The Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

Well, they were right about the Newbery Medal winners: you're gonna cry! 😭 This story had an emotional depth I was not expecting, but it is not without flaws. Much of my issue with the way Mig was described would no doubt be different if it wasn't published 20 years ago. But I'm still angry on Mig's behalf for her ‘yes and no' happily ever after, (spoilers below), I'm still heartbroken for Chiaroscuro, and then there's the pacing.

Among the things that make this book WAY darker than I thought it was going to be, is introducing a child that will be sold to another man to be physically and verbally abused for years, only to then be barely tolerated by her employers because her abuse has lead her to be hard of hearing, and because she is understood to be ‘slow', and having finally gotten enough nutrition, it would appear ‘fat' is also being used as part of the description that makes her pitiable. Not a good look!And then the author decides her fate should be not to assume the title of royalty (because of course there are pretty little girls that are rightfully princesses, because that makes as much sense as anything does about monarchy) but she will go back to her now remorseful father who will ‘treat her like a princess', as if she could ever trust it, as if it would reverse all that harm done by and as a result of his earlier actions. It could be argued, as with Despereaux, she might feel better if she forgives him, but I don't think she should have to live with him.And then there's Chiaroscuro, who suffered a traumatic experience, gained what to me seems undeserved hate for an accident and inadvertent consequence, on top of speciest prejudice, and as a result is understood to be broken, easily twisted, barely brought back to the light, and not really belonging in normal society again. Kind of a wretched message from a modern mental health view.
And I think all those people I see with sweet pet rats on the internet would have something to say about the general characterizations going on in this book. So yeah, I can see it having a moment in its day, but I don't think I'd recommend this book for today's children, unless the parents are prepared to have a much longer conversation than the book originally might have fostered. 
⚠️child abuse, ableism, fatphobia