Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
Elaborates on the tale of "The Pied Piper," told from the point of view of a boy who is too ill to keep up when a piper spirits away the healthy children of a plague-ridden town after being cheated out of full payment for ridding Hameln of rats.
Is Breath appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
This retelling of 'The Pied Piper' explores themes of illness, isolation, and plague from a disabled child's perspective. Contains mild peril and references to death, but focuses on survival and resilience.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, death, and chronic illness (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings from unexpected perspectives will be captivated by this story of a boy left behind.