The Princess Pea (human) has been taken to the castle's dungeon by a devious rat named Chiaroscuro and the confused Miggery Sow (also a human). It's up to Despereaux, an outcast among mice, to save her.

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Morality

Despereaux is the only truly "good" character. Chiaroscuro is the "bad" character, but his situation is addressed. The other characters are either somewhere in the middle, both helping and hindering the hero on his way, or they are not in the story long enough to be good or bad. The story deals with light and darkness, and how stories are comparable to light, because they bring light to our darkness.

Spiritual Content

Despereaux has a dream about a knight fighting darkness. He later realizes that he's the knight in shining armor.

Violence

Both Despereaux's and Chiaroscuro's tails are cut off. Two people are threatened with sharp objects, but neither are hurt. Miggery Sow's so-called "Uncle" beats her.

Drug and Alcohol Content

None, none at all.

Sexual Content

There is romance, but it never goes that far.

Crude or Profane Language or Content

The only things that get close are a few exclamations of "Gor!" and "Cripes!". But that's about it.

Conclusion

This isn't your typical "Save the princess" story. The plot is like a web of all the character's lives woven together, complicated, yet easy to read. The author will follow character

1 until she has to mention character

2. So she backtracks to where she left off with charrie

2 and goes from there. An interesting style which keeps the pages turning. This is an overall bittersweet book with a superb ending (as well as a good beginning and middle).

Tiny and graced with over-sized ears, Despereaux was born too big for his little world. Refusing to live his life cowering, he befriends a Princess named Pea and learns to read (rather than eat) books -- reveling in stories of knights, dragons and fair maidens. Banished from Mouseworld for being more man than mouse, Despereaux is rescued by another outcast, Roscuro, who also wants to hear the tales. But when the Princess dismisses Roscuro's friendship, he becomes the ultimate rat and plots revenge with fellow outsider Mig. After Pea is kidnapped, Despereaux discovers he is the only one who can rescue her...and that even the tiniest mouse can find the courage of a knight in shining armor.

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The author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising here shifts gears, demonstrating her versatility while once again proving her genius for mining the universal themes of childhood. Her third novel calls to mind Henry Fielding's Tom Jones; DiCamillo's omniscient narrator assumes a similarly irreverent yet compassionate tone and also addresses readers directly.

Despereaux, the diminutive mouse hero ("The last mouse born to his parents and the only one of his litter to be born alive"), cares not a whit for such mundane matters as scurrying or nibbling, and disappoints his family at every turn. When his sister tries to teach him to devour a book, for example ("This glue, here, is tasty, and the paper edges are crunchy and yummy, like so"), Despereaux discovers instead "a delicious and wonderful phrase: Once upon a time"—a discovery that will change his life.

The author introduces all of the elements of the subtitle, masterfully linking them without overlap. A key factor unmentioned in the subtitle is a villainous rat, Chiaroscuro (dwelling in the darkness of the Princess's dungeon, but drawn to the light). Ering (The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone) brings an understated drama to the black-and-white illustrations that punctuate each chapter. His artwork conveys a respect for the characters even as they emit the wry humor of the narrator's voice.

The teller of the tale roots for the hero and thus aligns himself with the audience: "Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform." In addition to these life lessons, the narrator also savors a pointer or two about language (after the use of the word "perfidy," the narrator asks, "Reader, do you know what 'perfidy' means? I have a feeling you do, based on the little scene that has just unfolded here. But you should look up the word in your dictionary, just to be sure"). Reader, I will let you imagine, for now, how these witticisms of our omniscient narrator come into play; but I must tell you, you are in for a treat. Ages 7-12. (Sept.)

Why is The Tale of Despereaux a good book?

The Tale of Despereaux "has DiCamillo's modern sensibilities, her wry humor, and crystalline prose." The story is just plain fun to read, but it also explores deeper and darker aspects of parent-child relations, including betrayal, the need for forgiveness and the power of love.

What is the moral of The Tale of Despereaux?

There's a moral here, in case you missed it. The author shows that forgiveness allows you to move forward with your life; holding grudges makes you bitter and unhappy.

What is the message in The Tale of Despereaux?

There is nothing quite like The Tale of Despereaux; it is a unique book that deals with themes of love, grief, forgiveness, and hope. It is ideal to read to children because of its straightforward plot but is also enjoyable for adults because of DiCamillo's elegant writing.

Is The Tale of Despereaux dark?

There's a definite "Upstairs/Downstairs" thing going on in this story. Upstairs in the castle is bright light, music, and art, radiant princesses and loving fathers. Downstairs in the dungeon is darkness and misery—no one but the wretched, lonely jailer; tortured, chained prisoners, and of course, rats.