Recommend-A-Book-Wednesday: Terry Pratchett's YA Novels

 Two years ago, when I discovered that Terry Pratchett (one of my favorite authors and my son’s favorite author of all time) had been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's I almost broke down in tears.  One of the things that always comes through in Pratchett’s writing is his extreme intelligence and his spectacular creativity.  In short, he has a beautiful mind and I find it horrific that a mind like that would be affected by such a heinous disease before Pratchett had even reached his sixtieth birthday.   I remember sitting down with my son and telling him that I wasn’t sure if there would be any more books in Pratchett’s YA Tiffany Aching series.  He did break down in tears. He had fallen in love with Tiffany, fallen in love with Pratchett’s story telling, fallen in love with Pratchett’s alternative universes and he simply couldn’t stand the fact that there might not be any more offerings of any of that.  Whenever the subject of books comes up with his peers he insists that they buy one of Pratchett’s YA novels as if somehow increasing Pratchett’s American sales could save his life.  

But at the time of his diagnosis Pratchett suggested that he might have a few more books in him.  He’s been true to his word and since the announcement in 2008 I have thought of each subsequent Pratchett novel as kind of a gift from God (Ironic because Pratchett himself is a vocal Atheist).  

In October Prachett’s latest Tiffany Aching book, I Shall Wear Midnight will be released. My son and I couldn’t be more excited.  Yes, the Tiffany books are young adult but they’re so sophisticated and thought provoking it’s hard to imagine that there are many adults out there who wouldn’t enjoy them.  Prachett’s humor is always on point, his observations both cutting and true, his descriptions are nothing short of poetic.  Perhaps most importantly, his books are incredibly entertaining and fun.  Although generally I don’t enjoy reading YA fiction his books are for me an exception to that rule and if you have a chance I strongly recommend that you pick up (for yourself or your child) either Wee Free Men, Nation or The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents.  Wee Free Men is the first book in a series and the other two are stand-alone novels.  Every single one of them is excellent.  

Prachett doesn’t need me to pimp him. He’s so popular in England the Queen actually knighted him.  But this author is too good not to talk about and I really want to encourage you to enjoy what he can give us while he is still with us and cognisant of our appreciation.  I want to celebrate his talents because no matter what happens to Prachett his creativity and his particular genius will always be with us. 

Kyra Davis

Bestselling Author of:

The Sophie Katz Mystery Series
and
So Much For My Happy Ending
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