"Wintersmith"

So, I'm officially moving out of Pittsburgh on Friday. Even though 6 (that's right, 6) banker boxes worth of books have already made the pilgrimage back to Gettysburg in the back of my dad's truck, I figure it's only appropriate to write about one of the few that stayed behidn. (Relax...only a few books stayed in Pittsburgh with me because I knew I'd need something to read or I'd go crazy. And some weren't unearthed from under the bed until yesterday. Oops.)

"Wintersmith"
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins 2007
ISBN#: 978-0060890339

Tiffany Aching, practically thirteen and still learning witchcraft far from her home on the chalk, has accidentally inserted herself into the role of the Lady Summer. Now, the Wintersmith is calling on her, with all sorts of gifts (like frost roses and icebergs that look just like her) and all sorts of trouble. Can Tiffany put the seasons to right or will everyone end up as blue as the Nac Mac Feegles?

This is the third book in the Tiffany Aching series, Terry Pratchett's young adult books. I also have a feeling it's the last, but that's fine. Like "Wee Free Men" and "A Hat Full of Sky", "Wintersmith" follows Tiffany and her never-ending learning to be a real witch. You could probably read this book on it's own, but it's a lot more interesting after reading the other two first. Roland, the Baron's son, plays a much bigger part in this book, as does Annagramma. But, these characters really help to shape who Tiffany is throughout the books. And, of course, the Nac Mac Feegles are in full swing. The part about Explainin' is worth a chuckle. While the Wintersmith is new, the story is old. It's the same sort of myth all sorts of cultures use to explain the change in seasons, andPratchett does an excellent job of weaving it together. He also takes elements and characters from the other Discworld novels and makes them just as likeable in this setting. This particular volume contains Granny Weatherwax from the start, as well as Nanny Ogg, and I'm sure Magrat puts in an appearance (although she's not mentioned by name). Pratchett also includes Anoia (Goddess of Things that Get Stuck in Drawers) who is mentioned in some of the late Discworld novels, Greebo the cat, and Shawn Ogg. But, my personal favorite is at the very end of the book, when Rob Anybody reads a very special picture book. "Where's mah coo?" It all comes around again. :)