Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
Couldn't load pickup availability
Share
A brave mouse, a covetous rat, a wishful serving girl, and a princess named Pea come together in Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal–winning tale.
Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.
With black-and-white illustrations and a refreshed cover by Timothy Basil Ering.
![The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread](http://starryferrybooks.com/cdn/shop/files/TheTaleofDespereaux-BeingtheStoryofaMouse_aPrincess_SomeSoup_andaSpoolofThread-StarryFerryBooks.jpg?v=1712473967&width=1445)
![The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread](http://starryferrybooks.com/cdn/shop/files/TheTaleofDespereaux-BeingtheStoryofaMouse_aPrincess_SomeSoup_andaSpoolofThread.jpg?v=1712473967&width=1445)
Editorial Reviews
Kate DiCamillo, whose Because of Winn-Dixie was a Newbery Honor Book, again explores the difficulty of fitting into a new place. ButThe Tiger Rising is even more emotionally affecting as Rob and Sistine, united by their aloneness, grapple with unlocking their own heartaches as they debate whether to free the tiger. —The New York Times Book Review
The author delves deeply into the psyches of her cast with carefully choreographed scenes, opting for the economy of poetry over elaborate prose. . . . DiCamillo demonstrates her versatility by treating themes similar to those of her first novel with a completely different approach. Readers will eagerly anticipate her next work. —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
It deals with the tough issues of death, grieving, and the great accompanying sadness, and has enough layers to embrace any reader. —School Library Journal (starred review)
The story deftly shows the anxiety and suspense of getting close to someone after experience has taught you that may not be safe to do. DiCamillo's gorgeous language wastes not a single word: spare and taut her sentences spin out, with the Florida mist rising off them, and unspoken words finally said aloud. —Booklist
Young readers who enjoyed DiCamillo's first novel won't be disappointed by her second. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The brief novel, which features a well realized setting and an almost palpable aura of sadness, has a certain mythic quality. —The Horn Book
. . . the tiger, 'burning bright' with magnificent, feral presence, does make an arresting central image. —Kirkus Reviews
Together [the characters] learn about trust, friendship, and feelings as they plot to set the tiger free. In the process, they learn another valuable lesson, one that readers won't soon forget. This poignant, powerful story was written by the author of the Newbery Honor bookBecause of Winn-Dixie. —Dallas Morning News
DiCamillo, who grew up in Central Florida and wrote the multi-award winningBecause of Winn-Dixie, could almost have titled her bittersweet second novel "Because of the Tiger" . . . because of the tiger, Rob and Sistine make the fateful decision that allows Rob and his father to grieve more openly for their loss. —Orlando Sentinel
Powerfully written by the author ofBecause of Winn-Dixie, this poignant story is certain to garner accolades on many levels. —Syndicated Column - Kendal Rautzhan
About the Author
Kate DiCamillo says of THE TIGER RISING, "Rob Horton first showed up in a short story I was writing. I finished the story, but apparently Rob wasn’t finished with me. He hung around for weeks afterward, haunting the other stories I was working on. Finally, I said to him, ‘What in the world do you want?’ And he said, ‘I know where there’s a tiger.’ Like Sistine, I said one word back to him, ‘Where?’ THE TIGER RISING is how Rob Horton answered me."
Product details
-
Publication
Candlewick
-
Genre
-
Author
Kate DiCamillo
-
Language
English
Lexile:
590L (Grade 5 - 6)
-
Pages
272
-
ISBN-13
9780763680893