The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo (2003)
“A mouse who loves music and light and a princess falls in love with a story, and the story saves them both.”
EraContemporary
Pages272
Difficulty★☆☆☆☆ Accessible
AP Appearances0
Character Analysis
The smallest mouse, born with oversized ears and open eyes. Despereaux is defined by what he loves — music, light, the princess — and by his refusal to stop loving despite every pressure to conform. He is not strong. He is brave, which is different and harder.
How They Speak
Simple, earnest, unironic. Speaks with the directness of someone who means exactly what he says.