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A Hat Full of Sky | 
| Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £4.89
You Save: £2.10 (30%)
New (23) Used (7) Collectible (1) from £2.43
Avg. Customer Rating:  49 reviews
Sales Rank: 940
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0552551449
EAN: 9780552551441
ASIN: 0552551449
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon.co.uk 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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 44 more reviews...
 Truly excellent January 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The previous Pratchett book staring Tiffany Aching, `The Wee Free Men', was an absorbing and entertaining read but this second book in the series is simply another degree of excellence above its predecessor. In this book Tiffany is now eleven and is leaving home for the first time in order to learn what it means to be a witch. Travelling to the mountains she stays with the research witch Miss Level but a creature from the dawn of time is stalking her and will make life difficult once it catches her.
It has been a long time since I read an entire book in a single day but this one was just so absorbing and entertaining that I just could not put it down. The book is as intelligently written, bringing the characters and scenery to life as effectively if not better than any other Discworld book. The book is also as funny as anything else Terry Pratchett has produced in the last few years. The Nac Mac Feegle, while still important, have something of a reduced role in this book but they are still up to their old tricks and produce some of the most entertaining parts of the story.
If the previous book had a fault it was that it seemed to be somewhat isolated from the rest of the Discworld but thankfully that is put right here with appearances by such Discworld staples as wizards and Death, meaning that the book feels a part of the rest of the series. I cannot help but feel that Terry Pratchett was on top form once again for this book and I feel the final confrontation at the Witch Trials is one of the best sequences that he has ever put to paper. `A Hat Full of Sky' is a brilliant book and is not only my favourite Discworld book but has also stormed strait to the top of my list of all-time favourite books, I just worry that after this the next book in the series `Wintersmith' will not be able to live up to the same standards.
 waiting for its sequel December 22, 2007
Yes its a nice tale but it really is on the way to its sequel.
Good lord, He's done it again. September 22, 2007
This is another deep chilerens book written by Pratchett.
It deals with ambition and ruthlessness in a deep, dark and comical way, but he has kept it suitible for chileren.
He does make a dig at a very well known childerens book, but thankfully, doesn't give Tiffany a scar... He also doesn't let it dominate the book.
For those who are reading it for it being a discworld book will be pleased to hear that Granny Weatherwax makes an appearence.
I can see this becoming a big series.
My Daughter loves this!!!! May 17, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have never read any Terry Pratchett books myself but my better half rates them very highly. I bought this for my nine year old daughter and she loves it. She has been eager to get to bed just so she can read a little more and has even been taking it to school so she can read during wet play!!!
She has always been a keen reader but this is the first book that has ever had her hooked and looking forward to her next installment.
A Hat Full of grown up story.... January 15, 2007
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I take all Pratchett's books as if they were written for me! I don't think of them as children's story's. With this one I leapt into each page being absorbed by the story more and more as it went on.
I loved Tiffany she reminded me of a younger version of myself. Her hard headed attitiude and strength of character made me smile to myself, thinking of how similar we were. My gran is still alive but she and I had a relationship as close as Tiffany and Granny aching when I was tiny child. Granted, I didn't take up with a hoard of blue micro Scots that made Saturday night Glasgow steriotypes seem tame, or fall into a parallel world of wintery witches and evil mystic characters but hey ho!
I got to the end feeling rather breathless and quite exhausted, having sat down one quiet Sunday to read it from cover to cover!
Go for it, it shouldn't dissapoint.
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