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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
What sweet and amazing story. This little mouse is born different in a dull world with giant cute ears and no fear. The other mice can't understand his passion. He starts his adventure to become an honorable knight against all odds, restoring the happiness to the kingdom. The other characters have their own fights and struggles to conquer. They’re funny and very well constructed. Oh, and there’s also…soup.
We learn with Despereaux that no one is too small to accomplish a greater purpose.
A very beautiful book.
We learn with Despereaux that no one is too small to accomplish a greater purpose.
A very beautiful book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A mouse. A rat. A princess. A serving girl. Soup. A spool of thread. This is an enchanting, beautifully written story about all of these things, and about hope, forgiveness, and love.
This has always been one of my favorite books. I've read it at least 8 times.
This book is about a mouse named Despereaux who is a disappointment to the mouse community, because he is nothing like a mouse at all! He doesn't scurry. He likes music, and light, and reading. He loves and wants to be loved. His father decides that he is a danger to them and so they banish him to the dungeon.
Another thing about this book is that it switches perspectives a lot. It switches from Despereaux, to Roscuro, or Miggery Sow. Next it switches to Roscuro.
Roscuro is a rat. But he is not like other rats. He loves light. After a plight that happens upstairs he becomes angry, and revengeful on the Princess Pea. He comes up with a plan to take the light out of her life, just like she did to him.
Miggery Sow is just a little girl when her mother dies, and not long after is sold to a stranger for only a handful of cigarettes, a hen, and a red table cloth. After seeing the princess riding past her house one day, it is her dream to become a princess too. She is taken away from her "uncle" (who is not her uncle at all) When a soldier comes to his house and says that soup is outlawed (which was a result of the same situation that made Roscuro evil). Apparently a human is not allowed to own another human though, so they take Miggery to the castle to be a servant.
To find out the rest, I just recommend reading it. I think this book is great for people of all ages, honestly. It's great for kids though because it ropes them in with that classic castle and princess theme, but then introduces more originality with a little hero of a mouse. It also introduces them to larger words to enhance their vocabulary. The tone of the author also really compliments the story. I just think it is beautifully written.
This book is about a mouse named Despereaux who is a disappointment to the mouse community, because he is nothing like a mouse at all! He doesn't scurry. He likes music, and light, and reading. He loves and wants to be loved. His father decides that he is a danger to them and so they banish him to the dungeon.
Another thing about this book is that it switches perspectives a lot. It switches from Despereaux, to Roscuro, or Miggery Sow. Next it switches to Roscuro.
Roscuro is a rat. But he is not like other rats. He loves light. After a plight that happens upstairs he becomes angry, and revengeful on the Princess Pea. He comes up with a plan to take the light out of her life, just like she did to him.
Miggery Sow is just a little girl when her mother dies, and not long after is sold to a stranger for only a handful of cigarettes, a hen, and a red table cloth. After seeing the princess riding past her house one day, it is her dream to become a princess too. She is taken away from her "uncle" (who is not her uncle at all) When a soldier comes to his house and says that soup is outlawed (which was a result of the same situation that made Roscuro evil). Apparently a human is not allowed to own another human though, so they take Miggery to the castle to be a servant.
To find out the rest, I just recommend reading it. I think this book is great for people of all ages, honestly. It's great for kids though because it ropes them in with that classic castle and princess theme, but then introduces more originality with a little hero of a mouse. It also introduces them to larger words to enhance their vocabulary. The tone of the author also really compliments the story. I just think it is beautifully written.
This was a favorite to read to the little girls I worked with. I loved seeing it through their eyes.
I was really excited to read The Tale of Despereaux. It’s a Newberry Medal book and now a movie, so I thought for sure it would become a new favorite.
I read it in about 2 1/2 days. I liked how the chapters were short. It’s a cute story, but to be honest I felt it was lacking…and a bit boring.
I thought it would be an irresistible tale, but it was sad and depressing. I mean Despereaux is born and his family immediately doesn’t like him and casts him off. His mother more interested in her make-up.
His father condemns him to death in the dungeon as part of the Mouse Council and his own brother leads him to the dungeon where the rats are to kill and eat him. Why the sentence of death? He talked to the princess.
The queen dies after seeing a rat in her soup. The rat, Rscouro, gets a disgusted look from the princess and then sets out a plan for revenge.
Miggery Sow is a little girl whose mother dies and then her father sells her to a man, whom she must call Uncle, for a hen, a red tablecloth, and some cigarettes. Her “uncle” then hits her against her ears after nearly every response, giving the poor girl cauliflower ears and loss of hearing.
It wasn’t just the depressing events that was disappointing, but the build-up for the story didn’t go anywhere. Despereaux saved the day, but then everything kind of just ended. For me it was like, “This is it?”
Needless to say, I was disappointed.
I did like how DiCamillo spoke to the reader regularly and explained certain things. What was interesting was how she referred to the themes of light and dark as part of the characters and themes in this book. To a certain extent I liked that, but at times it seemed empty and other times forced. As if the author was reaching for something and didn’t quite catch it.
I really wanted to love this book. I thought it’d be amazing, but…didn’t happen. Some people say to those who don’t like it “Oh, it’s for children. You should think of it like that,” but remember what C. S. Lewis said, “Any story worth reading at ten should be worth reading at fifty.”
I read it in about 2 1/2 days. I liked how the chapters were short. It’s a cute story, but to be honest I felt it was lacking…and a bit boring.
I thought it would be an irresistible tale, but it was sad and depressing. I mean Despereaux is born and his family immediately doesn’t like him and casts him off. His mother more interested in her make-up.
His father condemns him to death in the dungeon as part of the Mouse Council and his own brother leads him to the dungeon where the rats are to kill and eat him. Why the sentence of death? He talked to the princess.
The queen dies after seeing a rat in her soup. The rat, Rscouro, gets a disgusted look from the princess and then sets out a plan for revenge.
Miggery Sow is a little girl whose mother dies and then her father sells her to a man, whom she must call Uncle, for a hen, a red tablecloth, and some cigarettes. Her “uncle” then hits her against her ears after nearly every response, giving the poor girl cauliflower ears and loss of hearing.
It wasn’t just the depressing events that was disappointing, but the build-up for the story didn’t go anywhere. Despereaux saved the day, but then everything kind of just ended. For me it was like, “This is it?”
Needless to say, I was disappointed.
I did like how DiCamillo spoke to the reader regularly and explained certain things. What was interesting was how she referred to the themes of light and dark as part of the characters and themes in this book. To a certain extent I liked that, but at times it seemed empty and other times forced. As if the author was reaching for something and didn’t quite catch it.
I really wanted to love this book. I thought it’d be amazing, but…didn’t happen. Some people say to those who don’t like it “Oh, it’s for children. You should think of it like that,” but remember what C. S. Lewis said, “Any story worth reading at ten should be worth reading at fifty.”
Summary: The book is about a mouse who is in love with a Princess named Pea.
Characters:
Genre:
Audience: Ages 9-12
Life Lessons: In times of abandonment and struggles, this book teaches about empathy and forgiveness.
Curriculum Use: Independent reading or read aloud
Recommendations/Awards: Newbery Medal 2004
Characters:
Genre:
Audience: Ages 9-12
Life Lessons: In times of abandonment and struggles, this book teaches about empathy and forgiveness.
Curriculum Use: Independent reading or read aloud
Recommendations/Awards: Newbery Medal 2004
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a very nostalgic read for me and I know I used to absolutely love this book as a kid but rereading it now was a bit of a shock. I was not expecting the nonchalant manner in which certain topics are brought up and not addressed
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Grief, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lovveeedd ittttt.
I don't think this book can just apply for kids, as an older teen I was able to enjoy this book very much and gain a lot out of it. It's a perfect read for when you just want to relax and calmly read at night (that's what I did lol).
The ending was very satisfying :)
**Although don't expect this to be a top notch book lol, it's a very wholesome book and obviously written for kids :)
I don't think this book can just apply for kids, as an older teen I was able to enjoy this book very much and gain a lot out of it. It's a perfect read for when you just want to relax and calmly read at night (that's what I did lol).
The ending was very satisfying :)
**Although don't expect this to be a top notch book lol, it's a very wholesome book and obviously written for kids :)