The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Heartless toy finds love in a cruel world.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a melancholy little story in which there is cruelty and misery, including a little girl who dies of consumption. Most readers, child and adult, will cry while reading it; at the most extreme, some very sensitive kids might find it too disturbing.

  • A moving, lyrical, and for some, too emotionally effective examination of love.
  • A boy is slapped, a dog is kicked, and a living toy is smashed and broken.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

Edward Tulane is a three-foot tall toy rabbit, beautifully made, with a wardrobe of exquisite clothes. Like any toy, he cannot move or talk, but he can think. And despite being loved by a little girl, Abilene, he doesn't love anyone but himself.

Abilene's mysterious grandmother tells them a story of a princess who cannot love, and she whispers to Edward, "You disappoint me." Soon after, while on a cruise ship, Edward is thrown overboard by some mean boys, thus beginning an odyssey that carries him through many years to different owners, through humiliation and damage and pain, but enables him gradually to open his heart to others.


Is it any good?

 

This lovely, lyrical, almost Dickensian tale is certainly a classic in the making. How is it that, at a time when so many authors don't seem to be able to get their readers emotionally involved with their human characters, Kate DiCamillo can have her readers breathless and weeping over a toy rabbit that can neither move nor talk? This is the author's secret, and the key to why this book should last long after others have faded away.

Yes, it is at times mawkish and overwrought: The stunning cruelty of the world to a little boy named Bryce, for instance, left unresolved by the author, borders on being too much. But by that time, even jaded readers won't mind -- they'll be too swept up in the rich and powerful story, enhanced by the gorgeous drawings and paintings by Ibatoulline. The whole volume, in fact, is a treat, printed in perfectly sized type with plenty of white space on creamy paper -- a beautiful edition well worth the slightly higher hardcover price. Don't miss sharing this near-perfect bedtime book with your middle-graders, and don't be surprised if you find your older kids listening in at the doorway.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the path of growth and understanding that Edward follows.

  • What does he learn about love?

  • Why does he try, for awhile, to avoid it?

  • Why is it so important?


This review was written by Matt Berman
Parent of 7 and 9 year old
June 13, 2009
 
Fantastic, deep, meaningful book
I am a mother of two boys, 5 and 7. We read this book (a few chapters at a time) and it got to the point where we just couldn't stop until we finished it. The book is brilliant! It affects you emotionally as well as physically. Once when Edward is drowning and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, you actually feel as if you, yourself, can't breathe. This book teaches us a great lesson in values and love, for chilren and adults alike.

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Parent of 9 year old
April 28, 2011
 
Ms. Siemon's class review
Our class LOVED this book! Kate DiCamillo created a moving story with a good message for children. The story is about a selfish and egotistical rabbit who doesn't return love to others. Through the eyes of Edward and his many experiences, our class learned to appreciate and give love. The illustrations were creative and a good representation of the story. We would have given the book 10 stars if we were able! Our class is hoping to one day see Edward on the big screen!

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Kid, 12 years old
November 28, 2010
 
A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!
love it it is exciting educational book that made me laugh,get me mad, and cry ALOT! i loved this book and there is no better way to describe it but a masterpiece!

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Teen, 15 years old
January 12, 2011
 
Any fan of Dicamillo will honor this as a classic
Loved it. It had so much emotion and heart. It had great messages saying that it takes time, but you can change yourself for the better.

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Kid, 13 years old
January 27, 2010
 
Such a great book!
It's a very good book! I loved it so much! The only reason I am marking it violent, is because a little girl dies. I don't think its violent, but to some people it might be. This book is about a little china rabbit that belongs to a girl named Abiline. She loves him so much! But when he gets seperated from her, he has met and loved over five new people. And at the end, he find's Abiline.

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Kid, 12 years old
May 20, 2011
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best book ever.

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Teen, 18 years old
November 7, 2011
 
A timeless classic...
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is by far one of my most favorite and cherished books. It follows the story of a china rabbit named Edward Tulane who embarks on a cruel journey from owner to owner, after he is thrown overboard while his owner (Abigail) and her parents are on a cruise. Edward is a doll, but he expresses his feelings and words through thoughts. I found this book really interesting and clever and a joy to read. In fact, I was so interested, I almost couldn't put it down, so I kept reading it and finished it before the day was done. The illustrations are also beautifully-drawn and add more to the story. I recommend this to any reader.

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Teen, 14 years old
November 6, 2010
 
good but really sad
This book is touching, but has some really emotional and sad parts.

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Teen, 16 years old
September 5, 2009
 
I'm 11 years old and i was reading this book just for funn because in my class got introuble alot so we had silent snack and i read chapter by chapter and it waws a fantastic book i loved it, i read about 2 to 4 chapters in class and i read a total of 9 chapter in one day because it was a hands on book and i had detention thia was a great book with mostly positive language and messages

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Teen, 14 years old
November 21, 2010
 
Perfect for everyone 10+
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Great ending!

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This review was written by Matt Berman
Author:Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator:Bagram Ibatoulline
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Fantasy
Publisher:Candlewick Press
Publication date:March 12, 2006
Number of pages:198
Hardcover price:$18.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):8 - 12
Read alone:8

This review was written by Matt Berman
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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