Critique

A Nest for Celeste is really more a book geared toward kids at the elementary school level, but the reason I’m reviewing it here is because I’m always encouraged when I see stories that mix mediums or continue to push the boundaries of how we define a story. Such is the case here with the blend of the narration with the splendid charcoal images. The two elements mixed together brings it somewhere between graphic novel, illustrated children’s book, and standard novel. The illustrations and the placement of text augments the experience of the story, and thus the reader feels closer to the characters and the elements taking place throughout.

Secondarily, there is some social commentary interspersed about the treatment of animals and nature and our responsibility to see to the preservation of life and the beauty around us. Cole takes special care to make reference to birds throughout the book that are now extinct, and were once plentiful throughout that region of the US not more than 100 years ago. I recommend this to readers looking for a fun, quick story about a cute little mouse who has some pretty amazing adventures.

Critique

I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the concept well enough, but the execution is a bit dry. It was interesting to learn all of the history surrounding Marco Polo and Venice of that time period, but there wasn’t much of a plot to move the story along. I need a little more than a story about a boy, Mark, who doesn’t want to be in Venice during Christmas and misses his dad, reluctantly roaming the city to find out more history on Marco Polo. It was certainly a nice history lesson, but as a story overall, it’s hard to get through.

Critique

Usually, the films in this genre stray too much from the original books, or add unnecessary things to the story. However, in this case, the addition of the magical elements and the slight tweaks to the story overall were good, and helped to tell a wonderfully enrapturing tale. Roscuro’s character especially is good, because in the book, he’s a little too dark. Here, though, he’s good-natured and one minor mistake from the princess is what sets him off. I recommend this movie to all families with children under 10. 

Critique

At first glance, the story seems short and simple, almost too much so, but as each character represents an archetype of real people in many social structures, it’s easy to see that a beautiful allegory is being painted. Despereaux is the every man of any middle class of a society, and his daring to enter the world of the royalty, the upper-echelon, is most notable when the king says that he ought not play music for a bug because then the world would not be right. Despereaux’s bravery is a challenge to the every man that no matter how big the problems are, it’s important to fight for the things that you love.

Chiaroscuro represents the bottom rung of society, those who live in the filth and darkness, and are scorned for their position. The king, acting again as a catalyst, mentions that rats belong in the dungeon because they are rats. However, Chiaroscuro’s desire to become something more than a rat, or what a rat represents, burns so strongly that he becomes embittered and twisted, stopping at nothing to try to get revenge.

Miggery Sow’s story is that she has risen from the destitute to a position of power, from being a slave to working in the castle, but her laziness won’t take her any further, and her avarice clouds her judgment. It’s her challenge to recognize where she is at fault and to remedy the situation that she has caused, seeking rather to go about fulfilling her dreams by peaceful measures instead of violent ones.

Princess Pea is the upper echelon, those with the power or the money or, as is often the case, both. Along with forgiving the violent reactions of those below her, it is ultimately she that has the ability to change the overall power structure to bring everyone together. Miggery Sow, although she won’t be able to fulfill her dream of becoming a princess, has a friend and has found her place in society; Chiaroscuro can step into the light, can be part of the world that is beyond his caste; and Despereaux is invited to eat soup at the table with the king and the princess, sitting at the place of honor with all of the other mice watching.

Overall, it’s a quick, fun read, and Dicamillo’s tone is inviting and playful. It’s perfect that she addresses the audience throughout the narrative and clearly defines the big words that she uses throughout. It’s a great bedtime story for younger children, but largely the audience will fall into the 7-8 realm.