Editorial Review
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. . . .
A Story of Discworld
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Customer Reviews
Sidesplitting 
2007-12-04
This was the first Terry Pratchett book that I read and it made a fan out of me. This is the first of a series involving the "wee hag," Tiffany. I have been giving this series to others now. Well done!
Forever and ever, wold without end. 2007-11-12
Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching lives on a farm on the downs, surrounded by sheep instead of trees, and she's really good at cheese. But what she really wants is to become a witch, even though witches aren't much tolerated in their world. Her late grandmother was the soul of the chalk hills and may have been a sort of witch (even though she didn't wear the pointy hat), and Tiffany feels a call to take her place. But first she has to deal with the encroachment of Faerie into her world, and the theft of her toddler brother, armed with her trusty iron frying pan. (Well, it worked against Jennie Greenteeth.) She succeeds partly because she doesn't realize how frightened she ought to be, and partly because she has deep talents she's only beginning to discover and exploit. And partly because she has the enthusiastic assistance of the Nac Mac Feegle, six-inch-high redheaded, blue-tattooed "Pict-sies" who wear kilts, speak in a brogue, and delight in fighting, drinking, and stealing. But Tiffany has temporary become the clan's kelda (leader) and what she says goes. While this first volume of a trilogy is technically a Discworld novel, it's in a semi-independent subseries and there's a distinct lack of the sort of freewheeling lunacy that so hilariously infects most of his work. I noticed this, too, in the award-winning _Amazing Maurice_; perhaps Pratchett is unsure of the humorous sophistication of his younger readers. But he shouldn't be. As he piles up the books, though, his command of the language and his descriptive skills only get better and better. Sentences like "From up here the flocks of sheep, moving slowly, drift over the short turf like clouds on a green sky. Here and there sheepdogs speed over the grass like shooting stars." Lovely stuff. There's a reason this book appeared on everyone's "Best of the Year" list.
wee free men rule! 2007-11-06
this book was a great fantasy book that really brought you there to where the action was happening. the main character, a girl who is about nine years old has to rescue her brother from the queen of nightmares. the wee free men help her as she is a witch (or going to become one in the next book!) Her grandmother was nice to the wee free men as she is. they help her a lot and remain faithful to her. they speak an accented language so it is difficult to read but once you get the hang of it it is really fun. This book was a great book for any girl or boy 9 years old and up. Happy Reading!
An Extremely Entertaining Book for Children and Adults 
2007-10-29
This books is about a very serious nine-year who thinks she want to be a witch, the Wee Free Men (red haired, blue skinned folk), the Fairy Queen and the adventures there of. It is also a very funny and entertaining book that has the added bonus of teaching good lessons.
The book is set in the Chalk Country---visualize 19th century rural England---and Tiffany Aching is nine years old, but going on fifty (sorta like my daughter). She is a pragmatic little girl, who isn't above using her brother as bait. But at heart, she is a little girl who knows she is different from everyone else and wants to know why.
In the course of the book, she does find out why. And she finds out about a whole lot of other things-----including the Wee Free Men---the heart and soul of the story. When he is writing about the Wee Free Men, Mr. Prachet is at his best. You will find yourself laughing out loud (and at length) about some of things the Wee Free Men say and do. They alone are worth the price of the book.
The best thing about this book is the lessons that it teaches about self-reliance, trusting yourself and relying on others. There is no Harry Potter-type magic, just the kind magic that comes from the Chalk and from people's minds. It is a great children's book (which means it is perfect for adults) and is well worth reading. You and your children will certainly enjoy it!
So Funny! 2007-07-20
I love this book! It's so very Terry Pratchett. I have it as an audio book and sometimes I wonder if I can drive properly listening to it!
Wacky and Delightful 2008-07-04
Finally a book with just the right mix of heart, action, fantasy, humanity and wacky unpredictability! This was my first voyage into Pratchett land and what a journey. I'd heard about his Discworld books but never got round to actually cracking the spine of one. Honestly, I have no idea if Wee Free takes place on Discworld or not. But no matter where the story takes place, Tiffany is a great, active heroine and the Wee Free Men are an absolute riot! That said, for our own wee ones, some of the under 10 or 11 set may have trouble figuring out just what the Nac Mac Feegle are saying as Pratchett has them chatting with their Scottish brogues fully intact. Things like, "...Crivens, we dinna want tae answer..." and "The Quin'll get tired o' the wee lad after a coupla months, mebbe." After a few pages of the Free Men's dialogue, though, it does get easier to understand and by your third page of it, those crazy little blue guys in kilts will have you rolling of the floor.
Keep 'em coming Terry, you crazy old coot.
Crivens! This little bigjob's a witch! 2008-04-29
Pratchett really shines in his young readers stories of Tiffany Aching. Tiffany is a 9 year old girl born and raised on the chalk, where her family tends sheep. While she tries to cope with her sorrow over the death of her grandmother (a witch who never said as much), it becomes clear that she has inherited her granny's talent for witching. This is the first book in the Tiffany Aching series, which delves into the world of the tiny Mac Nac Feegle, tattooed blue sprites with flaming red hair and tempers to match. Here the MNFeegles help Tiffany with the general business of witching, and the specific business of rescuing her sticky little brother Wentworth from the Queen of Faerie.
Like all of Pratchett's books, The Wee Free Men is laugh-out-loud funny (almost too clever for young readers), and a joyous romp through the crazy Discworld that Pratchett has created.
- C.A.Wulff author of Born Without a Tail
Witches, in Inimitable Pratchett-Style 2008-02-13
Of all Terry Pratchett's wonderful, whimsical books, his witch books (Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, Weird Sisters) are my favorites, and of all his witch books, this is absolutely the best.
Nine-year-old Tiffany's introduction to witchhood - as I said, Pratchett-style witchhood - is just one amazement followed by another. Pratchett's witches are wonderfully practical creatures, with First Sight and Second Thoughts (never mind that "second sight" silliness). Under the impetus of her own sense of rightness, and the knowledge that she is the only one who can do it, Tiffany sets out to save not only her sticky and annoying little brother, but her entire world, from an invasion of the Fairy.
Along the way, she has several revelations about the nature of a true witch, the lack of glamour associated with this most responsible position (a witch takes care of her people), and the satisfaction of making things right.
Tiffany also has several revelations about the nature of the Nac Mac Feegle, a small bright blue barbarian-like gang of anarchists ("No King, no Quin, we shall never be fooled again!") that just love stealing, fighting, and drinking, but mostly fighting. But somehow, the little terrors have managed to learn respect for witches - and lawyers - and supply this nine-year-old with bright blue nearly invisible muscle.
Additionally, the story of Tiffany is tied into the story of her Granny, who, despite her humble life as a rough-n-tough shepherdess, clearly was the witch who cared for Tiffany's people before her. So, along with its madcap air of adventure, and the gales of laughter, the book has a gentle whiff of nostalgia, and an undercurrent of deep respect for the past. The blend comes out just right, producing a balanced book that manages to end with a profound sense of just-rightness, without ever losing the ability to surprize the reader every time a page is turned. It is perfect.
Pratchett does it again!! 2008-02-05
The witches of Discworld are identified by their practicality and ability to manipulate people. They believe in using as little magic as possible, and Tiffany Aching is no exception. This entry in the Discworld pantheon follows Tiffany dealing with the loss of her magical Grandmother, an invasion from the realm of faerie, becoming kelda of the Nac Mac Feegle, and rescuing her little brother from the evils of the faerie.
Terry Pratchett has ever been a favorite author of mine, and I've converted many family and friends to his work. But "The Wee Free Men" has taken him too new heights of reader entertainment. The adventure of Tiffany Aching is a beautiful combination of magical machinations and practical solutions. When your main weapon against the forces of darkness is a frying pan, hilarity must ensue. Toss on the pictsies in the form of the Nac Mac Feegle, who are less pixie and more scottish Pict, (a historically implacable foe and epitome of barbaric Scotland), and the fun just keeps on rolling.
In all, I heartily recommend this book for younger readers and old alike. The common, earthy european humor of Pratchett's other novels is left out of this one, which makes it all the more kid friendly.
A Kid's Book but Still Pratchett 2008-01-28
Don't let the fact that this book is targeted towards children fool you. This book has all of the wit and charm that you have come to expect from Pratchett's books. Tiffany Aching is a bright young girl who is much more together than most of the adults in the story and the Nac Mac Feegles are some of Pratchett's funniest and most indearing characters to date. This book is deffinetly worth picking up no matter your age.
