This is a story of a mousey hero who saves a princess’ life. This is the story of a mouse that was different from the others. This is the tale of Despereaux.
When Despereaux was born, he was the only baby who survived. The other babies that his mom gave birth to did not live. That was why his mom, a French mouse, was also skeptical of his survival rate. He was such a tiny mouse with abnormally large ears.
I find Despereaux’s mom an utterly pessimistic female mouse whose favourite word is ‘disappointment’. Hence, she named the poor fella ‘Despereaux’, symbolizing the tragedy happening around them.
Despereaux grew to be a mouse who could not easily please his family. His brother tried to teach him the art of scurrying in the castle that they lived in. His sister attempted to show him how to nibble paper but he started reading the book instead. That was how he knew his first story of a knight in shining armour who rescues a damsel in distress.
Anyway, Despereaux discovered music and from there, he met the Princess Pea. He immediately fell in love with her. It sounds cute, doesn’t it, a tiny mouse falling in love with a human princess? Or what do you think? I thought it would be a case of unrequited love but one should never stop dreaming and hoping.
The second part of the book introduces us to a rat called Chiaroscuro. It’s an odd name but it’s a new word to learn. In my dictionary, it means ‘the treatment of light and dark parts in a painting, etc’.
All the same, just call the rat ‘Roscuro’. Roscuro is an unusual rat who’s obsessed with light. It is in rats’ nature that they should always be in the dark but not Roscuro. Because he wants to be bathed in light, he ventured into the castle’s banquet hall where the royal family was having a party. Something terrible then happened and it caused Roscuro to be vengeful.
Another important character in the book would be Miggery Sow who was sold when she was a child. Her father was poor and traded her for a hen, a red tablecloth and some cigarettes. Poor Mig was sold to a man who kept giving her many “a good clout to the ear”. As a result, she became almost deaf and one would need to shout to her in order to be heard.
All these characters will eventually meet somewhere in the book and I’m not going to tell you how. This book is easy to read and you can finish it in a day. You can also enjoy the beautiful black and white illustrations that accompany the story.
It’s a book meant for children but it’s definitely a book for everyone. I thought the rat rather evil and disturbing, so perhaps you might need to be there to comfort your child if he or she begins having nightmares of menacing rats!
Love, courage, treachery, regrets, dreams and hopes are the themes found in The Tale of Despereaux. Enjoy reading this 2004 Newbery Medal award winner!
Other reviews: Nymeth, Girl Detective
Buy The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
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I loved this book when I first read it in sixth grade.
Here are some examples of chiaroscuro
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro
Thanks for posting on 9 for 09. I look forward to reading more of your reviews.
My students and I are reading it together right now and they love it, too.
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope..
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Ch. 1 is online!
Krista: Well, you had good taste when you were in sixth grade!
Isabel: Thanks for the Wikipedia link and for visiting my blog! I like being part of 9 for 09 too.
You said it well – it’s for children, but not just. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Nymeth: Yes, it’s that rare kind of story that’s really appealing.
Beth: Hi, thanks for visiting my blog! Glad to hear that your students loved this book. Anyway, I know about your book. I even have a copy at home but haven’t started reading it yet.
This is a bittersweet tale with some definite scary parts. I love the interplay between the illustrations and the text.
My favorite Kate DiCamillo book is Tiger Rising, though it didn’t win a Newbery.
Girl Detective: I love the illustrations too and I kept referring to them while reading. It helps to enhance my imagination of what’s happening. I do miss reading books with illustrations! Makes the story seem more real.
Tiger Rising? I’ll have to check that out!
this is a great book i read it for a book report and i colnt stop reading it
maddie: Wow, you did a book report on it? Nice! Hope you had fun writing it like how you enjoyed the book.
I still haven’t seen this movie. I’d love to read the book first!
Ladytink_534: Me too. I am waiting for the movie to be released in local cinemas.
Good review. Great book.
Glenda: Hi there, thanks.
i love your books they are soo amazingly great and very interesting! you are awesome!!!!!
i read this not too long ago, didn’t really like this. because of winn-dixie is much, much better! if you haven’t read that then i recommend it.
@Alaina: Thanks for enjoying my blog!
@nylusmilk: Thanks for the recommendation. Will definitely check it out!
Sounds like this would be a good choice for my YA Reading Challenge…
@Nishita: Oh yeah go ahead and put it in your challenge! You might enjoy it.