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snowmanforhire's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
esc10615's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ardentlyaugustine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I cried while nearing the end of this book. I especially teared up when Roscuro told Mig that nobody cared what she wanted. She was told that for years and finally somebody cared to ask about what she wanted and it was Princess Pea. I loved this book a lot. I admire the message it wanted to convey and how it was communicated throughout the whole book. This book definitely captures a light-hearted take on the experience of being a living thing with a heart and mind that feels and learns.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, and Child abuse
mdevlin923's review against another edition
3.0
Both Desperaux Tilling (a mouse) and Chiaroscuro (a rat) are both fascinated by light and beauty and humans. And they are both shunned from their communities because of it. Chiaroscuro is tortured, and Desperaux is sentenced to the dungeon...where rats and the dark swallow mice up. But Desperaux's love for the princess gives him inspiration and bravery, and through his courage he saves the princess from Roscuro's devious plot.
A wonderful choice to read aloud to the family.
A wonderful choice to read aloud to the family.
victorialynch's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
3.0
Surprisingly dark. I thought it was going to be a swashbuckling take featuring the adventures of a small mouse. He is brave, but doesn’t have the spotlight all to himself. Mixed feelings about this book. If I had read it as a child I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. There are some arresting passages regarding music and light and beauty- the dungeons are also sufficiently awful and scary, but the story as a whole left me feeling cold.
kat_the_nat's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
outoftheblue14's review against another edition
5.0
This story begins within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse. A small mouse. The last mouse born to his parents and the only one of his litter to be born alive.
I picked up The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo at the library, in the Italian translation by Angela Ragusa. I had seen it popping up a number of times in various book blogs, but I didn't know it was a fairy tale, and didn't expect I would love it so much.
The Tale of Despereaux begins with the birth of our hero, Despereaux: a small, big-eared mouse who lives in a castle where soup and rats are prohibited. Despereaux isn't a normal mouse: he doesn't care about scouting crumbs. He loves reading, listening to music, and dreams that he will be a knight in a shining armour one day. One evening, drawn to the music the king his playing for his daughter, Despereaux comes near the king and Princess Pea. He also speaks to the Princess, and promptly falls in love with her. When the Council of mice learns that he has broken the rules and spoken to a human being, they decree that he shall be sent to death: he is to be consigned to the dungeons where the evil rats will eat him alive.
In the dungeons we also meet a rat who doesn't fit in with the other rats. Chiaroscuro, nicknamed Roscuro, is a rat who craves the colour and light he is denied.
We also meet a slow, dense girl, Miggery Sow. Her mother's dead, and her father cares so little about her that he sells her to another man in exchange for a red tablecloth, a hen, and some cigarettes. Miggery Sow is slapped by her "owner" so many times that she develops cauliflower ears and loses most of her hearing. Her dream, however, is to become a princess
When Miggery Sow becomes a servant in the castle, Roscuro persuades her to kidnap Princess Pea and hide her in the dungeons. Despereaux, who has managed to save himself from the rats, is now on a mission to rescue Princess Pea.
Beautifully written, this book is about love and hate, light and darkness, good and evil. The narrator often addresses the Reader directly, and I loved these parts. I especially loved the beginning:
The world is dark, and light is precious.
Come closer, dear reader.
You must trust me.
I am telling you a story.
I picked up The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo at the library, in the Italian translation by Angela Ragusa. I had seen it popping up a number of times in various book blogs, but I didn't know it was a fairy tale, and didn't expect I would love it so much.
The Tale of Despereaux begins with the birth of our hero, Despereaux: a small, big-eared mouse who lives in a castle where soup and rats are prohibited. Despereaux isn't a normal mouse: he doesn't care about scouting crumbs. He loves reading, listening to music, and dreams that he will be a knight in a shining armour one day. One evening, drawn to the music the king his playing for his daughter, Despereaux comes near the king and Princess Pea. He also speaks to the Princess, and promptly falls in love with her. When the Council of mice learns that he has broken the rules and spoken to a human being, they decree that he shall be sent to death: he is to be consigned to the dungeons where the evil rats will eat him alive.
In the dungeons we also meet a rat who doesn't fit in with the other rats. Chiaroscuro, nicknamed Roscuro, is a rat who craves the colour and light he is denied.
We also meet a slow, dense girl, Miggery Sow. Her mother's dead, and her father cares so little about her that he sells her to another man in exchange for a red tablecloth, a hen, and some cigarettes. Miggery Sow is slapped by her "owner" so many times that she develops cauliflower ears and loses most of her hearing. Her dream, however, is to become a princess
When Miggery Sow becomes a servant in the castle, Roscuro persuades her to kidnap Princess Pea and hide her in the dungeons. Despereaux, who has managed to save himself from the rats, is now on a mission to rescue Princess Pea.
Beautifully written, this book is about love and hate, light and darkness, good and evil. The narrator often addresses the Reader directly, and I loved these parts. I especially loved the beginning:
The world is dark, and light is precious.
Come closer, dear reader.
You must trust me.
I am telling you a story.
anndempsey's review against another edition
4.0
Laura’s review: it was pretty good. I liked that there was a princess. The parts with the rats were a little scary. I would recommend this book.