The Sir Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge: A Hat Full of Sky

After I read The Wee Free Men, I couldn't help but continue on and read book two of the Tiffany Aching series: A Hat Full of Sky.

In A Hat Full of Sky, Tiffany is around 11 I think and finally goes to train with a witch (Miss Level, who has two bodies). But unfortunately, her mind is taken over by the Hiver, a monster that apparently can't be destroyed. Along with the help from the Nac Mac Feegle, she has to defeat the Hiver, away from the Chalk.

It's actually really fun reading things in sequence(: Although it is briefly explained, the relationship/Tiffany teasing Roland makes much more sense when you've actually read the first book and know the backstory. And if you like Granny Weatherwax, you're in luck. She plays a much bigger role in this book than she did in the first.

But there were characters I didn't really like. Like Jeanie, the new Kelda of the Nac Mac Feegle. But honestly, it's only because she doesn't like Tiffany. The way she bosses Rob Anybody and the other Feegles around is really funny. And she has quite a few touching moments, most notably when she identifies with the loneliness Tiffany is going through.

The book is about finding yourself, so it's a topic most kids (and adults) will identify with.

Of course, I can't resist quoting parts of the book. There are actually many parts (so many, you should just read the whole book), but I like the bath scene. Here, Miss Level has forced the Feegles to take a bath (they think too many baths are bad), and for the first time, it's in a tub instead of a cold sheep pond:

There was nothing to hear at first but the gentle splash of water, and then:

"This is no' as bad as I thought!

"Aye, very pleasin'."

"Hey, there's a big yellow duck here. Who're ye pointin' that beak at, yer scunner -"

There was a wet quack and some bubbling noises as the rubber duck sank.

"Rob, we oughta get one o' these put in the back of the mound. Verra warmin' in the wintertime."

"Aye, it's no' that good for the ship, havin' tae drink oout o' that pond after we've been bathin'. It's terrible, hearin' a ship try tae spit."