Pied

In Lee’s debut fantastical reimagining of German legend “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” 11-year-old “fully color-blind” Rim Wickford, who has olive skin, is under strict instructions from his uncle to wear noise-canceling headphones around music. When playing a pipe allows him to see color, his uncle confesses that the stories Rim’s grandmother told him of magical Pipers are true. Eager to learn more about turning music into magic, Rim is whisked away to the Piper realm, where he hopes to train under the guidance of the grumpy and retired elder Wooster. The further he becomes enmeshed in this new world, however, the more he uncovers about his family history and the dangers of being a Piper. What’s more, Rim is rare among his people: he’s a Pied Piper, feared for his ability to control all animals through his playing. The compelling premise is sometimes hampered by too many intersecting plot threads. Musical references integrated throughout ground this well-paced adventure in a timeless feeling contemporary setting, even as Lee builds out the Pipers’ intriguing fantasy realm. Ages 10–up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (Oct.)