A Hat Full of Sky: 2 (Tiffany Aching) - Softcover

Pratchett, Terry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062435272 ISBN 13: 9780062435279

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2015

Synopsis

The second in a series of Discworld novels starring the young witch Tiffany Aching.

Something is coming after Tiffany. . . .

Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic--not chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this!

What Tiffany doesn't know is that an insidious, disembodied creature is pursuing her. This time, neither Mistress Weatherwax (the greatest witch in the world) nor the fierce, six-inch-high Wee Free Men can protect her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffany's inner strength to save herself . . . if it can be done at all.

About this title

Review:

Pratchett's third children's novel set in the Discworld, and the second to feature wannabe witch Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men, is so ridiculously well written and consistently funny it makes you wonder how he can keep writing such superlative novels without cheating a bit. It would be reassuring to think that the Carnegie Medal-winning author of The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents and The Wee Free Men had his own small army of professional helpers, not unlike like a US sitcom, inventing and deliberating about which are the best jokes and plot lines to use to ensure the best quality quotient. But it's all his own work and that makes each brilliant novel more remarkable because of it.

A Hat Full of Sky continues the adventures of eleven-year-old Tiffany as she endeavours to become a proper witch. She's 'done' magic before, quite spectacularly and to great effect, but now she must be apprenticed to an established practitioner of the craft, the amazing Miss Level, in order to learn exactly how she did it. Unfortunately for her, there's a crazed and malevolent ancient spirit buzzing about, called a Hiver, who is looking for a convenient host to consume. Hiver's are attracted to greatness, and Tiffany hides an enormous talent that seems ripe for domination.

Still grateful for Miss Aching's past help, a crack team of several Wee Free Men, nature's funkiest, drunkest and bluest fairy folk, take it upon themselves to help Tiffany out. Hiver's, however, are unbeatable and it's a definite "sooey-side mission" to save the big wee hag from harm.

It's great to see writing of such quality in a children's novel, and it's further evidence that this sector of the publishing world is having a bit of a golden decade. Long may it continue! (Age 10 and over)--John McLay

Review:

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

"By turns hilarious and achingly beautiful, this be just right."--Kirkus Reviews

"Full of irreverent humor, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and many memorable characters. Fans of the previous book are in for another treat."--School Library Journal

"A masterpiece of comic fantasy. [Pratchett's] deep feeling for landscape, animals, kindness, and courage make his adventures deeply satisfying as well as clever."--London Times

"Readers will curl up to read with a sigh of contentment."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Tiffany is Hermione Granger, Gaiman's Coraline, and Pullman's Lyra Belacqua rolled into one. A great adventure with plenty of magic and laughs."--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

"The humor races from cerebral to burlesque without dropping a stitch. Astonishing."--Horn Book (starred review)

About this edition

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0062435272
• ISBN 13: 9780062435279
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400