The Wee Free Men: A Novel of Discworld (Tiffany Aching #1) by Terry Pratchett (Author)

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book * Horn Book Fanfare Book * Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Locus Award winner

The first Discworld adventure starring young witch Tiffany Aching is a breathtaking tale of heroism and a sidesplitting introduction to the uproariously funny six-inch-high Wee Free Men, from fantasy legend and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett.

"Exuberant and irresistible." --The Washington Post

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....

The Discworld novels can be read in any order, but The Wee Free Men is the first book in the fabulous and funny Tiffany Aching series, which is comprised of: The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, I Shall Wear Midnight, The Shepherd's Crown.

Tiffany's mentors, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, star in the novels Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum.

About the Author: 
Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) is the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.

The reviews are in!

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

"An enthralling and rewarding read." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Pratchett's touch is light but assured as he steers the tale easily between magical adventure and the just-as-interesting ordinary life on the Chalk, with comedic interludes, hair-raising danger, and flashbacks. The slow but tantalizing pace is superb, the matter-of-fact tone spot on--just the package to appeal to those who admire not just a brave heart but a quick comeback as well." - Horn Book (starred review)

"Set in a chillingly unrecognizable 'fairyland, ' this ingenious melange of fantasy, action, humor, and sly bits of social commentary contains complex underlying themes on the nature of love, reality, and dreams. The Carnegie Medal-winner's fans will not be disappointed." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Perfect for anyone who enjoys The Princess Bride and the works of Douglas Adams. A wonderfully funny fantasy for all ages." - KLIATT (starred review)

A glorious read." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"With its wry wit and acerbic collision of the mystical with the mundane, the latest book in Pratchett's internationally popular Discworld, is good solid storytelling done in a style that reads like Celtic mythology fused with the girl power of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" with dialogue by Robert Burns." - New York Times Book Review

"Exuberant and irresistible. Pratchett's tale recalls a whole variety of texts in which underestimated heroines confront the forces of darkness--Meg Murry of A Wrinkle in Time, Coraline of Neil Gaiman's recent novel, Lyra Belacqua of The Golden Compass, Miss Bianca of The Rescuers, even Buffy the Vampire Slayer." - Washington Post

"A smart retelling [that] delves into weighty issues but keeps its sense of dark humor." - USA Today

ISBN: 9780063442139
ISBN-10: 0063442132
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Pages: 352
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Series: Tiffany Aching Series

Recommended Reading Level
Ages 13 to 17