Review: Tale of Despereaux

By: Kate DiCamillo

Candlewick Press; 2003; 267 Pages

Juvenile Fiction; Newbery Award Winner

Grades: 3-6

ISBN: 9780763617226

The story of a very little mouse with enormous ears. When Despereaux falls in love with a human princess, the castle culture is rocked to the core. Despereaux is forced into many exciting and dangerous adventures as he rushes to save the girl he loves.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book immensely. I thought that the style was great, reminiscent of early novels from the 1800's, with the narrator often addressing comments directly to the Dear Reader. At the same time the plot moved along at a rapid pace, there were twists and turns through out, and the language was not mired in prohibitive vocabulary. (Although, the young reader will quickly learn the meaning of "perfidy.") I also thought that the plot itself was highly original. Although there have been other stories of princesses, mice, rats, and dungeons, DiCamillo somehow manages to avoid being derivative.

There are several aspects that I truly liked. The first is that soup is central to the storyline. I like soup. The second is that Despereaux is an underdog, and I think that kids will be able to identify with him. No one seems to expect much out of him, and they are easily frustrated when he doesn't fit into thier mold. By maintaining his integrity, he is actually able to do what those who are larger and better qualified cannot. I also loved that the story is not set in a specific era. Though it takes place in a castle, the king is depicted as singing the sixties hit "Deep Purple." Also, no one seems surprised that the animals can talk and interact with the people. Finally, I appreciated that the story teaches certain morals,but is never preachy. It teaches the importance of forgiveness, acceptance, and hope. It also teaches that love, though ridiculous, is powerful.

The Thoughts of Others:

Miriam Lang Budin wrote a review for School Library Journal in which she likened DiCamillo's writing to both Henry Fielding and George Orwell. She summed the work up as "entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun."

Booklist's Ilene Cooper appreciated the hidden lessons, writing that, "as with the best stories, there are important messages tucked in here and there, so subtly that children who are carried away by the words won't realize they have been uplifted until much later." She also appreciated the way that DiCamillo seamlessly wove four storylines together.