The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

Book review by Matt Berman, Common Sense Media
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Brave mouse adventure a modern classic; great read-aloud.

Kate DiCamillo Animals 2004
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Parents say

age 9+

Based on 24 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 43 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal-wining​ The Tale of Despereaux is a thrilling story of a brave, giant-eared mouse in love with a human princess. By by directly addressing the reader, the author introduces many concepts to think and talk about. This book is an excellent read-aloud or discussion group book. It could be read to children as young as 6, but parents need to know there is some violence -- Despereaux's tail is cut off, and a girl's ears are boxed until she's partially deaf. This memorable book has the feel of a classic and was adapted for a movie, DS game, and a console game.

Community Reviews

SJSgirl
SJSgirl Adult
May 13, 2020
age 13+

Really dark tale

Honestly, I’m a bit horrified that this is a supposed to be a child’s book(?). The content is dark and scary, and many descriptive passages are unnecessarily creepy ( including death, blood, screams of terror and agony, etc) . My sons first grade teacher assigned this as a book for the class, and here I am reading it to my 7yo and having to heavily edit as I read aloud, in the hopes that I can avoid him having nightmares about being eaten alive by evil rats in a pitch black dungeon that flows with blood and muck. Charming, eh? WTH?
4 people found this helpful.
upstateNYmama
upstateNYmama Adult
July 4, 2016
age 16+

very dark and violent, full of characters being cruel to each other

Common Sense Media gives this book a very positive “is it any good” and “what parents need to know” review— my experience was definitely the opposite. The book is very dark and violent— a huge percentage of the time the characters are being cruel to each other. Many of parental figures in the book are particularly horrific: a father who sells his daughter into slavery; a person whom a six year old calls “uncle” who beats her so regularly that she loses her hearing and her ears are shaped like cauliflower; a father who serves on a jury and votes to send his son to death in the dungeon. There are very few positive role models for how beings can be kind to each other. Yes, it all gets wrapped up in the end in a fairly positive way, but violence and cruelty are the norm all the way there.
4 people found this helpful.
See all 24 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Listen, dear reader, to Kate DiCamillo, and you will hear of Despereaux Tilling, a half-sized mouse with giant ears who is "such the disappointment" to his mama because he won't act like other mice. He is sickly, faints at loud noises, loves music, bright light, and reading books. Worst of all, because he has fallen in love with a human princess named Pea, he talks to humans. For this transgression he is condemned by the other mice, including his own father, to be sent to the dungeon to be eaten by the rats. You will also, dear reader, hear of Roscuro the rat, who also loves light, but has a grudge against the princess. And of Miggery Sow, an abused, dimwitted, partially deaf serving girl who wishes to be a princess. And you will hear how the strange stories of these three outsiders intersect in a most unusual way. Reader, do you believe in happily ever after?

Is It Any Good?

Kate DiCamillo can do charming. Her debut novel, "Because of Winn-Dixie," was simple and enchanting. Despereaux's tale is more complex and stylized: The author directly addresses the reader throughout, and the hero disappears for nearly a hundred pages. But it has charm in buckets, perfectly matched by Timothy Ering's delightfully weird illustrations.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX hits the trifecta for a children's book: It makes a great read-alone, read-aloud, or reading group book. It's easy to read, despite its length and sometimes advanced vocabulary, and perfectly paced and plotted to hold a middle-grade reader's interest. The direct address makes it perfect for involving listeners in the reading. And that same way of talking to the reader allows the author to raise questions that would make for interesting literature group discussions.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about outsiders and the role they play in society. What other stories of brave and noble misfits can you think of?

  • Why are underdog tales so appealing?

  • What makes you root for this little mouse and his friends?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love adventure and fairy tales

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