, but will teens want to be seen with an oversize book? One of the illustrations shows a wee, blue red-haired man who "was definitely making a gesture with his hand." If parents of younger children were thinking of reading this aloud to them, they would not be comfortable with this in both text and illustration. It is a lovely edition but I do not know who the intended audience might be. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-When Tiffany enters Fairyland to rescue her kidnapped brother, readers are in for a rousing romp, for this girl has grit, determination, and more than a touch of witchcraft on her side. With clever dialogue and outlandish characters, this suspenseful fantasy is as funny as it is wise. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10

This new edition of the first book in Pratchett's excellent "Tiffany Aching" series (HarperTempest) features full-color illustrations that are true to the author's keen descriptions. Fans of the original won't find faults: Tiffany looks like a true nine-year-old, and the blue-skinned Wee Free Men seem appropriately fierce and funny at the same time. Three well-chosen foldouts show key plot transitions as Tiffany first sees the Wee Free Men, later steps into the fairy world, and ultimately unleashes her full powers. Plentiful spot illustrations and creative use of space show that the illustrator has clearly entered into the spirit of Tiffany's world. Significant words occasionally appear behind the text in light gray, appropriate for a girl who has read the dictionary (because "no one told her you weren't supposed to"). Line drawings of Wee Free Men frequently appear along page borders as they hang from, climb up, and occasionally steal the letters of the text. Recurring passages that tell the backstory of Tiffany's Granny, merely italicized in the original edition, are now cleverly highlighted by insets resembling yellowed paper. Pratchett's expertly written fantasy works fine without any pictures, but these attractive images are quite effective without overwhelming the words. For less sophisticated readers, the visual elements may serve as reference points to help them navigate the rich setting and cohesive but complex plot.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR

Kirkus Reviews

There will be upheavals in the human and fantasy worlds of elves and witches, with drastic consequences, and Tiffany, with only a frying pan for a weapon, is caught in the middle. In an effort to rescue her spoiled, candy-loving baby brother whom the Elf Queen has stolen with the temptation of endless sweets, Tiffany enlists the aid of the Wee Free Men. The baby's rescue is accomplished with unrelenting drama, large servings of Pratchett's ironic humor, and a unique cast of characters. This includes an imperfect heroine who has inherited "First Sight and Second Thoughts" and who feels guilty because she did not truly love her whiney brother. The Wee Free Men are six-inch-tall blue men with a robust enthusiasm for stealing, fighting, and drinking. Set in a chillingly unrecognizable "fairyland," this ingenious mélange of fantasy, action, humor, and sly bits of social commentary contains complex underlying themes of the nature of love, reality, and dreams. The Carnegie Medal-winner's fans will not be disappointed. (Fantasy. 12+)

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