Fiona and the Forgotten Piano

by Kate DeMaio

Eleven-year-old Fiona isn’t allowed in the Fermata woods. And though its unique trees are fascinating, Fiona has no problem following her mother’s rules. That is until the trees begin to sing.

Suddenly, it feels as though long forgotten memories are being unlocked in Fiona’s mind. As she nears the woods edge, the trees fall silent, so silent even the leaves stop rustling. Fiona will finally break the rules and venture into the woods. She’ll soon find herself traveling through portals to undiscovered worlds. And she’ll have to trust her instincts and her quirky new friends to bring back the music or she may get lost within its notes.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Kate grew up in Salem, Massachusetts surrounded by ghost stories and witch tales. As a microbiologist, she studies the tiny worlds of bacteria, viruses and antibodies. As a writer, she creates magical worlds of her own. Kate now lives just outside of Boston with her husband, son, dog and cat.

Reviews

[Erica Eberhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a delightful story that I'm eager to read to my elementary school student. It has the standard fears of children (getting in trouble with your parents, doing wrong, getting lost from home!) while still maintaining a captivating plot that even adults can enjoy. There's surprises strewn throughout and unbelievable worlds that are so creative and distinct I am abundantly impressed by Kate's ability to come up with them.

Fiona is a brave little girl who ends up with peculiar friends who I am absolutely in love with. The colorful Ferris (frog) who is at times grumpy and bossy yet abundantly good, and the sweet axolotl Nori who is my absolute favorite. She's just adorable!

I love finding chapter books that are entertaining for adults as well as kids and this really hits that spot.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is extraordinary. This middle grade novel takes the reader on a most unexpected path through a succession of worlds so very different than our own. Kate DeMaio has done a beautiful job of bringing these places to life in the reader’s mind.
Young Fiona lives on the edge of a mysterious forest that she is banned from entering. When she finds a talking frog and misplaced piano key in her garden she sets out on a dangerous daring mission. Along the way she meets eccentric characters, encounters threats, meets new friends, and learns to accept herself in a whole new light.
Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is an imaginative, magical and unique book, one that will not be forgotten so quickly after completion.

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming debut from Kate DeMaio! I was transported to so many fantastical and unique worlds alongside our brave MC, Fiona, and her A+ cast of friends, including Ferris the frog, Nori the axolotl, and my fave, Yip, a dog-like character.

I'm in awe of the author's magical brain. I loved the concept of the story and how fresh, dynamic, and different each of the worlds felt.

In short, this is an addictive read that has me wanting way more. The ending leaves the door open for many more sequels and I hope we get to travel to more of the 88 worlds in the future!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Alice-in-Wonderlandesque adventure with themes of empowerment and friendship? Umm. Yes, please! This book was so much fun to read.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BBNYA, The Write Reads, and the author for providing me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

We’ve arrived at the winner, everyone, and this one was not what I was expecting! That is one of the reasons I enjoy the BBNYA competition so much. The winner can be anything from creepiest horror to the sweetest romance! This time, we have a middle grade fantasy that has some great lessons and a fun concept.

In Fiona and the Forgotten Piano, we follow a little girl named, you guessed it, Fiona. She’s a shy person, made more so by the constant judgement she gets for her unique freckles. She tends to keep her head down, hanging out with her family in their house on the edge of the woods and trying her best in her piano lessons. One day, however, a visit from the woods will turn her entire world upside down.

This was a sweet, little novel that I think would be perfect for kids that are just starting to pick up middle grade novels. It has some important lessons about learning to love who you are and standing up for yourself. My favorite part of the novel was all the different worlds we got to visit over the course of Fiona’s adventures. They were all so vivid and magical and I think the author did a great job of painting the reader a picture with her words.

Now, personally, I could have done with a little more depth to the tale. It felt like the previously mentioned lessons could be a little heavy-handed because this is a shorter book. I think if we had had more time in these worlds and with these characters, it wouldn’t have felt like I was being hit over the head with the themes. We do have to keep in mind the intended audience, of course! That’s why I think this would be the perfect story for a younger middle grade audience.

Overall, this was a fun ride filled with adventure and interesting characters. I wish is was a little longer, but I can certainly see why it took the top spot in last years’ BBNYA competition!

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio is an imaginative middle-grade fantasy that blends music, magic, and self-discovery into an engaging adventure.This incredible debut was published in January 2025. and is aimed at readers around ages 8–12 years. The protagonist, Fiona, is a relatable heroine, and the imaginative world is so distinctive and captivating with a host of memorable characters that keep the story engaging. Fiona and the Forgotten Piano follows 11-year-old Fiona, who discovers a magical forest where music has been forgotten. After finding a mysterious piano, she embarks on an adventure through enchanted worlds, making new friends and facing challenges to restore the lost music before it's gone forever. The story is full of creative settings,, and exciting twists that keep the pages turning, exploring themes of friendship, bravery, and believing in yourself, with music playing an important role throughout the adventure. Overall, Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is an engaging and uplifting read that combines adventure, magic, and meaningful life lessons. You will enjoy Fiona and the Forgotten Piano if you have read and enjoyed books such as The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, which is a magical fantasy about a girl with extraordinary powers, or The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer, which is about twins who enter a fairy-tale world filled with magic and danger. These books are ideal for readers aged 8–12 who enjoy magical adventures, memorable characters, and imaginative worlds. #fionaandtheforgottenpiano #thewritereads

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona is a charming little girl with a variety of habits. She befriends a frog and learns that he's actually from another world, so naturally, she follows him to the forgotten piano. When she plays the right note, it opens a portal to somewhere else. Only they can't find the right key to get the frog home, so they decide to go looking for it together.

This absolutely charming tale wanders through a variety of creative worlds where Fiona and her froggy friend must solve puzzles and learn new things about themselves but eventually discover that they had what they needed inside all along. I love the writing and the creativity, and I don't know that I've ever read such a lovely first line.

[Havelah McLat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this cover on Threads and piqued my curiosity. I finished reading it a few weeks ago. The story was fun to read. It had a lot of whimsical elements and musical aspects too. It gives me Alice in Wonderland vibes with a touch of Pippi Longstocking. You will see what I mean when you read it. I give 3.5 stars (wrap up to 4 for some things I didn’t feel it was necessary) Like I said it is a fun read and perfect for young readers who love fantasy and music.

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully created story is whimsical, magical and unique. I loved the characters, each with their own blissful souls and individual personalities.. The amazing worlds they visit - omgosh I truly want to visit these and the others.. I really hope this author creates more so we can visit the ones we didn't in this book..
This is the type of book I would have loved to read growing up along side Michael morpurgo (who was my go to), bringing light and fun to world.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blurb

Eleven-year-old Fiona isn’t allowed in the Fermata woods. And though its unique trees are fascinating, Fiona has no problem following her mother’s rules. That is, until the trees begin to sing.

Suddenly, it feels as though long forgotten memories are being unlocked in Fiona’s mind. As she nears the woods edge, the trees fall silent, so silent even the leaves stop rustling. Fiona will finally break the rules and venture into the woods. She’ll soon find herself traveling through portals to undiscovered worlds. And she’ll have to trust her instincts and her quirky new friends to bring back the music or she may get lost within its notes.

My Review

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano starts off quite unassumingly. However the uniqueness of the story soon grabs hold of you and you find yourself having to read on and on, finding all the adventures that Fiona gets herself involved in. It quickly becomes a totally captivating story, and is one that will stay long in the memory.

Fiona is a wonderful character that you soon fall in love with and you are rather sorry when the book comes to an end and you have to say goodbye to her. Before this happens though, Fiona encounters a number of characters, good and bad, which only add to the richness of the book. You do find yourself cheering for her as the book goes on and the inimitable way she works her way through her various adventures.

Along the way there are a few surprises in the book, and most notably the surprise at the end of the book, which I felt was a lovely way to end the story.

This was the winner of the BBNYA book award in 2025, and I can totally say why, it is most definitely one of my favourite books of the year and I cannot wait to read another book by this author. I thoroughly recommend this book, you will definitely not be sorry if you pick up this wonderful book. Do enjoy the ride.

Book Details

Page Count: 247 Pages
Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction
Age Category: Middle Grade
Date Published: January 14, 2025
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/j7KcUrO (Canada) https://a.co/d/5tVNnuZ (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/65ZJnVi (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a...


Author Bio

Kate grew up in Salem, Massachusetts surrounded by ghost stories and witch tales. As a microbiologist, she studies the tiny worlds of bacteria, viruses and antibodies. As a writer, she creates magical worlds of her own. Kate now lives just outside of Boston with her husband, son, dog and cat.

Kate can be found online at:
Website: https://katedemaio.wixsite.com/website
X: https://x.com/k8demaiowrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k8demaiowrites
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/k8demaiowrit...

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book source ~ BBNYA

What a delightful story! Fiona has always obeyed her mother when she’s told not to go near or into the woods. But then, one day, something happens and in she goes. I was so worried! I mean, there has to be a reason her mom is so insistent, right? As Fiona journeys through the woods, and even through portals into other worlds, we learn so much! But will Fiona make it home again?

This is middle grade fantasy at its finest. Though it’s an awesome read for any age!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely middle grade novel which I enjoyed reading.

If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:

https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[Kristina Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern musical Alice in Wonderland. It was wonderful seeing timid, follows-the-rules Fiona grow in confidence throughout the story. Ferris the frog was a perfect companion and everyone Fiona met was memorable. (Stand on your head for better thinking was silly and fun!) There were many music references in the locations and characters that was easily explained in the narrative. Perfect for musicians and non musicians alike! The worlds visited were beautifully described and I can’t wait to read the next installment. Until then, I’ll be reading this one out loud to my 6 year old.

[CYBILS Awards]

Tip of the hat to our friends at From the Mixed Up Files of Middle-Grade authors. https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/wndmg...

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute little adventure! Big fan of animals friends and we get a lot of them (a frog, an axolotl, a dog), I also love the treasure-hunting theme of adventure as Fiona sets out to find keys to open the door to other worlds. I had so much fun reading this book!

[PagesAndInk · Rating 5 out of 5]

And its the winner of BBNYA 2025! And I have to say I was very surprised but in a good way when this one took the crown. There were several other books which I felt were more likely to win particularly Time Marked Warlock by Shami Stovall and A Little Bird Told Me by Rachael Gray, both excellent books, which ended up coming second and third in the contest. Both of those are really great reads and the fact that this beat them out shows just how much it resonated with the book bloggers.

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is a Middle Grade fantasy centred around an 11 year old girl, Fiona. And I found it to be a super delightful read. It is imaginative, fun, heartfelt and emotional and wonderfully blends magic imagination and innocence with a strong moral core and character growth.

It is a very simple read but a delightful one. Fiona discovers a magical and forbidden forest in which music itself has been forgotten. She embarks on a quest along with some new friends to restore music to the forest before its too late. It’s a lovely read and I think perfect for parents to read to their young children at bedtime or indeed for kids themselves to check out.

Thank you so much to thewritereads and bbnya for highlighting this hidden treasure of a book!

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember being a kid and flopping down on your bed to get completely lost in a book? One that transports you someplace magical, and you forget where you are until your parents call you for dinner.

FIONA AND THE FORGOTTEN PIANO is one of those books. This captivating Middle Grades tale packs a ton of imagination for readers of all ages.

Fiona is a young piano student who finds herself in a dimension completely different from home. Each place she goes offers strange and wonderful new sights, and piano keys are her ticket to unlocking each realm. Find the right key and you can go to the place you want. Of course, finding these keys requires some skill, courage, and ingenuity on Fiona’s part.

Thankfully, she makes some good friends along the way. My favorite is Ferris, a talking frog with an oversized personality! Ferris is one of many highlights you’ll encounter as you journey with Fiona.

If you are looking for a fun fantasy read for yourself or a kid in your life, FIONA AND THE FORGOTTEN PIANO is one to keep in mind! Highly enjoyable.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in almost one sitting! Think "Alice in Wonderland" meets "Narnia" with a musical mashup. Fiona, a timid eleven-year-old, is held back by fear of her very prominent freckles, but they don't stop her from investigating when she follows an unusually-marked frog into the forbidden forest outside her house. There she finds a huge piano that can open portals to parallel worlds and hopefully help her get Ferris, the frog, back to his world. But she opens the wrong portal and ends up on the adventure of a lifetime that will help her break free of those insecurities holding her back. I particularly like one twist in the end. A great novel for the middle grade genre. I would've loved one like this when I was an eleven-year-old taking piano lessons.
Incidentally, I'll be using this as a comp novel when I start querying my MG that has a parallel world. So glad I ran across it! I hope the author writes more about this character.

[ReadItRichard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio is a gem of a middle-grade fantasy. It won BBNYA 2025 and its easy to see why. It is an enchanting and magical tale.

At the heart of the story is Fiona, an eleven-year-old girl who feels out of place in her everyday world. Isolated and lacking friends, Fiona is instantly a character you can get behind. What I loved most is how authentically her growth unfolds. She’s rule-following and cautious at the start, respecting her mother’s strict boundary around the mysterious Fermata woods, but soon grows more daring and adventurous.

I also loved the musical elements. The singing trees that awaken long-forgotten memories and the portals tied to piano keys. All very clever engaging and original.

It’s imaginative, warm, and full of whimsical characters, yet it carries gentle lessons about friendship, identity, and bravery. Highly recommended!

[Kassidy Coursey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, heartfelt story this was! Not only was the messaging beautiful for adults and children alike, but the colorful cast of characters and the sheer imagination Kate DeMaio put into her world left me spellbound. One moment, I was in a futuristic techno-universe, and then next I was transported in something resembling Paper Mario...AND I LOVE PAPER MARIO.

Though, this Paper Mario was a little scary, not gonna lie.

Fiona grew throughout and I cheered her on the whole time. Ferris holds my heart (he's that sweet little frog sitting on her left shoulder on the cover), and I wished I could carry him around in my pocket to listen to his little quips all day. And the ending??? Surprising, yet inevitable. I loved this story!

[Bookish kingdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the forgotten Piano by Kate deMaio beat 300 other entries to WIN BBNYA - The Book Bloggers Nov el of the Year Award in 2025! When I saw it was the winner I instantly signed up for the tour.

The first thing I'd like to say is I love that the winer is a Middle Grade, its so great to see children's books getting a fair shake in a competition. I really liked the writing style it is both simple and easy to get into (as a middle grade should be) but it is also lyrical and descriptive. But what I loved most was Fiona. She is both brave but a stickler for the rules. I loved following her journey, it is both magical and imaginative and I love the supporting characters and friendships. Easy 5 stars for me.

[ReadingMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate deMaio is one of the best middle grade fantasys I have read in a long time. I’m soapy to see it WON the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award in 2025 (BBNYA).

When 11 year old Fiona enters the forbidden forest she finds herself in a completely alien realm where she has to find piano keys to unlock new realms. What I loved most, even more so than the way the author gradually develops Fiona’s character is the friends she make along the way. My absolute favourite was ferris the talking frog.

This is a wonderful Alice in Wonderland style adventure that I highly recommend not just to children but for adults looking for some lovely relaxing fun too

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute and interesting story. It reminded me a bit of the Magic Faraway Tree, because there is a magical piano that transports the characters to different, strange worlds.
Fiona, the main character, starts off as quite timid and is worried about everything. As the adventure progresses, she gains confidence and it was great to see her standing up for herself and her friends.
I loved the different characters Fiona meets, especially Ferris the talking frog and Yip the charcoal dog.
A fun, magical adventure that both adults and children can enjoy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with The Write Reads.

I loved this book, and somehow I think my younger self would have loved it even more. Some part of me identified with the protagonist, eleven year old Fiona, and the way music seemed to speak to her.

I think my adult self engaged with the story a little bit differently, because I found it quite moving to think about music being forgotten. Either way, I enjoyed Fiona's adventure.

Thank you to The Write Reads, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Courtney Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona is a sweet, curious heroine who embarks on an adventure through portal worlds against mysterious enemies. Readers will love her relatability: she's shy due to not looking like other kids and is expected by adults to fall in line. Her journey brings out her bravery, independence, and selflessness to help a grumpy, adorable frog (Ferris, the true star of this story and my heart). This would be a perfect story to read and enjoy with your young reader.

[GirlLovesto Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is a wonderful award winning middle grade about an adorable young girl Fiona. Fiona is a stickler for the rules and always obeys. She lives on the edge of a mysterious forest and is forbidden from entering it.

However a talking frog and singing trees soon change that! This is a wonderful easy to read story which is swell written and surprising emotional. Its heartwarming friendships and imaginative magic make it a joy to read.

[Tracey Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit when I first started the book I was unsure if it was actually my taste in books but it blew me away I could not get over how imaginative this book was and I was getting Alice in Wonderland vibes but for me Fiona was more intricate with the plot. When the frog appeared who talked but it was not just that I was able to be Fiona and go and visit these different portals and the mode of transport who would of thunk it, This journey had so much danger and also Fiona was able to learn about herself and her family. I can see why this won the BBYNA 2025


For all the above reasons Fiona and the Forgotten Piano receives 4 stars

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of my favourite books have forever been Alice in Wonderland and The Magic Faraway Tree. And then along came Fiona and the Forgotten Piano.

Demaio's world building was imaginative and her writing descriptive. The added elements of music and magic, and a cast of charming characters had me captivated.

It's a mid-grade read, but honestly it will capture the heart of anyone whatever their age.

[Lisa Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano is a magical adventure that hits all the right notes! As a huge Narnia fan, I was excited to get lost in new worlds, and author Kate DeMaio did not disappoint. I especially loved Ferris the frog—my new favorite sidekick!