A lot of this book is about Tiffany struggling with situations she is really too young and inexperienced to cope with, which is an inevitable part of the plot and the world she lives in. The first incident is the most shocking and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the readers were too young and inexperienced for it as well. I don't think my 13-year old would be happy, she's reading these books for the little blue guys. Even Pratchett doesn't really seem to know where to go with something that horrible. I think it was a mistake - if anything, he should have built up to it more slowly. Or else stuck with that level throughout the whole book, and gone for the more mature readers only. Because what's odd is that the story settles down after that incident and becomes much more manageable, even fun. A typical Tiffany book in which she trounces the forces of evil and impresses the older witches.
