She's not the kind of protagonist who just sits around and bemoans her status in the world. She's got a mind of her own, isn't afraid of anything, and is ready to forge her own path, even if it means going through some pretty dangerous landscapes.Īnd that's why you should care about Tiffany. Well Tiffany Aching is definitely a different kind of heroine. There are exceptions, but very often girls in children's books-especially fantasy novels-are supposed to be demure, pretty, and ladylike. What is The Wee Free Men About and Why Should I Care?Ī lot of children's literature revolves around the princess narrative (example: every Disney princess movie ever). So read up, learn up, and don't stop believing in yourself. Tiffany's far more curious and clever than the lazy Queen will ever be (after all, the Queen just uses magic to take care of things), and this serves her well in the end.

Instead determination and an understanding of how the world works are what count the most. So at the end of the day, though the story takes us to magical places, it isn't magical skill that is ultimately important. Instead of giving up out of frustration or fear, Tiffany powers through the odious landscape of Fairyland and gets herself into-and out of-all sorts of traps and tricks through sheer imagination and grit. Tiffany may be young, and she may not have that many skills (she doesn't even possess the magical skills that the Nac Mac Feegles think she does when they start following her), but she more than makes up for it with determination and cleverness. The story revolves around the idea that anyone can make things happen-whether you're big or small. The whole thing is wondrous, full of adventure, and just a bit scary. And with that, she marches bravely into the world of Fairyland with an army of little blue men (the Nac Mac Feegles) to back her up. Even though Wentworth is sticky and kind of a crybaby, Tiffany realizes that it's her job to go fetch him back. The trouble Tiffany finds herself in, namely, is that the Queen of Fairyland has stolen her sticky baby brother, Wentworth.

Tiffany is brash, a little impulsive, and not particularly patient with her little brother-but she's also determined to carve her own way in life, and that determination comes in handy when she runs into trouble. This particular fantasy novel features a young, scrappy heroine that young readers can certainly relate to. And this world is full of mythology and magic-which isn't surprising from a writer who dabbles in astronomy and writes a whole lot of fantasy. In The Wee Free Men, Pratchett delves into a world that's known to readers of his Discworld series.

English writer Terry Pratchett usually writes books for adults, but in The Wee Free Men he tumbles gleefully into the world of children's literature-just as the heroine of the story, Tiffany, tumbles (though not so gleefully) into the strange world of Fairyland.

The wee free men