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The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North
An enchanting, clever, and whimsical fairy tale sure to charm fans of Adam Gidwitz and Shannon Hale.
In the storybook kingdom of Wanderly, everyone wants to be a Triumphant: the kingdom’s most glorious heroes. Everyone except Pippa North, who is quite happy with her perfectly common family.
No one in Wanderly wants to be a magician, would-be villains who are nothing more than nuisances. But Oliver Dash wants it more than anything in the world.
When Pippa is swept away to the Triumphant academy, and Oliver finds himself in danger of flunking out as a magician, a wayward wish puts them on opposite ends of a villainous scheme—and plunges Pippa into an adventure that will make the whole kingdom ask what it really means to be a hero.
Full of humor, magic, and heart, this Triumphant adventure is a stand-alone companion to The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom, which bestselling author Liesl Shurtliff called “the most charming book, footnotes and all!”
In the storybook kingdom of Wanderly, everyone wants to be a Triumphant: the kingdom’s most glorious heroes. Everyone except Pippa North, who is quite happy with her perfectly common family.
No one in Wanderly wants to be a magician, would-be villains who are nothing more than nuisances. But Oliver Dash wants it more than anything in the world.
When Pippa is swept away to the Triumphant academy, and Oliver finds himself in danger of flunking out as a magician, a wayward wish puts them on opposite ends of a villainous scheme—and plunges Pippa into an adventure that will make the whole kingdom ask what it really means to be a hero.
Full of humor, magic, and heart, this Triumphant adventure is a stand-alone companion to The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom, which bestselling author Liesl Shurtliff called “the most charming book, footnotes and all!”
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2020
7 people are currently reading
2094 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 20, 2020
Pippa is an ordinary girl who finds herself recruited to attend the prestigious Triumphant Academy. What she really wants is to be back home with her dear family. Oliver is a magician wannabe who has nearly given up on getting the coveted magician's hat. He can't seem to do anything right and everyone at the magician school expects no less from him. A stray letter wafts into his life on the wind (courtesy of a butterfly) and connects the two. They will eventually realize they must both do their part to save the kingdom of Wanderly. One of my favorite things about this book: Pippa's companion animal is a fire horse named Ferdinand. Like the Castle Cressida where the academy is housed, Ferdinand grows stronger as the Triumphants take back their responsibilities toward the citizens of Wanderly. Even though they are petrified, Pippa and Oliver inspire other kids to follow them and fight for their kingdom. One of them will even sacrifice all they have for the cause. At times humorous and at others heartbreaking. This has a little bit of Lemony Snicket, a little Roald Dahl, and even some glimmers of Harry Potter. The perfect fantasy for the younger side of middle grade.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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March 18, 2020I loved the Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom, Temre's first book, and The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North does not disappoint. It's full of the same wit, magic, humor, and heart but also offers plenty of new adventures and lovable characters. I love that the book is the narrator. The footnotes are always delightfully cheeky.
April 3, 2020
The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North (Winds of Waverly #2) by Temre Belz , 416 pages. HarperCollins, March 2020. $17
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Pippa, 11, is content with her place somewhere in the middle of 8 children. But then a stranger from the Council comes knocking and whisks Pippa off to be tested for a prized place as one of this year’s Triumphants. When Pippa is declared a Triumphant she is whisked again – this time to Peabody’s Academy of he Triumphant. Pippa was expecting the castle and the people is in to be, well – much more Trimumphant. Instead the caste seems downright apologetic for its shabby appearance. Pippa writes a desperate letter to a fairy godmother, hoping to find a way to go back to her family, but the Winds of Waverly deliver the letter to Oliver – who is the oldest boy at Razzle’s School for Meddlesome Boys who has yet to receive his magician’s hat. Maybe if he meddles with Pippa’s wish he can be worthy of his fondest dream.
Welcome back to the world first introduced in Birdie Bloom’s Tale. Having read this equally delightful tale of the Triumphants, I can only hope there is a third book to come where the Tragicals, Triumphants, and others take a stand against the Chancellor! Now that there are two books, the kids who find the books have even more to enjoy!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Pippa, 11, is content with her place somewhere in the middle of 8 children. But then a stranger from the Council comes knocking and whisks Pippa off to be tested for a prized place as one of this year’s Triumphants. When Pippa is declared a Triumphant she is whisked again – this time to Peabody’s Academy of he Triumphant. Pippa was expecting the castle and the people is in to be, well – much more Trimumphant. Instead the caste seems downright apologetic for its shabby appearance. Pippa writes a desperate letter to a fairy godmother, hoping to find a way to go back to her family, but the Winds of Waverly deliver the letter to Oliver – who is the oldest boy at Razzle’s School for Meddlesome Boys who has yet to receive his magician’s hat. Maybe if he meddles with Pippa’s wish he can be worthy of his fondest dream.
Welcome back to the world first introduced in Birdie Bloom’s Tale. Having read this equally delightful tale of the Triumphants, I can only hope there is a third book to come where the Tragicals, Triumphants, and others take a stand against the Chancellor! Now that there are two books, the kids who find the books have even more to enjoy!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
March 23, 2024
When an unexpected storm brings a magician to Pippa North's door, she's shocked to be whisked away from her satisfying family life and into a school for people who are guaranteed to win at everything. Unhappy with this turn of events, Pippa writes to a fairy godmother, hoping to change her fate, but her letter ends up deep in a stinking swamp where a failed magician thinks he might be able to use her distress to his advantage.
This book isn't quite as personally meaningful to me as Birdie Bloom (set in the same universe), but it's very clever and also made me weep, which I think means it's doing something right. This book again tangles with the question of what it means to live up to a label, but it delves much deeper into what it means to be a hero and how everyone has the potential to be triumphant, destiny or otherwise, as long as they're willing to show up. Oliver is a fascinating character whose biggest strength seems to be that he fails at everything, and I would really like to know what happens to him after the end of the book. I really want one of these Wanderly books to bring us face to face with the Chancellor; while finding one's true destiny and stopping a mischievous uprising are really fun plots, I think the heart of Wanderly's issues lie in something much bigger, and we've only gotten teasers of that so far. Whether the Chancellor meets his doom within the pages of some future book or not, I've become a dedicated Temre Beltz fan and can't wait for whatever she will write next.
This book isn't quite as personally meaningful to me as Birdie Bloom (set in the same universe), but it's very clever and also made me weep, which I think means it's doing something right. This book again tangles with the question of what it means to live up to a label, but it delves much deeper into what it means to be a hero and how everyone has the potential to be triumphant, destiny or otherwise, as long as they're willing to show up. Oliver is a fascinating character whose biggest strength seems to be that he fails at everything, and I would really like to know what happens to him after the end of the book. I really want one of these Wanderly books to bring us face to face with the Chancellor; while finding one's true destiny and stopping a mischievous uprising are really fun plots, I think the heart of Wanderly's issues lie in something much bigger, and we've only gotten teasers of that so far. Whether the Chancellor meets his doom within the pages of some future book or not, I've become a dedicated Temre Beltz fan and can't wait for whatever she will write next.
October 13, 2020
I absolutely LOVE this book!!!! It's clever, and magical, and has creative characters! I was about 10 when I picked this book up and I could NOT put it down! It's descriptive and creative, but not so descriptive that it's annoying, and it's perfect for anyone who likes happy stories, sad stories,adventures, quests, magic, ... All sorts of things!!! I've also read Tragical Tales Of Birdie Bloom and I'm really hoping that there will be more books in this "series"!!!!! it's a totally wonderful book(quite literally and anyone who's read this book will know why :) and a wonderful world with fun characters that come to life with this incredible tale.I would recommend this book to all ages 7 or 8 +
October 15, 2020
I really liked this book because I understand how Pippa feels, and I also thought it was funny when Oliver was pretending to be a fairy. I liked how the magicians use their hats to do magic. I liked how Pippa inspired the Triumphants to team up to defeat the magicians, because the Triumphants are supposed to be inspirational and valiant. Oliver's sacrifice was very moving and sad. Another thing that I really liked is how the book is the one telling the story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
One of the best booksI have ever read! I would recommend it to anyone!
February 12, 2020
this is a perfect middle-grade read. it's sweet and cozy, a little bit heartbreaking, and entirely relevant for our world today, and i'm just... in awe of temre beltz. i love it.
August 10, 2020
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
THE TRIUMPHANT TALE OF PIPPA NORTH combines magic and humor in a middle grade fantasy full of charm. Pippa is a commoner, and lives in the storybook kingdom of Wanderly, where she enjoys spending time with her family and going to school one day a week, as allowed. Then a man pops into their house unexpectedly, and it turns out that he sweeps Pippa away to participate in the examinations to become a Triumphant (essentially a hero). Pippa is shocked when she is selected- an honor her sister would love to have- but Pippa has some mixed feelings, mainly that she would have to live at the Triumphant academy away from her family.
Oliver is a magician-in-training at a school he has been at since he was a baby. However, a magician's hat must find them, and he is past the age where he should have found his hat. Therefore, it seems like he will never be a magician, and the school is ready to give up on him by expelling him. Oliver wants nothing more to find his hat and stay in the place he has always known as home.
When the two are connected, they will go on an adventure to save Wanderly that is sure to change their lives forever.
What I loved: The book is told from the perspective of a book, with plenty of humor and charm. Wanderly is filled with magic and nonsense rules that are sure to provoke some giggles. The book also speaks directly to the reader in places, which adds a little extra fun and encourages readers to find the hero within. The plot is paced well and moves fast enough to keep attention. There's great world-building for Wanderly, and this odd but interesting world comes to life through the story.
Final verdict: Full of charm and great for a middle grade audience, THE TRIUMPHANT TALE OF PIPPA NORTH encourages readers to reach for the stars and be their own heroes. Highly recommend for fans of ELLA ENCHANTED/OGRE ENCHANTED.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
THE TRIUMPHANT TALE OF PIPPA NORTH combines magic and humor in a middle grade fantasy full of charm. Pippa is a commoner, and lives in the storybook kingdom of Wanderly, where she enjoys spending time with her family and going to school one day a week, as allowed. Then a man pops into their house unexpectedly, and it turns out that he sweeps Pippa away to participate in the examinations to become a Triumphant (essentially a hero). Pippa is shocked when she is selected- an honor her sister would love to have- but Pippa has some mixed feelings, mainly that she would have to live at the Triumphant academy away from her family.
Oliver is a magician-in-training at a school he has been at since he was a baby. However, a magician's hat must find them, and he is past the age where he should have found his hat. Therefore, it seems like he will never be a magician, and the school is ready to give up on him by expelling him. Oliver wants nothing more to find his hat and stay in the place he has always known as home.
When the two are connected, they will go on an adventure to save Wanderly that is sure to change their lives forever.
What I loved: The book is told from the perspective of a book, with plenty of humor and charm. Wanderly is filled with magic and nonsense rules that are sure to provoke some giggles. The book also speaks directly to the reader in places, which adds a little extra fun and encourages readers to find the hero within. The plot is paced well and moves fast enough to keep attention. There's great world-building for Wanderly, and this odd but interesting world comes to life through the story.
Final verdict: Full of charm and great for a middle grade audience, THE TRIUMPHANT TALE OF PIPPA NORTH encourages readers to reach for the stars and be their own heroes. Highly recommend for fans of ELLA ENCHANTED/OGRE ENCHANTED.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2021
A Triumphant is the absolute best role any citizen of Wanderly could ever hope to hold. However, Pippa North sees it very differently. She already had a “happy ending” back home with her large family and is desperate to return to them when she is magically whisked off to Peabody’s Academy to be a hero. Meanwhile in the Swinging Swamps, magicians are looked down upon but none as much as Oliver who is the oldest boy to never receive his hat. Willing to do anything it takes to fit in, he sees a chance when the winds of Waverly deliver Pippas letter meant for a Fairy Godmother. In a storybook kingdom where everyone lives by the role they’re given is it possible for our leads to make their own path and discover what it truly means to be a hero?
I absolutely love Wanderly. Like Birdie, Pippa instantly hooks you with its charming book narrator and it’s personable footnotes. Pippa is a true hero and helps bring the best out in those around her. I loved how this story challenged the Chancellors rules and showed how they’re doing more harm than good. The way the castle itself reflects the state of the heroes was marvellous.
If you love charming stories set in fairytale worlds and the statue quo is challenged, you’ll enjoy reading Pippa. It’s filled with such warmth and is perfect to read aloud. Temre Beltz has created a wonderful world in Wanderly, fingers crossed one day we can return and see the rules challenged on a grander scale.
I absolutely love Wanderly. Like Birdie, Pippa instantly hooks you with its charming book narrator and it’s personable footnotes. Pippa is a true hero and helps bring the best out in those around her. I loved how this story challenged the Chancellors rules and showed how they’re doing more harm than good. The way the castle itself reflects the state of the heroes was marvellous.
If you love charming stories set in fairytale worlds and the statue quo is challenged, you’ll enjoy reading Pippa. It’s filled with such warmth and is perfect to read aloud. Temre Beltz has created a wonderful world in Wanderly, fingers crossed one day we can return and see the rules challenged on a grander scale.
April 21, 2024
"... a hero's tale is not simply a means of rote record keeping, or a personal trophy to brag about, but a means of inspiring others to action."
This is a fun and engaging book for tweens and I enjoyed it as an adult as well. It started a bit slow at first for my taste, but if you hang in there it definitely picks up. I also was initially annoyed by all the footnotes that one had to read as they were definitely part of the story, however that ended up turning into a fun and somewhat endearing part once I got used to them. The concept is that this book is alive and is interacting with you as it tells you Pippa's story and that became a very fun aspect for me.
This story has its twists and turns and some of them were quite predictable, but I am an older reader who practically lives off of fantasy adventures and hero stories so that probably had a lot to do with the predictability. ;) Either way though, the story was engaging and fun and I liked how our heroine and her friends are not glossed over and made to look perfect. Gives the story more depth and teaches a valuable lesson as well.
This is a fun and engaging book for tweens and I enjoyed it as an adult as well. It started a bit slow at first for my taste, but if you hang in there it definitely picks up. I also was initially annoyed by all the footnotes that one had to read as they were definitely part of the story, however that ended up turning into a fun and somewhat endearing part once I got used to them. The concept is that this book is alive and is interacting with you as it tells you Pippa's story and that became a very fun aspect for me.
This story has its twists and turns and some of them were quite predictable, but I am an older reader who practically lives off of fantasy adventures and hero stories so that probably had a lot to do with the predictability. ;) Either way though, the story was engaging and fun and I liked how our heroine and her friends are not glossed over and made to look perfect. Gives the story more depth and teaches a valuable lesson as well.
December 25, 2022
Pippa North, one of nine children, expects to be a Commoner all her life. All that changes when a wizard shows up at her door and whisks her away to testing for the Triumphants - the heroes of Waverly. But Pippa doesn't expect to be a hero, she doesn't want to be - she wants to go home.
Instead, she's chosen as a Triumphant in training and sent to Peabody's school for Triumphants to be trained at Cressida Castle.
In the mean time, Oliver is a magician in training, desperately waiting on his hat to prove that he is a real magician. But while on a quest, Oliver is given a letter by the Winds of Waverly, one Pippa wrote in hopes of asking a fairy godmother to help her get back home.
Thus starts a story of mistaken identities, letters back and forth, animal companions and magician's hats, and the way to find your way back home, even if you've never had a home to begin with.
Instead, she's chosen as a Triumphant in training and sent to Peabody's school for Triumphants to be trained at Cressida Castle.
In the mean time, Oliver is a magician in training, desperately waiting on his hat to prove that he is a real magician. But while on a quest, Oliver is given a letter by the Winds of Waverly, one Pippa wrote in hopes of asking a fairy godmother to help her get back home.
Thus starts a story of mistaken identities, letters back and forth, animal companions and magician's hats, and the way to find your way back home, even if you've never had a home to begin with.
December 26, 2024
So cute! This is exactly what I love in children’s fiction… a lovable cast of characters, a magical setting, a somewhat quirky world, and captivating storytelling. This cute book captures the attention of readers, both young and older alike! I can see how a young reader works devour this book. And through all the fun, good life lessons can be found. Poops is ever the triumphant she doesn’t think she is, and so goes around encouraging those around her. It’s charming and delightful. I purchased a hardback copy even before finishing because I knew it is one I’d love to own and share.
April 20, 2020
The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North by Temre Beltz
Series: No
Format: Hardcover
Stars: 3
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: No
Overall its not a bad book, but for some reason it didn't hold my interest.
The story and characters where really well written.
I won the book from a goodreads giveaway.
I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.
For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...
Series: No
Format: Hardcover
Stars: 3
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: No
Overall its not a bad book, but for some reason it didn't hold my interest.
The story and characters where really well written.
I won the book from a goodreads giveaway.
I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.
For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...
April 25, 2023
Appropriate for: age 11+
Excellent book! Great story and characters. And fire horses (Ponyta anyone?) What I really liked is the message of this book: you are special because you're you. This is something kids can't hear enough. There was lots of adventure and fun times. It could've used 50 less pages; 400 is pretty hefty for a midgrade book. It was slow to start, so I guess 50 less pages in the beginning of the book.
Excellent book! Great story and characters. And fire horses (Ponyta anyone?) What I really liked is the message of this book: you are special because you're you. This is something kids can't hear enough. There was lots of adventure and fun times. It could've used 50 less pages; 400 is pretty hefty for a midgrade book. It was slow to start, so I guess 50 less pages in the beginning of the book.
July 20, 2020
Continued adventures on the darker side of fairy tales. This time Pippa does not want to be a Triumphant and Oliver desperately wants to be a magician. When a letter goes astray, they connect and work to save the kingdom from the evil magicians' plot.
Readers will appreciate the wide variety of characters and their frailties and strengths.
Readers will appreciate the wide variety of characters and their frailties and strengths.
April 9, 2025
I’m sorry to give this just 2 stars. It sounded promising, but fell short. Footnotes in a fiction book are an unnecessary distraction. The writing was all about grandiose words and sentences to evoke the feeling of fairytales, but didn’t work.
November 17, 2019
A triumph indeed!
May 1, 2020
I've come to expect wonderful, magical, faith-filled, stereotype-breaking stories from Temre Beltz, and The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North does not disappoint!
June 26, 2020
The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North is full of wit, magic, humor, and heart. I love that the book is the narrator.
October 13, 2020
Great lessons about being a hero, cleverly sprinkled in an adventure that is funny, happy, exciting, wry, and sweet. Absolutely lives up to its predecessor:)
Want to read
November 29, 2020Note: I received an ARC of this book at ALA Midwinter 2020.
April 21, 2022
No
You
Can't
Read
This
Book.
It's mineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee *runs away laughing*
(bigger better review to come)
You
Can't
Read
This
Book.
It's mineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee *runs away laughing*
(bigger better review to come)
January 26, 2020
Thank you to the author for sharing this ARC with me. I am happy to share an honest review.
The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North is such a fun, fabulous, and heartwarming book. It has all the wonder and world building that we expect from fantasies, while also injecting so much humor and heart, and never taking itself too seriously. I love that the book itself narrates the story, often breaking the “fourth wall” with its funny little footnotes and the opinions it just can’t keep to itself. I have not seen this done in MG except by Temre Beltz, who also employed this clever writing style in the companion novel, The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom (which I also adored, to no one’s surprise).
Having read Birdie Bloom, I was familiar with the whimsical world of Wanderly, from the Tragical point of view. I wondered if I would be able to really like a Triumphant, one of the Wanderly residents guaranteed a “happy ending,” but Pippa North had my heart almost immediately. She is selected to be a Triumphant quite against her will, and separated from her beloved family to the Triumphant Academy, held in a seemingly sentient castle (I love that most inanimate objects in Wanderly seem to have a mind of their own, but the buildings are my favorite).
We also get to know Oliver, who has grown up trying to be a Magician, and is very close to losing the only home he’s ever known. As their courses draw closer to colliding, Pippa and Oliver must make important decisions to save Wanderly and the people they love. This is an enchanting fairy-tale story of friendship, and finding your own courage. I hope there will be more stories in the future from the lovely world of Wanderly!
The Triumphant Tale of Pippa North is such a fun, fabulous, and heartwarming book. It has all the wonder and world building that we expect from fantasies, while also injecting so much humor and heart, and never taking itself too seriously. I love that the book itself narrates the story, often breaking the “fourth wall” with its funny little footnotes and the opinions it just can’t keep to itself. I have not seen this done in MG except by Temre Beltz, who also employed this clever writing style in the companion novel, The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom (which I also adored, to no one’s surprise).
Having read Birdie Bloom, I was familiar with the whimsical world of Wanderly, from the Tragical point of view. I wondered if I would be able to really like a Triumphant, one of the Wanderly residents guaranteed a “happy ending,” but Pippa North had my heart almost immediately. She is selected to be a Triumphant quite against her will, and separated from her beloved family to the Triumphant Academy, held in a seemingly sentient castle (I love that most inanimate objects in Wanderly seem to have a mind of their own, but the buildings are my favorite).
We also get to know Oliver, who has grown up trying to be a Magician, and is very close to losing the only home he’s ever known. As their courses draw closer to colliding, Pippa and Oliver must make important decisions to save Wanderly and the people they love. This is an enchanting fairy-tale story of friendship, and finding your own courage. I hope there will be more stories in the future from the lovely world of Wanderly!
August 24, 2020
I haven't chosen many new books to read this year, finding myself going back to re-listen to some of my favorite audiobook series, but this one caught my eye. I like to explore fantasy books written for a younger audience, not for children especially nor for young adult genre either - something for the early teens maybe. I think that is because they usually don't include ugly violence or offensive language. This book fit that category. I am a 70-year-old reader, young at heart.
At first it seemed a little too juvenile, a little too cutesy, so I can't say I really liked the style of writing. In the end, though, I decided it was a decent story. On my first listen, it was as I went to bed and I found myself falling asleep and missing some of the detail, so I listened to the whole thing a second time. On that second listening I found I liked it all much better. It really is one better suited for the 10-12 age range, but I didn't feel it was a waste of my time. It was quite different from most fantasy stories I've read, so I would recommend it for those who felt like Harry Potter, as popular as it was, got a little too dark and heavy for the younger readers.
At first it seemed a little too juvenile, a little too cutesy, so I can't say I really liked the style of writing. In the end, though, I decided it was a decent story. On my first listen, it was as I went to bed and I found myself falling asleep and missing some of the detail, so I listened to the whole thing a second time. On that second listening I found I liked it all much better. It really is one better suited for the 10-12 age range, but I didn't feel it was a waste of my time. It was quite different from most fantasy stories I've read, so I would recommend it for those who felt like Harry Potter, as popular as it was, got a little too dark and heavy for the younger readers.
December 10, 2019
Excellent book!!!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews