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The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Storyof a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Review

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX is an exciting fairy tale written in the style of classical romantic literature. The title character, Despereaux, is a tiny mouse; the smallest mouse ever to be born in the castle. Not only that, but he also has incredibly large ears, even by normal-size mouse standards, and he's born with his eyes open, something unheard of. He's so small that his mother is disappointed so much by his birth that she vows to never have any more children and his father thinks he will die in a few days. But Despereaux lives and like his unusual birth he goes on to live an unusual life. Instead of eating the pages of books in the library, he reads the words on the pages and instead of staying away from the people in the castle, he becomes good friends with Princess Pea. He's a nonconformist, but those who don't conform do pay a price as THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX reminds readers again and again. Like all good stories, THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX isn't just about Despereaux and Pea. There are two other major characters: a rat named Chiaroscuro and a poor farm girl named Miggery (Mig) Sow. Chiaroscuro is a rat who loves light. Rats by their very nature prefer darkness, but not Chiaroscuro. After he catches a gleam of light he seeks it. For Chiaroscuro light is a bright beacon within his soul. Yet, his quest for light leads to a terrible, unfortunate accident and Chiaroscuro is banished to the darkness where he plots his revenge against the rulers of the castle. Meanwhile, Mig Sow is a servant girl in the castle who wasn't born with much external beauty and who was sold by her father as a young child for a table cloth. Mig wants nothing more than to be a princess and when Chiaroscuro promises her that he can help her become one, she'll do almost anything he says.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX is a romantic fairy tale. It is a romance because though there can never be more than friendship between Princess Pea and Despereaux Tilling, Despereaux Tilling loves the Princess. The actions he takes are done because of honor and love. But, the story is a true fairy tale. There is happiness at the end of the story and everything is restored to its proper place, but not until the characters have gone through an incredible journey full of darkness, danger, and a dance with death.

DiCamillo is a magnificent storyteller and weaves the tale in a classical literary sense. It engages readers and when words are used (such as "perfidy") or a situation arises that the youngest readers might not understand, she explains it in a way that makes the meanings clear. The book has a number of messages that all readers can benefit from, e.g. actions, even good ones, have consequences; it's difficult to be a nonconformist; though life is full of joy, there are always moments of sadness; etc.

I enjoyed reading THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX. It had all the elements that a great story should. Though marketed towards a younger audience, the book is really just a wonderful story that all readers, no matter the age, can enjoy.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Storyof a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Overview

The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Storyof a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Specifications

Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, spins a tidy tale of mice and men where she explores the "powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous" nature of love, hope, and forgiveness. Her old-fashioned, somewhat dark story, narrated "Dear Reader"-style, begins "within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. Sadly, the romantic, unmouselike spirit that leads the unusually tiny, large-eared mouse to the foot of the human king and the beautiful Princess Pea ultimately causes him to be banished by his own father to the foul, rat-filled dungeon.

The first book of four tells Despereaux's sad story, where he falls deeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate. The second book introduces another creature who differs from his peers--Chiaroscuro, a rat who instead of loving the darkness of his home in the dungeon, loves the light so much he ends up in the castle& in the queen's soup. The third book describes young Miggery Sow, a girl who has been "clouted" so many times that she has cauliflower ears. Still, all the slow-witted, hard-of-hearing Mig dreams of is wearing the crown of Princess Pea. The fourth book returns to the dungeon-bound Despereaux and connects the lives of mouse, rat, girl, and princess in a dramatic denouement.

Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts will relate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out of their reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct." Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflecting DiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet, fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

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Customer Reviews

Don't listen to the detractors... or .. maybe you should... how should I know!?! We love it! - W. Morgan - Tennesse
This book clearly has a demographic of heartfelt detractors. I'm not one of them - neither is my 7 year old daughter. My wife and many of her 3rd graders have/do love the book.

I don't see the problems with it that some others do. In fact I think it's a bit absurd - but to each their own.

My understanding is some have issue with the darkness of the book - or the sad and flawed characters. I guess I can understand this concern if you are thinking of extremely young listeners/readers. However, by the time most children can read/appreciate this book they will be old enough (presumably) to think about the world a bit more as it really is and not as it is presented in squeaky-clean children books. This book is not any darker than say Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - or a number of other Dahl books which are also loved in our house. We also read a decent bit of Greek Myth - often quite grim - but my kids love them.

Yes, Mig is a character deserving sympathy (as is Roscuro to some extent) - she is abused, dim-witted, overweight and near-deaf from the beatings to the ears she has suffered. She had a horrible life! This actually happens sometimes to real people! Think about the life someone with her abilities may have led ever so many years ago.

Desperaux's family treats him pretty horribly as well ... but he isn't tainted and is able to love and forgive and empathize and persevere ... he is ultimately a hero.

There are things to think about - and discuss. Thinking and discussing books with your kids is healthy for you and for them!

Despereaux is a Super Mouse - Elliott - L.A.
Despereaux was unusually small when he was born, but he had very big ears for a mouse. And he was born with his eyes open. These were all bad signs, according to the book's mouse community, which is dominated by the ignorant and the intolerant. Roscuro was a rat that loved the light and had the misfortune to fall into the Queen's soup. Miggery Sow was an abused child who wanted to be a princess.

This is a fantasy that both children (twelve and older), and adults can appreciate. Author Kate DiCamillo knows a lot about human nature, particularly the dark side. I would not recommend this book for younger children, because it deals with some particularly scary themes. She uses mice, rats, and medieval-style royalty to reflect upon humanity and inhumanity

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 31, 2010 04:05:05

Children's Books

Saturday, July 31, 2010