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Pied
For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Nevermoor, join Min on a musical adventure, inspired by the Pied Piper fairy tale, as he discovers his lost magical culture and finds his place in a new world.
Min Wickford has never ridden in a flying ferry boat, had a tornado clean his room, or gotten in mounds of trouble by a mischievous weasel, because Min is the kind of kid who always does what he is told and never gets into trouble. Until one day when he plays a musical pipe and his entire school falls to the ground, like their souls were snatched from their bodies.
With one note, the secret his uncle kept from him for years is out, and Min is quickly swept into the quirky and colorful hidden world of Pipers, persons who can turn melody into magic.
But Min soon learns he is different, even among Pipers, because he is a Pied Piper, the kind of Piper that’s vilified and targeted in the Piper world. His best chance of blending in is acceptance into an exclusive Piper Association where all members are protected from harm.
Forced to hide his Pied identity while mastering his new powers, Min must pass a series of magical, musical trials. But what he is hiding just might be the very thing he needs to succeed.
Min Wickford has never ridden in a flying ferry boat, had a tornado clean his room, or gotten in mounds of trouble by a mischievous weasel, because Min is the kind of kid who always does what he is told and never gets into trouble. Until one day when he plays a musical pipe and his entire school falls to the ground, like their souls were snatched from their bodies.
With one note, the secret his uncle kept from him for years is out, and Min is quickly swept into the quirky and colorful hidden world of Pipers, persons who can turn melody into magic.
But Min soon learns he is different, even among Pipers, because he is a Pied Piper, the kind of Piper that’s vilified and targeted in the Piper world. His best chance of blending in is acceptance into an exclusive Piper Association where all members are protected from harm.
Forced to hide his Pied identity while mastering his new powers, Min must pass a series of magical, musical trials. But what he is hiding just might be the very thing he needs to succeed.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 24, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
I can't believe how few people have read and reviewed this! Pied is an impressive middle-grade fantasy debut that I think a lot of readers would love. Drawing loosely on the Pied Piper stories, it creates an entire world and magic system existing along our own with a boy named Min who can't see colors until the day his magic finally awakens. Now he must compete in a series of challenges to earn a spot at a magical academy, but he also has to hide who he truly is.
While most Pipers only play one color of magic (each color is associated with controlling a different category of living thing), but Min is a Pied Piper and can play all of them. But due to events in the past, the Pied are feared and discriminated against.
This book is full of action, adventure, danger, magic, friendship, and found family. And it's also about being true to yourself and the ways people fear what they don't understand. There's an undercurrent of talking about biracial identity, but not in a super obvious way. I think my kids would really enjoy this and there is tons of room for a continuing series! More people need to pick this up. I received a copy of this book for review from the author, all opinions are my own. (I got it right before the holidays so it took me a minute, but I'm so glad I read it!)
I can't believe how few people have read and reviewed this! Pied is an impressive middle-grade fantasy debut that I think a lot of readers would love. Drawing loosely on the Pied Piper stories, it creates an entire world and magic system existing along our own with a boy named Min who can't see colors until the day his magic finally awakens. Now he must compete in a series of challenges to earn a spot at a magical academy, but he also has to hide who he truly is.
While most Pipers only play one color of magic (each color is associated with controlling a different category of living thing), but Min is a Pied Piper and can play all of them. But due to events in the past, the Pied are feared and discriminated against.
This book is full of action, adventure, danger, magic, friendship, and found family. And it's also about being true to yourself and the ways people fear what they don't understand. There's an undercurrent of talking about biracial identity, but not in a super obvious way. I think my kids would really enjoy this and there is tons of room for a continuing series! More people need to pick this up. I received a copy of this book for review from the author, all opinions are my own. (I got it right before the holidays so it took me a minute, but I'm so glad I read it!)
October 5, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. There’s something undeniably beautiful about well-crafted children’s books that don’t assume their audience is naïve. PIED is a fun, thrilling expansion of the Pied Piper legend. You don’t need to know the lore beforehand, though being familiar with it might make the experience even richer. As an adult who already knew the world, I couldn’t have enjoyed the book more. The story follows Rim, who navigates difficult family relationships, trying to understand why adults make the choices they do, working through disability, while searching for a place in a world that’s set up to bring him down. Despite everything, Rim is drawn to his new animal companions and the people who genuinely care for his well-being, even when they fear for his safety.
The prose is gorgeous, pulling the reader into the scenery so vividly I could almost feel the air change as Rim played his pipe. It’s that combination—immersive writing and themes that resonate deeply—that makes this book stand out. PIED respects the intelligence of its readers, offering something both kids and adults can truly appreciate.
The prose is gorgeous, pulling the reader into the scenery so vividly I could almost feel the air change as Rim played his pipe. It’s that combination—immersive writing and themes that resonate deeply—that makes this book stand out. PIED respects the intelligence of its readers, offering something both kids and adults can truly appreciate.
October 25, 2024
Full disclosure: I am related to the author.
But, I promise you, if I didn't like the book, I just wouldn't leave a review. Turns out, I LOVED this book. Rim is a truly compelling, fun, and fierce protagonist. Feeling "different" all his life, Rim seeks self-understanding while desiring the community that has eluded him. When he happens to play an, up until then, mundane instrument, he is transported into the magical world of his heritage, one that he has been kept from to keep him safe. Immediately Rim is enchanted! He can't believe he belongs to such a vibrant, amazing, mystical and melodic world. But there are rules in this new universe, rules that Rim's very existence breaks.
It's a story of stepping into courage and self-belief, of self love and owning and embracing what makes you different, and of found family, all in a vibrant, fun, multilayered musical world that I never wanted to leave. Seriously, I had to set a timer. I never wanted to put this book down.
But, I promise you, if I didn't like the book, I just wouldn't leave a review. Turns out, I LOVED this book. Rim is a truly compelling, fun, and fierce protagonist. Feeling "different" all his life, Rim seeks self-understanding while desiring the community that has eluded him. When he happens to play an, up until then, mundane instrument, he is transported into the magical world of his heritage, one that he has been kept from to keep him safe. Immediately Rim is enchanted! He can't believe he belongs to such a vibrant, amazing, mystical and melodic world. But there are rules in this new universe, rules that Rim's very existence breaks.
It's a story of stepping into courage and self-belief, of self love and owning and embracing what makes you different, and of found family, all in a vibrant, fun, multilayered musical world that I never wanted to leave. Seriously, I had to set a timer. I never wanted to put this book down.
October 13, 2024
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Pied is a multi-faceted vibrant world. I was consistently shocked and in awe of the world Lee has created. There's this sense of life as we are shown the magic of the Pipers. The magical world building from the word creation, to the magical colors, to the musical trials is amazing. For middle grade readers who love fantastical worlds, this is a must read!
Pied is a multi-faceted vibrant world. I was consistently shocked and in awe of the world Lee has created. There's this sense of life as we are shown the magic of the Pipers. The magical world building from the word creation, to the magical colors, to the musical trials is amazing. For middle grade readers who love fantastical worlds, this is a must read!
June 24, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I loved the representation of Rim's color blindness, and have to say that there are probably fewer reimaginings of the Pied Piper tale than many others. Add this to other Pied Piper tales like Allen's (2024) The Skeleton Flute and Cody's The Peddler's Road (2015), and Weatherill's Wild Magic (2007).
I loved the representation of Rim's color blindness, and have to say that there are probably fewer reimaginings of the Pied Piper tale than many others. Add this to other Pied Piper tales like Allen's (2024) The Skeleton Flute and Cody's The Peddler's Road (2015), and Weatherill's Wild Magic (2007).
November 19, 2024
A fun book for kids. Perfect to read a little bit every night as a bedtime story. Kind of scary but not too scary. Kids might like the animals a lot and the magic. There is tons of magic in here to enjoy and funny characters your kids might get a kick out of.
June 13, 2025
I read this aloud to my six year old and we both adored it. What a beautifully written, wonderfully imaginative story with engrossing world building and lovable characters.
We’re desperate to read more of Rim’s story!
We’re desperate to read more of Rim’s story!
March 5, 2025
4.5 stars.
Now this was just lovely. Loved Rim's journey of finding himself and coming to terms with being Pied. Also Whistler has my heart.
Now this was just lovely. Loved Rim's journey of finding himself and coming to terms with being Pied. Also Whistler has my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
This was one of the best books that I have read in a long time. Beautifully descriptive, enchantingly magical! I was hooked the whole way through. Bravo bravo!
January 18, 2025
This is a lovely retelling of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, filled with magic and narrated in a third-person voice that gives it a classic, timeless, cozy feel. Eleven-year-old Rim can only see in gray, but his world bursts into color when he inadvertently hears music for the first time and plays a pipe. He then learns his true identity as a Piper -- which his uncle had been trying to keep hidden -- and is whisked away to the Piper realm, where he finds out that he is a Pied Piper, rare even among the magical people. He must hide his true identity while passing a series of trials. This is such an appealing story with wonderful world-building, and young readers will especially love the animals and magic.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews