Rating: Despereaux Tiling was born a disappointment. You’d think, as the only survivor of his litter, he’d have been considered a blessing. But there was something different about him, right from the very beginning. For one, he had abnormally large ears. For another, his eyes, which were supposed to be closed, were wide open, staring in wonder at the light on the ceiling, reflecting off his mother’s mirror shard. His family all backed away, and so it began.

Disappointment being one of his mother’s favorite words, he heard it often growing up, as he displayed few truly mouse-like characteristics. As his family scrounged for crumbs and listened to falling food, Despereaux turned his ear upwards, listening to a sweet sound only he could hear.

His brother Furlough tried to give him lessons in scampering, but Despereaux preferred to take in the splendor of the sunlight through the stained glass windows. His sister tried to teach him the are of nibbling books, but Despereaux couldn’t bring himself to do it. He knew it would ruin the story, which he went back to the library often to read.

One night his wanderings lead him to the Princess Pea’s room, where her father sat singing to her. Lost to the beauty of the music, Desperaux revealed himself to the humans. The King was sure he was a bug, though his daughter insisted adamantly otherwise. Soon enough, Despereaux sat at the very feet of the king, with Princess Pea petting him. Which is when Furlough happened along and saw him.

It goes without saying I’m sure that this kind of behavior is against just about every mouse rule there is. And so his father brought out his drum to summon the mouse council. He beat it all through the meeting, and as his own son was escorted away, by two hooded companions, one of whom also happened to be related.

Now, the idea is that no mouse will come back from the dungeon, as the rats will have their way with him. But this being a tale of an unlikely hero, Despereaux found himself facing a different fate. One in which he is rescued and set free by the jailer Gregory.

Meanwhile, there are other stories unfolding. That of the princess, who lost her mother not long ago. That of the Rat Chiarascuro, who longs for light—a most un-rat-like condition. That of Miggery Sow, traded to a stranger for some cloth, cigarettes and a hen.

It’s when all these stories combine that the real adventure begins.

This is a book I’d seen many times, on shelves and in reviews, and I just never got around to reading it. But after reading Brother Odd,in which one of the monks is a reformed mobster, because of his reading The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, I decided I had to check these books out.

I was not at all disappointed.

The Tale of Despereaux is a great story. It’s also a really quick read, so you can easily add it to your pile without slowing yourself up much. Sometimes I don’t agree with the award winners, but this one definitely deserved it. I plan to add it to me permanent collection as soon as I can.

If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, or just want to meet a really great mouse, Despereaux’s definitely it.