Discworld "for younger readers".... (spoilers?)

SB118 · 13 Aug 2011 at 18:26

I'm not quite sure what i expected when i had a look at the most recent Pratchett offering "for younger readers", i was hoping to introduce my eldest (she's 10 going on 16) to his stuff and let her enjoy them as much as i have.

So.... "I shall wear midnight" (for younger readers), umm, it's not what i would have thought of as young reader "friendly", it's grimmer than the stuff you get in the normal discworld series!

At the start, the heroine is dealing with a drunk father who has beat his pregnant daughter badly enough for her to lose the baby and has to bury the child.

Later the heroine talks to her own father about having to deal with an old lady who was dead for 2 months before anybody noticed and how her house full of cats had got hungry and that you couldn't blame them as they were only animals .... :eek:

I've just got as far as her sitting with an old man while he dies.

If they're all like this i might read them myself!

DampCat · 13 Aug 2011 at 18:39

Yeah they're not "childrens" books. I suspect the "young adult" aspect is that the protagonist is a younger character, so the thoughts, opinions and experiences are those the younger reader can relate with more-so than Pratchett's older, more cynical creations.

If you haven't read them, they're well worth the time. the Nac Mac Feegle are excellent.

Start from the beginning though, as the stories progress as a series, and so do the characters. The Wee Free Men, is the first.

PhillyDee · 13 Aug 2011 at 18:40

I read this without even knowing it supposedly for younger readers! I am an avid fan of Terry Pratchett, and I found these even easier going than previous books. Still enjoyable, and I always liked the Feegles

.

Shamikebab · 13 Aug 2011 at 18:51

They're just as good if not better than the rest of them, definitely good for adults as well.

IceBus · 13 Aug 2011 at 18:54

If you're after something a little bit tamer, I can wholly recommend the Truckers trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings). Excellently written and a lot more PG in content.

Kosmiche · 13 Aug 2011 at 21:07

I read "Nation" which is for younger readers and found it excellent, its not the usual fantasy the guy does.

PhillyDee · 13 Aug 2011 at 21:08

Eames said:
I read "Nation" which is for younger readers and found it excellent, its not the usual fantasy the guy does.

Really enjoyed this one!

SilverTongue · 13 Aug 2011 at 21:10

Wasn't until I'd finished it that I realised it was "for younger readers" I too thought it was a little to gritty

Werewolf · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:47

I think ISWM is meant for the "young adult" market, so mid teens and up, although it's a good read (Like nation and wintersmith) even if you're an "old fogey"

I don't think any of his Discworld books are really intended for someone as young as 10 (although I've got vague memories that the story Vimes reads to his kid in Thud is available as a picture book for young kids).

I think the Truckers books, and Carpet people are probably more suited to younger readers, with The Dark Side of the Sun and Nation also being quite good

Somehow I've managed to miss the first couple of the YA discworld books, I've got Wintersmith and ISWM but not the others (I was also surprised when I listed my Discworld books to tind i'm missing 3 of the main series - I've got most of them in a PB and HD version).