"Wintersmith" by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching is a witch. At least, she is studying to be a witch. It's not that she is a complete novice. At the age of nine she defeated the Queen of Fairyland and at the age of eleven she did battle with a body stealing being not even skilled wizards had managed to evade. No, Tiffany has power. It's just that she is learning how she is doing what she is doing. She is learning to control it. And she is learning that witching isn't all about magic... there is a lot of work involved, not in the least the looking after people who refuse to look after themselves.In "Wintersmith", Tiffany faces a new challenge. It's bad enough dealing with boys, but she suddenly finds herself courted by Winter itself, all because of one little incident. And Winter means storms and snow and ice. If Winter gets its way, it will be winter forever.Tiffany needs to use all her skills and wits to ensure the return of Spring. Luckily, she is not on her own. She has the help of Granny Weatherwax, the best witch on the Discworld (though she would never ever say so herself, of course). She has the help of her friends, the other junior witches. And she has the Wee Free Men, those small but brave and rather unique picsties... whether she likes it or not.Will Tiffany be able to take on Winter, in all its destructive force? Will she be able to rescue the lambs? This third book in the Tiffany Aching series will answer both questions and more.Though it is best if you have read the first two books - "The Wee Free Men" and "A Hat Full of Sky", this book can be read on its own. However, you would be missing out on some touching and entertaining adventures.The Tiffany Aching books are set on the famous Discworld, and you will find several characters taking part in her adventures, including, as mentioned, Granny Weatherwax. This gives the series a feeling of being home, to those who enjoy Terry Pratchett's other works."Wintersmith" is an enjoyable read for all ages. It reads smoothly, the characters are realistic and the plot is gripping. Pratchett's fabulous sense of humor never fails to make me smile and giggle, no matter my mood when I started reading.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.According to the author's bio, Terry Pratchett's first short story was published when he was 13. His first book was published when he was 23. Since then, his novels have been translated into over two dozen languages and have sold more than 40 million copies. He received the Carnegie Medal for "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" - the highest honour for a children's book."Wintersmith" was published in 2006 by HarperTempest, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, with ISBN-13: 978-0-06-089031-5 and ISBN-10: 0-06-089031-2. dr seuss book collection