Title: A Hat Full of Sky

Author: Terry Pratchett

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Publisher: HarperTeen

Copyright: 2004

ISBN: 0060586621

Pages: 407

Keywords: humor, fantasy

Reading period: 25–26 January, 2010

Sequel to The Wee Free Men.

Tiffany Aching, now 11, becomes a trainee witch. But an ancient evil, the hiver, has noticed her and possesses her. Her Nac Mac Feegle friends, the diminutive and indomitable blue pictsies, come to her aid.

She may only be eleven, but she's as tough as nails.

Recommended.

Title: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Author: Susanna Clarke

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Copyright: 2004

ISBN: 1582346038

Pages: 846

Keywords: fantasy

Reading period: 1–9 January, 2010

In the year Eighteen-Six, it has been two hundred years since last a practical magician walked in England, when Mr. Norrell shews himself after many years of study. In time, he is joined by a student Jonathan Strange who later distinguishes himself in the Peninsular War against the tyrant Bonaparte. But their most dangerous adversary is the capricious gentleman with the thistle-down hair from Faerie.

Susanna Clarke's debut novel is a startling take on fantasy, evoking the work of Austen and Dickens, pitting madness against reason, exploring magic and Englishness.

Highly recommended.

Title: Nature Girl

Author: Carl Hiaasen

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Publisher: Grand Central

Copyright: 2006

ISBN: 0446581755

Pages: 304

Keywords: humor

Reading period: 30 December, 2009–1 January 2010

Hiaasen drags a motley cast of characters to a remote key in the Everglades and lets their various lunacies duke it out.

An entertaining romp.