2004. This delightful tale of the mouse hero, Despereaux, and his love, the Princess Pea, was written for children ages five to eight. However, I am almost 36 and I adored the story. Big-eared, tiny, Despereaux, outcast by his family and the other mice for being different, seems doomed at the beginning, forced into the castle dungeon for committing an unspeakable crime in the mouse world - not only showing himself to humans, but conversing with them and letting them touch him. He was drawn to the music being played by the king and the princess one day, and he instantly fell in love with the princess. The Mouse Council rules that Despereaux be banished to the darkness of the dungeon to meet his fate with the rats, but rather than die there he meets Gregory the jailer, who helps Despereaux return to the light to see his beloved princess again. While escaping, Despereaux overhears the evil plan of the rat Roscuro, who seeks revenge on Princess Pea for the disgusted look she gave him after he caused the Queen's death (the queen died from a heart attack when she saw Roscuro in her soup which he had accidentally fallen into). Despereaux eventually rescues the princess from the dungeon after Roscuro convinced the kitchen servant Miggery Sow (who was not "the sharpest knife in the box") to lead her down there so she could take her place as Princess. The two end up becoming friends and the good hearts of the Princess and Despereaux prove that everyone deserves love and happiness, no matter if they are a king, queen, mouse, or rat.
This story is one of hope, love and "light," as author DiCamillo declares. If people (or animals) in darkness are just able to let some light in, they will discover just what their lives might become.
I agree with the author in her statement preceding her first "book" in The Tale of Despereaux: "The world is dark , and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story." All of the secondary characters in the book - Mig, Roscuro, Pea, and even the jailer Gregory - are all on the same "quest" as Despereaux is, to find happiness and love to light up their lives. The jailer, Gregory, seems like a dark character since he lives in the dungeon and takes care of the criminals, but he, too, merely craves something to brighten his existence; this is clear when he spares Despereaux's life and asks him to tell him a story instead. "Because you, mouse, can tell Gregory a story. Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light."
That particular quote is what really confirmed my affection for this title. I have loved reading stories since I was four years old, and now that I have a family of my own I rarely have time to read for pleasure. When I picked up this book I didn't put it down until I finished it, and it made me realize that I have to make time to read a good book every once in a while, no matter how busy my life gets. Imaginative stories that have sad parts but happy endings such as The Tale of Despereaux are my kind of books.
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