The story of the Pied Piper gets new depth and nuance in this graphic novel treatment. Deaf Maggie is an outcast in Hameln, which has recently been overrun by disease-carrying rats. The ratcatcher is overwhelmed, and the townspeople are impatient, so when a mysterious stranger comes to town and offers his services, they begrudgingly accept, despite his hefty fee. Maggie is instantly drawn to the musical Piper, though she can never hear his enchanting music. Asher and Freeburg add an intriguing twist to the original story and amplify some of its more horrifying components, raising thought-provoking questions about morality and justice, particularly when the Piper learns about Maggie's horrendous mistreatment at the hands of the townspeople, and greed and jealousy lead the town ratcatcher to make dangerous accusations. Stokely's manga-style artwork cultivates an eerie atmosphere populated by an expressive cast of characters. Though hints of the Piper's nefarious motivations are a bit too cloudy to be convincing, the twist on the classic tale is certainly intriguing.

Asher collaborates with Freeburg and Stokely for a new take on the mysterious medieval tale of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin."White, red-haired Maggie feels isolated in her village of Hameln. Deaf since childhood, she speaks and reads lips to communicate but feels lonely due to the callousness of the townspeople. Her only solace is telling stories to her loving guardian, Agathe, and dreaming of romance. Prejudice isn't the only problem in Hameln—the village is overrun with rats that destroy the village's resources and rapidly spread disease. Things play out much as in the original tale with the addition of a romance that ends in tragedy—and a twist on the familiar ending. Unfortunately, the representation of disability lacks attention to detail; there are multiple panels in which a character is not in Maggie's sight lines but Maggie responds as if she has read their lips. Stokely's art is otherwise friendly and approachable, full of earth tones and individually rendered characters. Framing the graphic novel with an opening authors' note titled "Seeking History in a Legend," Asher and Freeburg attempt to situate their retelling as revelatory: "And we've waited over seven hundreds [sic] years to find out what [happened]." While Asher and Freeburg lean heavily on magic rather than history, in contrast to their opening, their interpretation may pique the curiosity of readers new to the story.Neither illuminating nor truly inclusive. (Graphic fantasy. 12-17)

Gr 6 Up-aggie, who lives in a small village in the woods, is a dreamer. Ignored and abused by the other villagers because she is deaf, she takes refuge in her imagination, making up stories of forging a better life and finding love. Maggie becomes attracted to the handsome, magical stranger who arrives in town, and hopes that her dreams might come true. He appears to return her feelings, and they form a bond, but however kindly he treats her, the piper must still be paid. In this vivid reimagining of the Pied Piper legend, the artwork features rich, saturated hues with noticeable color differences among everyday life in Hameln, the muted shades of Maggie's daydreams, and Piper's and Maggie's dark backstories. The characters' dynamic body language and expressive faces speak volumes, especially during dramatic sequences. During quieter moments, the illustrations and dialogue shine. Asher, Freeburg, and Stokely take a fresh look at an intriguing, centuries-old legend. However, the protagonist's lip-reading abilities are not always realistically portrayed. VERDICT A moving graphic novel about isolation, love, and retribution, this dark version of a familiar tale will remain with readers long after the last page is turned. Fans of the authors and Emily Carroll's Through the Woods will adore this tempting piper's song for the eyes.Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT