DISCOVERING LIGHT IN DARK PLACES

books:


	• The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread (Tale of ... Kate Dicamillo Candlewick, 2006 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 354 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

It's OK

The Tale of Despereaux is really 3 stories in one that all intertwine around one central character, the Princess Pea, at the end. It is the story of Despereaux Tilling, an uncommonly small mouse who was born with his eyes open and who has uncommonly large ears and who falls in love with the Princess Pea; it is the story of the rat Chiaroscuro, who discovers the joys of light even though his place should be in the dungeon and learns a great hatred for and wishes for revenge on the Princess Pea; and it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted servant girl whose greatest wish in the world is to be just like the Princess Pea.

I was intrigued by this book after a friend recommended DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, which is a beautiful cathartic tale of love and loss. The Tale of Despereaux just doesn't seem to have the same impact on me. Ultimately, it is a story of forgiveness and redemption, but it all seemed a little too mannered and forced for my taste. Perhaps in the right hands, this story would be perfect, but I found it lacking in any real substance. It's not a bad tale, but not perfect.

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Chico's review

The Tale of Despereaux, this wonderful book about a mouse and a princess whom he loves, a wicked rat and a slow-witted serving girl, has an awesome plot which unfolds perfectly without any kinks that make it hard to understand. If you are looking for a book, consider this one!

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DISCOVERING LIGHT IN DARK PLACES

This charming tale about an undersized mouse in a castle of shadows flows easily--captivating the reader's attention and gently stimulating his imagination. Presented in a format of many short chapters and enhanced by soft, black and white illustrations, the story studies the effect of love and light (or the lack thereof) on both the human and animal soul. Young readers will quickly bond with the diminutive protagonist and the motherless young princess. In an additional stroke of literary genius KDC leads her readers to sympathize with the darker characters: a maimed rat and an abused country girl. (One subtle theme may be that sinners have explanations for their vicious behavior and even the possibility of future, social redemption.)

Despereau scorns scrabbling for crumbs in favor of seeking light
(Music, Love, Courage) which provides solace for his tiny but noble soul.
Betrayed by his own father and lead off to the dreaded dungeon--domain of scurrilous rats of course--he discovers courage and nobility of heart as a result of his love for young princess Pea. There are no limitations to a mouse on a quest when he is prompted by a chivalrous spirit. Despite gentle spoofing of French manners and attitudes, this story includes delicate introspection; the author probes the diverse elements which fashion a heart and motivate behavior.

Switching the reader's focus among Despereau, Roscuro (a rat) and Miggery Sow (country bumpkin) keeps us mentally alert, until the paths of all four main characters converge in the terrifying dungeon. In quaint literary style KDC frequently addresses the reader directly--a novelty for 21st century young adults. A captivating tale about an unlikely hero, which will tickle your whiskers. For kids of all ages.

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So good I couldn't put it down!

This story is about a mouse called Despereaux, a rat called Roscuro, a princess called Pea and girl who wanted to be a princess named Miggery Sow.
Despereax loves the princess, Roscuro loves the light and Miggery Sow is dying to be a princess.

1. I liked the way the book had a new chapter when I was really looking forward to finding out what was going to happen next.
2. I also liked how Despereaux loved music and he talked to the princess.
3. What I didn't like was that the cook was an animal killer.
You really have to read this book, it was so good I couldn't put it down!!

(Review written by Sara)

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an awesome mouse

This book is so good, and a lot of other people that I know think so, too. This book is about a mouse that broke two rules of being a mouse. Those rules were not to talk to humans, and not to let humans touch you. The mouse' name is Despereaux. His brother's name is Furlough. Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea, but gets sent to the dungeon for breaking two very strict rules of being a mouse. Then there is this rat called Ruscuro. Ruscuro meets a girl named Miggery Sow. Later, Despereaux gets out of the dungeon and goes to save the princess. The best things about this book are funny. Like the time Despereaux had to hold on to the tail of Ruscuros brother and then the book says "Reader, have you ever held on to a rat's tail before?" My favorite character is Ruscuro because he always looks mischievous and that makes him seem like he would do something really cool the next chapter. There is nothing I don't like about this book. My least favorite character is Miggery Sow because she is fat and does not do much but say "I want to be princess". You should get this book if you love reading very interesting and adventurous books.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

"Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul-stirring as it is delicious." ? BOOKLIST (starred review)

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

From the master storyteller who brought us BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE comes another classic, a fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, with twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering. This paperback edition pays tribute to the book's classicdesign, featuring a rough front and elegant gold stamping.

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