The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
I highly enjoyed this gem of a story, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, which was the 2004 Newbery Medal winner. What I didn’t expect was how dark and cruel this story would be.
The only surviving mouse of a litter, Despereaux was born with his eyes open, his body too small and his ears too big. All the other mice thought something was wrong with him and his mother declared him a disappointment. Despereaux is not like the other mice. He wanders around the castle, reads books, loves music, and when he discovers Princess Pea, he forgets all the rules and hopelessly and devotedly falls in love. When the rest of the mice discovers that he has spoken with Princess Pea, they call an emergency council and condemn himto death. His death will not be a happy one as he is consigned to the dungeons where the evil rats will eat him alive. I found it so very heartbreaking that his own father didn’t stand up for him and voted for his death.
In the dungeon, we meet a rat who also doesn’t fit in with the other rats. While rats live in darkness and who’s goal it is to make others miserable, Roscuro craves the color and light that he is denied.
We also meet Miggery Sow, a quiet large girl, whose father sold her for a red tablecloth, a hen, and a handful of cigarettes. Her new owner “clouts” her so often that she loses most all of her hearing and develops cauliflower ears.
Things get exciting when Miggery Sow, now a servant in the castle, wants to become a princess and Roscuro convinces her to kidnap Princess Pea to the dungeons that are so dark and large that everybody who enters them never returns. Despereaux who must also save himself from the rats now is on a quest to save the Princess Pea.
Beautifully written, this is a story about good and evil, light and dark, love and hate, cruelty, abandonment, redemption, love, empathy, and forgiveness. The book does balance out the bad with the good but if you have a sensitive child it would be best to read this one ahead of time so you’re prepared to discuss the issues brought up.
I highly enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux and would recommend it. Read my review of Because of Winn-Dixie and also my review of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Kate DiCamillo’s website here. My next Kate DiCamillo book? Tiger Rising.
Oh, and on a side note, did you know that this is currently in production as a animated movie set to release in December 2008? It has a great voice talent (think Emma Watson, Mathew Broderick, Sigourney Weaver, Dustin Hoffman) and hope that it will be good.
Read this one? What did you think?
I have never even heard of this book, but would give it a shot - thanks for the great review.
on April 28th, 2008 at 5:15 amI also have never heard of this book, but it sounds intriguing. I haven’t read much YA literature recently (except The Book Thief), but after reading so many good reviews, I think I’ll have to start adding them to my TBR list!
on April 28th, 2008 at 6:41 amI enjoyed this one as well. I’ve enjoyed all three (the same three you have) diCamillo titles I’ve read. There all so very good but in very different ways.
on April 28th, 2008 at 8:38 amI read this one last year and totally enjoyed it! I just sent for Edward Tulane..looking forward to the art illustrations in that book!!
on April 28th, 2008 at 9:11 amWhat a wonderful sounding book. I shall buy this for my niece! Thanks,Cindi
on April 28th, 2008 at 10:54 amThis one is tied with Edward Tulane as my favorite of diCamillo’s It was such a beautiful story. I agree that it was a bit dark, but I liked that about it…it was real in a way that many kids had have to suffer through and they can now relate to this book…She handles the topic of abuse and neglect with real grace…I really enjoyed it (not the abuse of course, but the way she wrote this wonderful little book) And it was all presented so well! Enjoy The Tiger Rising as well! Loved that one too!
on April 28th, 2008 at 11:04 amWe have this one checked out right now from the library. My 8 year old has read it twice already and I just need to get through the book I’m reading now before I pick it up. I’ve had a bad habit lately of picking up a new book before I finish the last and it’s starting to confuse my poor brain.
on April 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pmI just recently bought this book because it features a mouse, but not really knowing what else to expect. It looks like a thoughtful book, and there is (unfortunately) much need for literature that deals with the issues of abuse and neglect.
It looks like her other works are worth checking out too.
on April 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pmA lovely review of a lovely book
I’m very much looking forward to the movie. I just hope they don’t change the mood of the book too much.
on April 30th, 2008 at 8:50 am[...] Sirens and Spies by Janet Taylor Lislie, Zel by Donna Jo Napoli, The Translator by Daoud Hari, The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo, Number hte Stars by Lois Lowry, I am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak, and Criss [...]
on May 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pmThanks for your comments. Kate DiCamillo has won me over this year. Her books have all simply been wonderful.
on May 5th, 2008 at 9:57 pmdo u know any good quotes from taht book?
on June 5th, 2008 at 6:40 pm[...] THE CLONE WARS, by Tracey West. Will Jabba help fight Count Dooku? A movie novelization. (Ages 12 and up) [...]
on August 17th, 2008 at 12:02 am[...] Reviews: Maw Books Blog, Stuff as Dreams are Made on, Becky’s Book [...]
on August 24th, 2008 at 12:03 pmI recently read this book to my daughters and they LOVED it. So much so that while I was off at CPR training one day, my husband took them to see wall-e and there was a trailer for the Despereaux movie coming out. His comment was that he paid $7 per kid to have them more excitd about a 30 second trailer than the whole darn movie!
So often I find that when I am reading a book to my child I am bored with the content, but really seriously, I cared about what happened. I wanted to read it when they weren’t around. Soooooo….thanks for the reccomendation Natasha. The three of us loved it.
on September 4th, 2008 at 12:29 amKate,I’m nine years old.I just love The Tale of Despereaux.I want to read it again and again.Why did you put parts of it like “A Mouse is born”,”GOR!The Tale Of Miggery Sow”?I fell sorry for her.Why did you say “reader”.The book is like Soooooooooooooooooooooooo good.Keep up the good work Kate.Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on September 14th, 2008 at 7:37 pmKate,It’s me again.I was wondering if you can tell me how did you think about this book?My favoite animal is a mouse.Can you give me some tips about writing at my email address.Thanks Kate.Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on September 15th, 2008 at 5:48 pmJenn M. - So, so glad that you liked it! My mother in-law just read it on my recommendation as well and she also loved it.
Alysa A. - Hi! Unfortunately, this is not Kate’s website. Just someone who is a big fan. I wish I could pass on your questions, but I can’t.
on September 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm[...] THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. A mouse, a rat and a girl on a magic trip. (Ages 10 and up) [...]
on October 5th, 2008 at 12:37 amThis book is too cute and lovely to be passed. I’m reading this for the holiday season. Great review!
on November 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 pmo.m.g i loved this book i had never heard one like it b4. i was in 4th grade when i read it now i’m in 6th and i steal love it. it amazes me i was not expecting it to be so fantastic i’m not to fond of most books it take’s a lot to impress me. thanks! you opened up a whole new world for me!
on November 26th, 2008 at 12:45 am