By: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by: Timothy Basil Ering
This story was an interesting one. I enjoyed reading the story, though I thought it was a little odd. It's not a book I would normally pick up from the library or bookstore. Overall, I did enjoy the story and cannot wait to read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane!
What I thought was very interesting and different was the reader was spoken to directly. I thought this was engaging and really pulled the reader into the text. Whenever the text asked the reader what he thought about something, I found myself "answering" the question in my head.
I also really liked the mouse, Despereaux. It was so sweet that he liked a human and was willing to risk being shunned by his own family and community. Who hasn't dated someone a family member or friend didn't like? That's a hard situation and poor little Despereaux took a big risk.
I felt really sorry for Miggery Sow. It was sad to hear of being told by her dad that she was traded for such worthless items. Of course, cigarettes, a hen, and a red tablecloth must have been worth something for a father to trade his own daughter. Her mother died when she was six, she got traded to another man by her own father, and then endured abuse by her new "family." She really earned my pity.
I'm not sure if this is a story I would read aloud to my Kindergarten students. The story can be very dark at times with tail-cutting and the prisoner in the dungeon. Though I loved the story myself, I would probably find another story more suitable to read aloud to my class.
4 comments:
I agree with everything you said, especially about Miggery Sow. I was so sad to read about her life; I'm glad that the princess could empathize with her even though they were very different. When you think about it, though, they are actually very much alike--both girls lost their mother when they were very young.
I agree that The Tale of Despereaux would be a bit dark for kindergarten children. Maybe, a few scenes could be read to them. I can imagine some very creative, nonlinguistic responses after hearing about a mouse rescuing a princess!
As I read through the book I found myself doing exactly what the author was telling me to do. If she said to close our eyes and imagine, I would. If she said to look up a word in the dictionary, I would. And, if she said to say a word or phrase out loud, I would. Now, I felt silly, but I still did it, because I was so into the book. I, too, felt sorry for Miggery Sow. How could someone be so horrible as to sell their daughter for cigerettes, a hen, and a red table cloth?! However, the end note of that situation was worthy, with Mig's father being let out of prison and treating her like royalty all of her life. I found the parallel there with Desperaux's father finally standing against the "Most High Mouse Council" and asking forgiveness for his turning against Despereaux. I wonder how Despereaux fit back into the Castle Mouse Community after he finished his quest?
As a first grade teacher, I understand your reservations about reading this story to young children. It was quite difficult for me to read the accounts of abuse that Miggery endured during her childhood. As I was reading I was hoping for these descriptions to end as quickly as possible. I always find it difficult to read about abuse, especially when the victims are children or animals. I had the same difficulty getting through the book Shiloh because the story gave accounts of a dog being abused by it's first owner. Although these stories end positively, it is disheartening to hear about the hardships these characters had to experience.
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