Breath by Donna Jo Napoli

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli (be sure to see her website at this link)

I like Napoli's use of mythology in her stories. Her historic periods--the middle ages in this case--are reliably researched and presented, as far as I can tell. The book, Breath, follows the story of the Pied Piper. Remember there was a child who couldn't or didn't go with the other children when they left? He is the main character of this Pied Piper tale. It is set in Hamlin and there are lots and lots of rats causing plagues and food shortages. It is so interesting to see the human side of this tale, rather than just filling the the blanks with imaginings.

I was attracted by the painting, The Triumph of Death, by Peter Brueghel the Elder, on the book jacket, as well as the author.

5 - Awesome Book, highly recommend

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