A review by koreanlinda
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Reader, expect a heart-smitten story about a tiny mouse, Despereaux! This book came into my life through a kind friend who loved the story and lent it to me. How sweet of them! 

It is a children's story with a simple plot, but it is thrilling to follow Despereaux's adventure. I also loved the casual way the author incorporated some virtues that they valued, such as empathy and courage. 

"Do you know what it means to be empathetic? ... It means that when you are being forcibly taken to a dungeon, when you have a large knife pointed at your back, when you are trying to be brave, you are able, still, to think for a moment of the person who is holding that knife."

"I have never known a mouse who has made it out of the dungeon only to go back into it again. Goodbye, friend. Goodbye, mouse among mice."


There are problematic aspects similar to those in traditional storybooks. A male character "saves" a female character, and another male character objectifies a female character: "That is why I brought the princess here, really, just for some beauty... some light of my own." For that reason, I would not recommend this book to children. I believe parents and teachers can find other books on the theme of empathy and courage where hetero-normativity and sexism are less present. 

Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in November 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda 
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