A china rabbit named Edward Tulane lives on Egypt Street with a girl named Abilene. Abilene dresses Edward in the finest clothes and treats him with tenderness. When her family takes a journey on the Queen Mary, she insists that Edward comes too. Unfortunately, this is when Edward gets tossed overboard and spends most of the next year face down at the bottom of the ocean. Oh how he wishes he could see the stars again. When Edward is finally fished out of the sea, he's taken to the home of a couple who thinks he's a girl rabbit. His name is changed and so are his clothes. This won’t be the last stop on Edward’s travels, nor will it be his last new name. Each person he encounters will leave their mark on his heart. Each step of the way he is learning to love. But is loving someone worth it? Is it possible for a china rabbit’s heart to break? Will Edward find his way back to Abilene? You’ll have to read this tale to find out!
I have read quite a few books by Kate DiCamillo, but I wasn’t sure what The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane would be about. I don't know many stories from a doll’s point of view, so it was fascinating to hear Edward’s take on the world. I liked seeing the different people who adopted Edward and the impact they had on him. He truly was on an adventure from the moment he left Egypt Street. Because Edward was a silent observer, his life felt out of his control- after all, he couldn’t move or talk. It was interesting to see how he went from one owner to the next and what the journey entailed. I especially liked how Edward’s heart seemed to grow as he learned to love. I have to say that I thought the story was going to end with a specific twist that didn’t come, but the end was still satisfying. I would recommend this book to people in grades three and up who like books with animals or toys as the main characters. The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful and really add to the story.
Has anyone else read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? Or have you read another book by Kate DiCamillo? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!
~L