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babyleo 's review for:
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
I was not expecting this story. I knew the name but I didn't know why, and I had read another of DiCamillo's books so I gave her a go. This is the story of a very little mouse called Desperaux, as well as a rat born into darkness and a girl with a simple, impossible wish. These three along with a castle of characters is the start of a heartfelt but sometimes saddening tale.
The beginning sets you up in a very odd way around Desperaux and his family, and introduces us to the mouse world in an old castle. But then just as you get settled DiCamillo changes our focus elsewhere and we see the start of another story. This continues through the story and it is really clever. It shows the different lives of everyone involved and how one small action can cause such a big reaction.
There are simple realities and small brutalities but nothing over the top, unless you think too much about it. But DiCamillo doesn't make you pity any one too much. She offers small things that balance out the bad and takes a characters own pity away so you lessen your own, and what these characters offer, especially those in the wrong, provide small glimmers of forgiveness.
This is a great read, it shows how understanding can be a powerful force but also how desperation can create terrible consequences.
A version of this review was also published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/the-tale-of-despereaux-by-katie-dicamillo/
The beginning sets you up in a very odd way around Desperaux and his family, and introduces us to the mouse world in an old castle. But then just as you get settled DiCamillo changes our focus elsewhere and we see the start of another story. This continues through the story and it is really clever. It shows the different lives of everyone involved and how one small action can cause such a big reaction.
There are simple realities and small brutalities but nothing over the top, unless you think too much about it. But DiCamillo doesn't make you pity any one too much. She offers small things that balance out the bad and takes a characters own pity away so you lessen your own, and what these characters offer, especially those in the wrong, provide small glimmers of forgiveness.
This is a great read, it shows how understanding can be a powerful force but also how desperation can create terrible consequences.
A version of this review was also published on my blog http://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/the-tale-of-despereaux-by-katie-dicamillo/