I read and bought this on the same day, though it may
seem an intimidating size for children (at 270 thick pages, it seems longer than
it is, as it is double-spaced, has many beautiful black and white illustrations,
and chapter breaks are common). Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering, this John
Newberry Medal winner was an absolute treat to read. The chapters, which are
quite short, are split among four "books" which move from character to
character, and have a wonderful tendency to talk directly to the reader.
At its heart, this is a tale about hope. First, there is Despereaux, a tiny
little mouse with big ears, who isn't very mouse-like, and breaks all sorts of
mouse rules (especially the big ones: don't talk to humans, and don't let them
touch you). When Princess Pea touches his head and says he's cute, this little
mouse falls in love. An odd little guy, he has read a fairy tale, and takes it
to heart, hoping that there is such a thing as a knight in shining armor, and a
happily ever after.
The Princess herself is also a vivid and fun character, a young girl who isn't
very used to not getting her own way, and has very little malice in her heart,
and a whole lot of empathy.
The other two characters - Chiaroscuro the rat and Miggery Sow, the oft clouted
mostly deaf, overweight servant girl, are both villains and not-villains - it's
quite easy to feel sorry for them, to understand their plight, and realize that
they, too, have hope.
It is a soft little story with some gruesome bits sure to make any child 'ooh'
and 'aah' appreciatively, and it is definitely on its way to my nephew, who I
think will get a kick out of talking mice swashbuckling with sewing needles, and
cauliflower eared serving girls who bumble their way towards a better place. The
prose in no way talks down to children by using overly simple languages - there
are even passages that suggest the child look up a few words if they don't know
them - and I'm always greatful for an intelligently written work.
