The Tale of Despereaux is the story of a mouse who, according to the tale, just isn't.  A mouse.  He won't hide.  He doesn't shrink away from the teensiest signs of danger.  He thinks words like "adventure" sound pretty cool.  He's almost disgustingly non-mouselike.     The story begins when a rat (and the rest of the crew of the ship that is his home) docks in a city famous … [Read more...]