Newbery Award Winner

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY

DiCamillo, Kate. 2003. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX: BEING THE STORY OF A MOUSE, A PRINCESS, SOME SOUP, AND A SPOOL OF THREAD. Ill. By Timothy Basil Ering. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.

II. PLOT SUMMARY

Despereaux is a very small mouse born to be greater than a simple mouse. He enjoys reading and instantly falls in love with the beautiful Princess Pea. However, by talking to her, he has broken an essential mouse rule, and he is punished by being sent to the castle’s dungeon. Meanwhile, the story diverts to tell the reader about a rat in the dungeon who goes by the name Roscuro. He is drawn to light and ventures into the castle, ultimately ending up in the queen’s soup. The sweet Princess Pea shouts with complete disgust, “A Rat.” He decides to get revenge on this princess. Mig, an orphaned girl comes to live in the castle and Roscuro draws her into his plan. They kidnap the princess and only Despereaux can lead this story to a happily ever after ending.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

THE TALE OF DESPEREAX is an endearing animal fantasy tale that children will delight in reading. DiCamillo’s writing style is reminiscent of classic fairy tales, and she has created memorable characters with rich detail in her descriptions of their appearance and personalities. Each character is fully drawn out, with flaws and strengths revealed. For example, even the king’s weaknesses are pointed out. “He was nearsighted. He made ridiculous, unreasonable, difficult-to enforce laws. And, much in the way of Miggery Sow, he was not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer” (211). Even with these faults, though, the king still has an extraordinary quality to “love with the whole of his heart” (211). By creating characters with flaws, they are realistic and relatable.

The plot is told in four books, each focusing and introducing a different character. Finally, the story culminates in a finale with Despereaux becoming a true hero and “knight in shining armor.” DiCamillo has created a voice in the writing that is like a teacher gently giving her pupils important information. For example, as Despereaux gains the courage to save the princess, he says he is on a quest. Then, the narrator of the story encourages the reader to say the word aloud and provides a definition. Many times throughout the story, this “narrator” addresses the reader, and this technique has a gentle tone, making the lessons understood.

The theme of THE TALE OF DESPERAUX is good vs. evil. Many times DiCamillo refers to light and darkness as a figurative representation of good verses evil. The tiny mouse Despereaux lives in the light, but is banished to the dark dungeon of the castle, where he is surrounded by evil. The rats live in the dungeon, but Roscuro is drawn to the light of the upstairs. Ultimately, though he brings the princess to the dark dungeon to make her suffer along with him. The theme is also about the power of love.

Overall, THE TALE OF DESPERAEUX is a delightful story about an unlikely hero. Throughout the book, there are adorable sketch illustrations that depict the action of the story. The theme of good overcoming evil is timeless, and the tiniest mouse as a hero makes this tale unique.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

2004 Newbery Award Winner

“With a masterful hand, DiCamillo weaves four story lines together in a witty, suspenseful narrative that begs to be read aloud. In her authorial asides, she hearkens back to literary traditions as old as those used by Henry Fielding. In her observations of the political machinations and follies of rodent and human societies, she reminds adult readers of George Orwell. But the unpredictable twists of plot, the fanciful characterizations, and the sweetness of tone are DiCamillo's own. This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun.” –School Library Journal

“Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious.” –Booklist (Starred Review)

V. CONNECTIONS

**Learn more about the author and her writing style. Present interviews she has participated in on how she writes.

**Other books readers may like:

THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE by Joan Aikens
BLACK HEARTS IN BATTERSEA by Joan Aikens