Yes, Said Despereaux, Because I Am on a Quest. the Word Felt Good and Right in His Mouth

September 10

Dear Readers,

I just finished reading The Tale Of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo. Despereaux Tilling is a mouse that doesn’t follow the rules. He’s shunned by his family and sent to the dungeon where he faces a certain death at the hands of the rats. Roscuro, a rat obsessed with light, sneaks out of the dungeon and scares the queen so horribly she dies of fright. The king outlaws rats, and Roscuro is banished to the dark depths of the castle. Miggery Sow is an orphaned girl who longs to become a princess. She is willing to do almost anything to achieve her goal. The lives of Desperaux, Roscuro, and Miggery Sow come together in this wild, heartwarming, Newberry Award winning novel. The book reminds me of a fairy tale. It’s told in an enchanting, dream-like way. The author speaks directly to the reader, which drew me in even closer. I love the way she focuses in on what may seem like simple things. In this example, the author shows us Despereaux’s bravery and the power of a single word:

“There,” said Hovis, when the piece of thread broke and dropped to the ground. “Now you’re free. You see, you’re not going into the dungeon because your have to. You’re going because you choose to.” “Yes,” said Despereaux, “because I am on a quest.” The word felt good and right in his mouth. Quest. Say it reader. Say the word “quest” out loud. It is an extraordinary word, isn’t it? So small and yet so full of wonder, so full of hope. “Goodbye,” said Hovis as Desperauex pushed the spool of thread out of the threadmaster’s hole. “I have never known a mouse who has made it out of the dungeon only to go back into it again. Goodbye, friend. Goodbye, mouse among mice.” (p.221)

Here, the main character is realizing the power in his choice. He has made the decision to face the dungeon once again, and his friend, Hovis, confirms Despereaux’s bravery by calling him a “mouse among mice.” The author also forces us to spend a moment with the word “quest.” It becomes more than another word we skim over; we are asked to say it aloud, and this makes Despereaux’s upcoming journey even more important.

Sometimes I read a book and don’t care about the characters or their problems. But in this book, I thought about Despereaux, Mig, and Roscuro even when I wasn’t reading. They were all well-rounded characters with strengths and flaws. Somehow, by the end, I even cared about Roscuro. I think it was because he shared some of Desperequx’s qualities. Both of them were courageous enough to follow their hearts, even if it meant being alone.

I give this book a 10. It’s about friendship, loss, and love. But if I had to choose one theme topic for the book, it would be courage. Despereaux did not let fear hold him back from doing what he felt was right. And in a strange way, neither did the villain, Roscuro. I can’t wait to read more of Kate DiCamillo’s work.

Sincerely yours, Rocky B.